Brief Answer:
Cochlear implant preferred

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthCareMagic. I am sorry to know about the situation of your child. It is good that the delay has not been much and appropriate support may help her return to normal life with reasonable hearing and speech. I have gone through the reports attached. All hearing aids, be it the external ones or cochlear implants increase the intensity of sound and hence augment hearing. The effectivity of hearing aids depends at least to some extent on whether the hearing loss is conductive or sensorineural. Digital hearing aids like Oticon SP help in selecting the frequencies of sound that need to be augmented more and thereby reduce noise. Cochlear aids go a step further and try to replace the function of the hair cells of the inner ear. Cochlear implants are more effective in case of sensorineural hearing loss.

As per the reports, the impedance test reports are more or less normal (except for certain changes beyond certain frequency). So conductive hearing loss is less likely. Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) has given poor results indicating that the hearing loss is sensorineural. So, cochlear implant would be the best in a child of such age. It is effective and should give the child a reasonable hearing. The effect varies from person to person and hence the exact effectivity cannot be commented upon without trying it. It is to be backed up by proper speech therapy.

Although digital hearing aids like Oticon SP would also work reasonably, I would place my preference strongly on cochlear implants. The main drawback of a cochlear implant is its price. So, you will have to discuss the issues with the doctor under whom the treatment is to progress. Early intervention is advisible. Upto the time when you finally go for cochlear implant, you may try the option of Oticon SP.

Hearing has two parts, one is the capture of the sound waves and its convertion into an electrical form which the nerves convey. The other part is the interpretation. In general, children hear and try to interpret all sorts of sounds from birth. In case of your child, the hearing would practically start after the hearing aid starts working. So, it may take some time before she can interpret those sounds. Speech therapy will stimulate this process and reduce the duration. The exact duration cannot be commented upon at this point of time.

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Brief Answer:
Most children comply well

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

I understand your concerns. Let me assure you that this is the question that most parents ask. A similar situation is of children being given spectacles. But rest assured that they are well tolerated. The children in whom cochlear implants are placed, comply with the treatment and do not try to pull it off. This is because of the fact that the children very soon understand that the aid is actually doing them good and not harm. Since they are benefited with the aid, they tend not to fight it and do not try to remove them. So, I would not consider it dangerous.

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