Are there non-surgical options for hearing loss in children?

Question

Hi doctor,

My niece is now 4 years old. A year ago, we noticed that she was not developing speech as expected and consulted an ENT doctor. The doctor performed several tests, including BERA, OAE, and a hearing assessment. It was confirmed that my niece has profound hearing loss.

The doctor suggested that while hearing aids might help her hear temporarily, a cochlear implant is the recommended permanent solution. Although my niece has learned a few words with the help of hearing aids, she still struggles to fully engage with us. We are having difficulty accepting the news and cannot imagine her wearing external devices for her entire life. Moreover, none of our ancestors or we have had such a problem.

We consulted a few more doctors for further confirmation and researched online, but everyone agrees that a cochlear implant is the only solution. We would like to get a final opinion from doctors around the world before proceeding with the surgery. Please tell me the following:

Is there any possibility that the problem could be different, and that a doctor might identify the actual issue while performing the cochlear implant surgery?
I have read about ongoing research into devices that do not require external wear. Are these devices available now?
If not, how many more years might it take for such devices to become available and help children with this condition?

I have attached the BERA, OAE, and hearing assessment reports for your reference. Please review them and provide your advice.

Thank you very much for your valuable time; your help is greatly appreciated and will not go unnoticed.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have reviewed your attached reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity), which clearly explain the issues. I understand your concerns and worries. While you are focused on the cosmetic appearance, it is important to prioritize normal speech and hearing.

Rehabilitation is already delayed. Do not worry about the external devices at this moment; focus on how to help her speak and hear normally. Even after the surgery, one year of speech therapy is crucial for the success of the cochlear implant. Do not let concerns about the external device delay the surgery. Try to schedule the surgery as soon as possible and start speech therapy.

The treatment plan includes speech therapy after the cochlear implant, a minimum of three days a week, conducted only by a speech-language pathologist, and regular mapping by an audiologist.

Both your niece and the speech therapist will need to work hard to achieve normal speech. CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans are still necessary for the cochlear study, and the implant can only proceed if the scans are normal. My advice is to avoid wasting any more time.

Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further.

Thank you.