Child hearing loss in numbers
International researches indicate that 1 out of 22 children at school age deal with some kind of hearing loss. This means that there are 1.000.000 children hard of hearing in Europe, while this number is estimated to 60-70.000 children for Greece.
In the USA, 12.000 children every year or 33 children every day are born with hearing loss. These statistics rank hearing loss first among infant diseases.
How is it treated?
Hearing loss is treated with the application of a special repair program in combination with the use of customized hearing aids. These special hearing aids and the advanced method called NEW HEARING restore hearing loss up to 95%, depending on the degree of hearing loss.
In 80% of the cases, the indicated way of treatment is the application of hearing aids. However, a cochlear implant should be used when the damage is very big (almost at the level of deafness, over 110dB).
Speech and language development
Aural rehabilitation is necessary for the speech and language development, as well as for the child’s normal psychokinetic development.
Depending on the degree of hearing loss, speech therapy (logopedy) is necessary in cooperation with the hearing professional.
The use of special hearing aids for child hearing loss demands specialized knowledge, along with undivided attention and sensitivity on behalf of the special hearing professionals.
In every case, there is always both-sided application of hearing aids.
Which is the most suitable type of hearing aids for children?
- The Behind-The-Ear (BTE) aids are the most suitable to apply until about the age of 8, because children’s ear canals grow rapidly. Therefore, the moldings (the shells that are put inside the ear canal) must be changed very often (every 3-6 months) in order to fit properly.
- However, in many cases of children older than 8 years old, hearing aids of open application (RITE), Inside-The-Ear (CIC) type, can be applied. The suitability of this option must be decided by the hearing professional who will take into consideration several factors, of which the most important is the level of hearing loss.
Digital hearing aids
Digital hearing aids are the only available option today. Digital aids, due to the automatic processing and enhancing of sound which is completed in minimum time (in hundredths of second), can offer exceptionally natural sound and adjust automatically to the specialties of a noisy environment.
ATTENTION: There are hundreds of digital hearing aids but they aren’t all suitable for children. They must be chosen and adjusted correctly by specialized hearing professionals. Hearing aids that haven’t been chosen or adjusted correctly may worsen a problem instead of solving it.
Briefly, digital hearing aids offer:
- High quality along with noise and voice fidelity.
- Excellent distinctive capacity without sound distortion and/or disturbances, along with distinction of speech from environment sounds.
- Automatic operation and simple use.
- Complete and direct localization of the sound’s direction.
- Automatic environmental adjustement.
- Use of all electronic devices (mobile phones, computers/tablets, mp3 players etc) without restrictions. There are special wireless connectline devices for such cases that allow the use of these electronic devices with great ease.
How much do hearing aids cost? Financial aid by state.
The cost of a complete aural rehabilitation program depends on the type and the level of hearing loss. In 90% of the cases the cost ranges from 2.000€ up to 6.000€, while in some special cases it can be higher. Besides hearing aids, this price includes services such as:
- Schedule of a personal aural rehabilitation program (NEW HEARING) which includes all the instructions for the desirable result.
- Meetings for the adjustment and regulation of hearing aids.
- Hearing aids maintenance (every 3 months).
- Observing child’s progress with special tests.
- Parents’ training in order to use hearing aids properly and help the child towards the best result possible.
State covers up to 3450€ for the aural rehabilitation of children at school age. A part of money is granted by the Insurance fund while the rest is granted by the Ministry of Education (Primary and Secondary Education Departments). Earmedical will help you with all the necessary procedures for the refund collection by the state.
