Children's Hearing Aids: A Practical Guide
From your first audiology appointment to everyday management, here's what parents need to know about hearing aids for children.
Hearing aids are the most common form of hearing technology for deaf children, and for many, they make a substantial difference. Yet the early weeks with hearing aids can feel overwhelming. There's new terminology, unfamiliar equipment, and the daily challenge of keeping tiny devices on a child who'd rather throw them across the room. This guide covers the practicalities — the things that parents tell us they wished someone had explained properly.
How Hearing Aids Work
A hearing aid picks up sound through a microphone, amplifies it, and delivers the louder sound to the ear through a speaker. Digital hearing aids — which is what your child will be fitted with — also shape the sound to match the specific pattern of your child's hearing loss. So if your child hears low-pitched sounds better than high-pitched ones, the hearing aid will boost the high frequencies more.
They don't restore normal hearing. What they do is make sounds louder and clearer, giving your child better access to speech and the sounds around them. How much benefit a hearing aid provides depends on the type and degree of hearing loss.
Types of Hearing Aids for Children
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Aids
Nearly all children in the UK are fitted with BTE hearing aids. The main unit sits behind the ear, and a custom-made earmould directs the amplified sound into the ear canal. BTEs are durable, easy to adjust, and come in a range of colours. Many children enjoy choosing bright or patterned moulds and cases.
Bone Conduction Hearing Aids
For children with conductive hearing loss or conditions that mean they can't wear a conventional earmould (such as microtia or atresia), a bone conduction device may be recommended. These transmit sound through vibrations against the skull bone, bypassing the outer and middle ear. Some are worn on a headband; others require a minor surgical procedure to attach a fixture to the bone.
The First Fitting
Your child's audiology team will take impressions of the ear canals to make custom earmoulds. The hearing aids are then programmed to match the audiogram — the graph that shows your child's hearing levels at different pitches. The audiologist will usually start with a conservative setting and increase the amplification gradually over several appointments.
Don't expect dramatic reactions at the first fitting. Some children notice the difference straight away; others seem unimpressed. Babies may startle or go quiet. All of this is normal. The important thing is consistent use in the weeks and months that follow.
Keeping Hearing Aids On
This is probably the single biggest challenge parents face, especially with babies and toddlers. A few things that help:
- Retention devices. Huggie aids, toupee tape, headbands, and clips attached to clothing can all prevent hearing aids from ending up in the dog's water bowl. Ask your audiologist what they recommend for your child's age.
- Start with short bursts. Build up wearing time gradually. Begin with calm, quiet activities and work up to noisier environments.
- Make it routine. Put the hearing aids on at the same point each morning, just like getting dressed. Children adapt to routines quickly.
- Don't make a fuss when they pull them out. Quietly replace them and carry on. Making a big reaction can turn it into a game.
- Accept some bad days. When they're teething, tired, or poorly, they won't want them in. That's fine.
Daily Care and Maintenance
Hearing aids are robust but not indestructible. A few simple habits will keep them working well:
- Check for wax in the earmould each morning and clean it with the tools your audiologist provides.
- Open the battery door at night (or dock rechargeable aids) to preserve battery life and allow moisture to escape.
- Keep hearing aids away from water, sand, and extreme heat. Remove them before bath time and swimming.
- Use a dry aid kit or electronic dehumidifier overnight, especially in humid weather.
- Carry spare batteries and a spare earmould tube if possible.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Whistling (Feedback)
A high-pitched whistle usually means the earmould isn't fitting snugly. Growing children need new moulds regularly — every few months for babies, less often for older children. If the whistling starts suddenly, check for cracks in the tubing or wax blocking the mould.
No Sound
Check the battery first. Then check for blockages in the tubing or earmould. If neither of those is the issue, contact your audiology department — the hearing aid may need repairing or reprogramming.
Sore Ears
A new earmould can sometimes cause irritation. If the skin behind the ear or inside it looks red or sore, take the hearing aid out and let the ear rest. Speak to the audiologist about adjusting the mould or trying a different material.
At School
Schools should make reasonable adjustments for deaf children wearing hearing aids. This often includes preferential seating, reducing background noise, and providing a radio aid (FM system) that sends the teacher's voice directly to the hearing aid. Our educational rights guide covers what schools are required to provide under the SEND framework.
It's helpful to meet with the school's SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) and your child's teacher of the deaf before the start of term. Make sure they know how to check that the hearing aids are working and what to do if there's a problem.
When Hearing Aids Aren't Enough
For some children, hearing aids provide excellent access to sound. For others — particularly those with severe to profound hearing loss — they may not provide enough benefit for spoken language development. If that's the case, your audiology team may discuss a referral for cochlear implant assessment. This doesn't mean hearing aids have "failed"; it means your child may benefit from a different type of technology.
Regardless of the technology, language access is what matters. Our communication options guide explores the different approaches families use, often alongside hearing aids.
If you've got questions about your child's hearing aids that this guide doesn't answer, your audiologist is the best person to ask. You can also contact us or come along to one of our parent support groups — there's usually someone who's dealt with whatever you're going through.