Hearing Devices

If your child has been diagnosed with a hearing loss, specialists in the Department of Audiology and Division of Otolaryngology will work together to recommend an appropriate hearing device. Different devices are recommended for different types of hearing loss.

Hearing Aids

Any child who has a hearing loss that interferes with speech and language development or classroom performance may need to wear a hearing aid. A hearing aid is a device that amplifies sound. Hearing aids are programmed based on hearing test results and measurements of the ears to improve a child’s access to speech and sound. Learn more. 

Bone Conduction Hearing Devices

Children with conductive or mixed hearing loss may benefit from a bone conduction hearing device. A bone conduction hearing device works by sending sound directly to the inner ear through vibration. Bone conduction systems are often recommended in cases of chronic middle ear disease or when a child’s ear shape cannot support a traditional hearing aid. There are both surgical and non-surgical wearing options. Learn more. 

CROS/BiCROS Hearing Aids

Children with a significant hearing loss in one ear may benefit from a CROS or BiCROS system. CROS stands for “Contralateral Routing of the Signal,” meaning sound is sent from the CROS worn on the poorer hearing ear to a device worn on the better hearing ear. A BiCROS system combines a CROS device with a traditional hearing aid and is recommended when a child has some degree of hearing loss in the better hearing ear.

Cochlear Implants 

A cochlear implant provides information about spoken language and environmental sounds through stimulation of auditory nerve fibers in the inner ear. The cochlear implant is recognized as a standard treatment for profound deafness by the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.