Cochlear Implant for Kids: Is it Safe?
Hearing is important for young children because it is one of the essential senses use to navigate, learn, and explore things. Hearing loss to children can greatly affect their growth development. If you think that there is something wrong with your child’s hearing ability, it is best to consult a pediatric audiologist immediately. This is to avoid further complications and give early intervention program for your kid.
There are potential hearing solutions that you can choose for your kid. You just have to study these available options so you can select the most appropriate and safest. There are hearing aids and other technological solutions that are specifically designed for children, and you can start with these options.
The hearing solution that a child should receive will depend on many factors such as the age of the kid, and the level of hearing loss. If your child has a mild hearing loss, then you can ask your pediatric audiologist is the use of traditional hearing aids will work for your child. Hearing aids help amplify sound so the user can hear sounds louder.
But, if your child is suffering from a severe hearing loss and the use of hearing aids is not sufficient to help him hear better, then you can check if the cochlear implant will work for him. Check with your doctor if your child can be a candidate to undergo this surgical solution.
What is a Cochlear Implant?
Unlike the traditional hearing aids that only make sounds louder; a cochlear implant is a treatment that uses surgically implanted device to the damaged parts of the ear. This device will work to stimulate the auditory nerve and generates signals to the brain that helps create sounds. There are two components of this cochlear implant, the external part that is placed behind the ear, and the other part is surgically implanted under the skin.
How can Cochlear Implant Help Your Child?
Cochlear implant as defined above is very different from hearing aids. Hearing aids only make sounds louder, but this hearing option will give a child the benefit of hearing a sound that is close to the real sound. Hearing loss can greatly affect your child’s ability to talk and understand because they can’t hear the sounds perfectly. But, if your child receives a cochlear implant the sooner, then he will be able to hear and understand words and sounds better. There is an opportunity that they can hear, speak, and comprehend sound a lot better. You can easily see improvement in your child’s hearing and speech development in using the cochlear implant.
Is Cochlear Implant Safe For Your Child?
You are not alone in deciding if this solution will be best for your child. With the help of your pediatric audiologist and the process of evaluation, you will know if your kid will be a good candidate to receive this treatment. There would be a series of evaluation, tests, and screening to be done before a child can receive this treatment.
After the cochlear implant surgery, the parents need to be sure that they will do proper monitoring of their children. There are lot of works involved, and that includes guiding your child to develop their skills; listening and speaking. As a parent, you have to remember that even though a device is implanted in your child, there is still a difference between normal hearing kids. Make sure that you speak with your child and that he fully understands.
There is a process involved in choosing the most suitable option to help your child with his hearing loss. It is recommended to always seek for professional’s advice.