Hearing Loss in Children
Is estimated that hearing loss, in varying degrees, affects two in every 100 children under the age of 18. Almost half of these cases are congenital (present at birth), due to genetic factors or certain events during the pregnancy and birth. Some cases of acquired hearing loss result from infections, injury to the ears or head, and medications. Fortunately, with modern technology, these children can be helped, as long as deafness is detected early.
If hearing impairment is an ailment that is entirely confined only among the elderly, there would probably have been no push to design hearing aids that are more discrete. Let's face it, if you ask gramp's opinion, he probably couldn't care less with how his hearing aid looks like, as long as it's functional and comfortable to wear.
For teens and young adults, there is a wide range of relatively inconspicuous hearing aids to choose from. There are even those that are fitted in the ear canal, and are almost invisible to the casual onlooker. For very young kids, though, these in-the-ear style is not considered to be the most appropriate choice because the aid needs to be replaced as the child grows. For the majority of kids, behind the ear models are recommended, as they can be adjusted as their ears grow. Children may be less eager to wear them, but perhaps a couple of tube riders can help make them see their cochlear implants as something cool and fashionable!