Making a decision about hearing aids

When considering hearing technology, it's important to work closely with your healthcare professionals. You should feel fully involved in the process and have all the information you need to make an informed decision. Healthcare professionals can provide guidance, but ultimately, parents and deaf young people should choose what works best for their needs.

Benefits of hearing aids

• Speech and language development: Hearing aids can give deaf children better access to speech sounds, supporting their spoken language development. Learn more about speech development in deaf children.
• Incidental learning: Hearing aids can open up more opportunities for incidental learning, which is when a child picks up information by overhearing conversations.
• Visual identifier: Hearing aids can signal to others that a child or young person is deaf, encouraging others to adjust how they communicate without being prompted.
• Safety: Hearing aids can help children and young people hear important sounds, such as alarms, sirens or traffic noises, improving safety.
• Integration with other technology: Most hearing aids can connect with assistive technologies, like radio aids, through Bluetooth, which can further aid listening. Learn more about assistive technologies.

Limitations of hearing aids

• Do not restore typical hearing: Hearing aids cannot restore hearing to typical levels. A deaf child using hearing aids will not hear exactly like a hearing child. They may still face challenges hearing if the speaker is not facing them, is too far away or if there’s background noise.
• Limited access for severe to profound deafness: For children who are severely to profoundly deaf, hearing aids may provide limited access to speech sounds. However, they can still be helpful for sound awareness, especially for safety.
• Activity restrictions: Hearing aids may need to be removed during activities like contact sports, bathing or swimming. Find out more about using hearing aids in everyday life.
• Limited research on mild or unilateral hearing loss: There is still limited research on how hearing aids benefit children with mild or unilateral hearing loss.
• Additional needs: For children with sensory or additional needs who may not tolerate wearing something on their head, hearing aids may not be appropriate. There are strategies to help children become comfortable wearing hearing aids, and it might still be worth trying them, with support from your audiologist or Teacher of the Deaf. 

While hearing aids have limitations, other strategies, such as using deaf-friendly communication methods and improving the listening environment can make communicating with a deaf child or young person easier.

What to consider

Think about how the device will impact daily life by considering the following questions:

• Will the child or young person likely wear the hearing aid?
• Do they have any additional needs that might make using hearing aids challenging?
• What activities do they enjoy, and might hearing aids affect these activities?
• What are your communication goals?
• How easy is it to use and maintain the hearing aid?
• Does the hearing aid integrate well with other technology?
• What are the child's or young person's views on wearing hearing aids?
• Are there alternative devices or communication options that would better meet your needs?
• Will the hearing aid provide benefits in certain environments or situations, even if those benefits are not related to speech? For example, hearing aids might help a profoundly deaf child become aware of environmental sounds, like traffic or alarms, but may not provide full access to speech on their own.

Keep in mind that babies need frequent appointments for new earmoulds to ensure a good fit, as well as increased supervision for safety.

Also, consider how hearing aids will affect your choice of communication approach. Find out more about choosing a communication approach.

Getting balanced information

As you explore hearing devices, you’ll come across different opinions. Some members of the Deaf community believe deafness does not need to be "cured". Others see technology as a way to help children access spoken language.

If you want to learn more about this debate, it’s helpful to speak to deaf people, both with and without hearing aids, as well as families and deaf children about their experiences. A great place to start is your local deaf children’s society. 

Making decisions together as a family

Deciding on hearing technology can be a deeply personal choice and can sometimes cause tension in families, especially when family members have differing views. To navigate this, it's helpful to explore information together, meeting with professionals and seeking second opinions when necessary. 

Parents should involve their children in the decision-making process, ensuring they have all the facts to form their own opinions.

To resolve disagreements, try to understand each other’s perspectives. Ask questions that explore personal experiences, concerns, and the potential impact on daily life. If necessary, seek support from resources like family counselling, child counselling, or family mediation. You can also contact our Helpline for advice and support.

It's important to respect the rights of children and young people in these decisions. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children capable of forming their own views should have a voice in decisions affecting their healthcare. They should be given information in a way they understand, and they have the right to consult with healthcare providers privately, with or without a trusted advocate.