Management of hearing loss 

It is important to understand that each child has different needs when it comes to communication and these needs may change over time.  The right approach to communication is one that works best for the individual child and their family.  In consultation with a range of different support agencies and specialists, families can make informed decisions about the communication needs of their child.  ‘Choices’ from Australian Hearing is a great resource (you can find a copy here CHOICES).

Progressive audiological assessment
  • Neonatal screening for hearing loss takes place in all Australian states. Tests to monitor the progress of any detected hearing loss will be necessary to determine the appropriate time to provide further intervention.

􏰁 Early fitting of hearing aids
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Consultation with an ENT surgeon and audiologist will be important when deciding whether your child will benefit from using hearing aids.  Even though hearing aids will not provide enough sound for some children to acquire speech due to their degree of hearing loss, at the very least evidence suggests that early fitting of hearing aids helps to keep the auditory nerve healthy while investigating other intervention options. 
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􏰁 􏰁 Cochlear implant
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For some children an implant may be an option. In this situation, special tests of hearing, consultation with an ENT surgeon and consideration of other social and personal factors will be important. Implantation as early as six to twelve months gives best results.

􏰁 􏰁 Auslan
  • Auslan is the sign language of the Australian Deaf community. It can be accessed through many Early Intervention and Education settings across Australia.  It can be learnt in conjunction with, or exclusive of assisted hearing devices.