While there are numerous treatment options available to enhance a child’s hearing abilities, it is important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. At Pediatric ENT Associates in Birmingham, our pediatric specialists strongly believe that every child deserves comprehensive treatment to find the best solution for his or her unique needs.
Eligibility Requirements for Pediatric Cochlear Implants
The main criteria for determining whether your child will benefit from a cochlear implant include:
- S/He has profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears
- Hearing aids have provided little to no benefit
- Has no contraindication preventing surgery, such as absence of auditory nerve
- Access to an educational or rehabilitative setting to develop auditory skills
- A positive, motivating family environment
- Realistic expectations about child’s performance
Pediatric ENT Associates have a team of experts available to evaluate whether a cochlear implant will be beneficial for your child. From pediatric surgeons to speech-language pathologists and audiologists, we carefully examine a child’s potential as well as his or her family’s for thriving with a cochlear implant.
Should My Child Wait to Get a Cochlear Implant?
If your son or daughter is eligible for a cochlear implant, it is typically strongly recommended that he or she undergoes the implantation procedure as soon as possible. Children as young as 12 months of age benefit from having a cochlear implant, because it provides them with vital exposure to sounds during the most critical time of language acquisition.
Learn more about cochlear implant at FDA.gov.
Schedule a Consultation with Pediatric ENT Associates Today!
If your child has any degree of hearing loss and you want to see his or her language develop like other children their age, then reach out to the Pediatric ENT Associates in Birmingham to see the difference we can make in you and your child’s life. Call (205) 831-0101 or fill out the online contact form today.
