A hearing aid for your child: choice and costs

It is important for the treatment of a hearing impairment that it is detected early. In the first four years of life, the mental structures for hearing develop. The interaction between ears and brain has to be learned first. If this learning process is not possible due to a hearing impairment because the brain does not get enough auditory impressions, problems arise in processing and learning language.

You should therefore definitely attend the U-examinations , because that is where your child’s hearing ability is tested. Even if you notice symptoms of hearing impairment in your child yourself, you should inform the pediatrician immediately or consult a specialist. Around 500,000 children with a hearing impairment live in Germany. You can find out more about this topic in our article “Hearing impairment in your child” .

Choosing a hearing aid for your child

Depending on the type of hearing impairment, your child will be provided with individual treatment. In most cases, wearing a hearing aid is enough for your child to hear better. To get such a hearing aid for your child, you need to go to a local pediatrician. This is a hearing aid acoustician who has specialized in the provision of hearing systems for children through further training. This pediatrician will look after your child and adjust the hearing aid for your child so that it fits well. He will also adjust it exactly to your child’s hearing. It may well be that it takes some time until the right setting is found and your child gets used to the new hearing aid. Children usually like to wear a hearing aid because it significantly improves their hearing ability.

Cost of a hearing aid for your child

The cost of a hearing aid for your child varies depending on the performance and features. Statutory health insurance companies subsidize a device prescribed by a doctor with a flat rate. You have to bear the additional costs yourself. Incidentally, for children and young people under the age of 18, the batteries for the hearing aid are also paid for by the health insurance company.

Which hearing aid for your child?

As a rule, children do not use hearing aids that are plugged into the ear, but rather those that can be attached to the outside of the ear – so-called behind-the-ear devices. You should also make sure that your child gets a stable, durable hearing aid that doesn’t break or is easily adjusted when playing and romping around. The battery flap should also be specially secured, especially if you have a small child, so that the batteries cannot fall out or be swallowed.

Your child should like the hearing aid, because after all, they have to wear it regularly. So you should let your child have a say when it comes to choosing a suitable device. Maybe there is a nice, colorful hearing aid or one in your child’s favorite color. You can choose a conspicuous model so that other people can see the hearing aid. Then they can see that your child has a hearing impairment and take appropriate care. This makes it easier for your child to acknowledge their hearing impairment and learn to deal with it with confidence. Don’t make your child feel like they have a flaw. Therefore, you should not choose a model that is barely visible and hidden.

Modern hearing aids for children usually work digitally. They are equipped with software that processes the acoustic signal before it is sent to the ear. For example, annoying background noise can be reduced and speech sound can be particularly emphasized. The doctor and the pediatrician will discuss with you which hearing aid is suitable for your child. In addition to the classic hearing aid, which amplifies the sound for the user and transmits it into the ear in a volume and sound quality that is comfortable for him, there are other helpers. For example, it can make sense to buy a special hearing system for your child that transmits the voice of the parents or teachers/educators directly into the child’s hearing aid via a radio transmitter. With this system, as little speech sound as possible is lost.

Other therapy options for your child with a hearing aid

In addition to the provision of technical aids, such as a hearing aid for your child or another hearing system, there are other therapy options that can help improve hearing. Depending on the type of hearing impairment, an operation may be necessary, for example to remove accumulated fluid in the ear or to implant a so-called cochlear implant that improves hearing. In the case of a tympanic effusion, an accumulation of mucus in the middle ear, medication usually helps. Success can also be achieved with specialist early support, such as hearing training or hearing and speech education, by trained special or remedial pedagogues.

Costs for early support for your child with a hearing aid

In Germany, all children with a diagnosed hearing impairment are entitled to early support from birth to the age of six. The state bears the costs for this, so you don’t have to pay anything for it yourself. The earlier a hearing impairment is detected in your child, the sooner support can begin. With early support, your child can learn to control their language better through their ears. This is important for natural language development. His speech and noise perception will be trained and your child will get used to his hearing aid. In addition, his social and communicative behavior and his interest in learning are trained in order to prepare him for everyday school life.