Hearing aids for children: paediatric audiology in Horst, from the hearing test to school

In short

Children hear differently, and they need different hearing aids than adults: robust, with earmoulds that grow with them, and with technology for nursery, school and the sports field. In Horst we have our own paediatric audiology. The hearing test is a game, the insurer pays more for children than for adults, and the earlier a child hears well, the easier it learns to speak.

Why early matters so much

A child learns language through the ear. What it does not hear in the first years, it cannot repeat; what it only half hears, it repeats indistinctly. That is why newborn hearing screening has existed since 2009, and why a child with hearing loss should get a hearing aid as early as possible. The paediatrician, the ENT practice and paediatric audiology make the diagnosis. We make sure the hearing aid then works in everyday life.

How parents notice a hearing loss

• Baby: does not startle at loud noises, does not turn its head towards a voice.
• Toddler: speaks late or indistinctly, does not react when called from behind, turns the television up loud.
• School child: often asks again, seems inattentive, is exhausted after school, understands worse in a group than one-to-one.

Many children compensate for a hearing loss for a long time by lip-reading and guessing. It often only becomes noticeable at nursery or in the first year of school. If you are unsure: a hearing test with us costs nothing and does not hurt.

How the hearing test works for children

No child sits still in a booth pressing a button. With small children we use play audiometry: at every tone the child may stack a block or turn over a picture. Older children take the test like adults, only shorter and with breaks. We look into the ear canal with the video otoscope, check the eardrum and measure from which volume the child hears tones and words. Parents are there the whole time.

Which hearing aids for children

• Behind the ear: children almost always get BTE devices. The earmoulds are made of soft material and renewed every few months because the ear canal grows. The device itself stays.
• Child-safe: battery compartment with a lock so no button cell ends up in the mouth; robust housings; retention clips for sport.
• Colours: children may choose. A bright blue hearing aid gets worn more readily than a beige one.
• For nursery and school: wireless microphones such as Phonak Roger or Oticon EduMic bring the teacher's voice straight into the ear, over the noise of the group. The school helps with the application.
• Growing with the child: we readjust the devices regularly because hearing and ear canal change.

What the health insurer pays

For children and adolescents, statutory insurers pay higher Festbeträge than for adults, and they cover the batteries. No co-payment applies before the 18th birthday. Earmoulds, repairs and aftercare are regulated through the insurer. What applies in your case, we clarify with your insurer before you sign anything.

Who works with us

A child with a hearing aid has a team: the ENT practice, paediatric audiology, often an early-intervention centre or speech therapy, the nursery or school, and us. We exchange notes so the hearing aid's settings match what the others observe. Our paediatric audiology site is Horst; the first consultation is also possible in the other shops.

Tips for parents

• Praise the wearing, not the device. A hearing aid is as normal as glasses.
• Speak from the front and at eye level, not louder but more clearly.
• Keep a drying pouch handy: children sweat, splash, run.
• Bring your child to the aftercare appointments even when all is well. Children rarely say on their own that something is too quiet.

Book a free hearing test for your child, ideally in Horst. We take our time, for your child and for your questions.