ABSTRACT
Much attention has been given to the potential difficulties encountered by children
with permanent unilateral and minimal or mild bilateral hearing loss. Psychoeducational
and psychosocial problems have been well documented in a large percentage of these
children. However, audiologists remain concerned about the appropriate application
of hearing technologies in children with these mild degrees of losses and the effectiveness
of these technologies. Concerns generally center on which of these children should
use hearing technology, which technologies are most effective, and how the technology
should be fitted. Furthermore, audiologists are uncertain about when children should
be fit with hearing technology. This review of hearing technologies used with children
who have permanent unilateral hearing loss or minimal or mild bilateral hearing loss
is intended to serve as a guide to audiologists when considering possible technology
options and fitting configurations. It is clear that hearing technology decisions
must be made on a child-by-child basis taking into consideration each child's unique
set of listening needs and obstacles.
KEYWORDS
Hearing aids - FM - unilateral hearing loss - mild hearing loss
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Anne Marie TharpePh.D.
Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, Vanderbilt
University
1215 21st Ave. South, #8310, Medical Center East, South Tower, Nashville, TN 37232-8242
eMail: anne.m.tharpe@vanderbilt.edu
