Hearing Assistance Technology for Children: Candidacy and Selection

Abstract

Hearing assistance technology (HAT) significantly improves listening abilities of children with hearing loss and other auditory disorders in noisy environments, such as typical classrooms. Determining candidacy for HAT and selection of the most appropriate type of HAT for children may be a daunting task because of the wide variety of current device options. Therefore, the goal of this article is to summarize a simple four-step process for determining candidacy and selecting HAT for children, including a summary of the most current research. The four steps include: (1) determining candidacy for HAT with up-to-date research, (2) reviewing current device options, (3) considering child characteristics and listening environments, and (4) using research to support the HAT recommendation. Completion of these four steps will yield evidence-based recommendations stemming from a combination of the best available research, professional expertise, and child-specific characteristics.