Contents
- Top 7 hearing aid manufacturers according to KP
- How to choose a hearing aid for a child
In everyday life, hearing aids are any device devices that amplify sound and feed it into the auditory canal. However, from a medical point of view, this is a big misconception. There are sound amplifiers (the cheapest devices) that people often choose on their own. They do not require certification, evenly increase the volume of all sounds and are equipped with only a volume control.
For children, only hearing aids are suitable for hearing correction, hearing amplifiers are contraindicated (their use in children under 14 is prohibited). In addition, in-the-canal and in-the-ear hearing aids are not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Behind-the-ear products are considered the most optimal devices for children from an early age. Which of the manufacturers produce products that can be used in childhood?
Top 7 hearing aid manufacturers according to KP
In Our Country, the following manufacturers of hearing aids for children are best known:
- PHONAK is a Swiss manufacturer of hearing care products, one of the oldest and most well-known in the industry, with offices in more than 100 countries around the world.
- WIDEX is a Danish manufacturer that has been developing hearing aids since 1956. They produce products for people of all ages, including children.
- Aurica is a company operating on the market since 2007. It produces budget hearing aids of different classes for adults and children.
- Siemens is a home appliance manufacturer that also manufactures medical products, including hearing aids for adults and children. Since 2003, all devices of this company have been digital only.
- Unitron is a manufacturer of hearing aids under the brands Unitron or Sonova. A well-known company specializing in the production of products for hearing correction.
- ReSound is a manufacturer of premium digital hearing aids for children and adults.
- Signia is a well-known manufacturer of hearing aids and mobile applications for hearing-impaired adults and children of the premium series.
We emphasize one important point: hearing aids run on batteries – they have specific batteries that are not compatible with other devices. For behind-the-ear models of hearing aids, type 13 zinc-air batteries are used. They require regular replacement in accordance with the instructions for the device. Ordinary household hearing aid batteries are not applicable.
1. Phonak Baseo Q5 hearing aid range
Hearing aids of this line belongs to a series of digital programmable devices. This is a behind-the-ear model for children with individual settings. Modifications have different power options, additionally indicated in Latin letters – M, P, SP. These indicators depend on the individual audiological indicators of the child’s hearing.
Features:
| Class | base |
| channels | two |
| Features | adaptive multi-channel noise suppression and speech intelligibility enhancement system, basic noise suppression system, |
| Additional functions | feedback suppression function |
| Power | selected individually |
| Compatible with iOS or Android | no |
Advantages and disadvantages
2. Widex DREAM D30-FA hearing aid line
Modern behind-the-ear hearing aids in this series are medium or very powerful models. They have been produced since 2013 and have proven themselves in work. There is the possibility of individual selection of the class of the device and even its appearance. Products are created on the basis of a special microchip “True ISP”. The device is available in two versions: to compensate for moderate and deep hearing loss. Selected with the help of an audiologist.
Features:
| Class | base |
| channels | three |
| Power | for moderate or severe hearing loss alone |
| Features | adaptive multi-channel noise suppression system |
| Additional functions | feedback suppression function |
| Compatible with IOS or Android | no |
Advantages and disadvantages
3. Aurica Classica M18 line of hearing aids
These are one of the most affordable hearing aids for older children. They have a small behind-the-ear body and are equipped with an inductive coil with two additional regulators. The maximum sound pressure can be adjusted to protect the ear from sounds that are too loud, and there is also the option of separately adjusting the bass. Suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss.
Features:
| Class | the most budget |
| View | analog |
| Application | with mild to moderate deafness |
| Method settings | trim (manual, non-programmable) |
| Additional functions | loud noise suppression function |
| Compatible with iOS or Android | no |
Advantages and disadvantages
4. Line of hearing aids Siemens STF P T1
This device has a standard behind-the-ear housing, helping to compensate for a wide range of hearing loss in children, from mild to severe. The model belongs to the basic segment, has all the necessary functions for full use. Although the model is made using analog technology, it can effectively suppress noise, has feedback suppression, the microphone is omnidirectional, and the volume can be adjusted.
Features:
| Class | budgetary |
| View | analog |
| Application | for any degree of deafness |
| Features | two channels and three programs |
| Additional functions | loud noise suppression function |
| Compatible with IOS or Android | no |
Advantages and disadvantages
5. Line of hearing aids Unitron Shine Rev 2 HPm
This product belongs to the most inexpensive digital products. The device is made on the Era platform, it can be used for children with varying degrees of hearing loss – from mild to severe hearing loss. It belongs to the basic class of devices, the body is moisture resistant, it has only two sound processing channels. In addition to the standard noise suppression, it has a windproof function that helps to amplify speech without distortion.
Features:
| Class | budgetary |
| View | digital |
| Application | for any degree of deafness |
| Features | two channels and four signal processing lanes |
| Additional functions | loud noise suppression function |
| Compatible with IOS or Android | no |
Advantages and disadvantages
6. ReSound LiNX2 5-DW hearing aid range
This is a series of digital BTE hearing aids of the middle class, with wide functionality in terms of technical capabilities and communication with Apple series digital devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), the ability to control using an application from smartphones when installing the ReSound Smart application (in ). This feature is convenient for adults, but not very useful for children. Suitable for children who are not often in very noisy environments. The hearing aid is produced in three versions, selected according to the severity of hearing loss.
Features:
| Class | average |
| View | digital |
| Application | for any degree of deafness |
| Features | 12 signal processing channels |
| Additional functions | loud noise suppression function |
| Compatible with IOS or Android | Yes |
Advantages and disadvantages
7. Line of hearing aids Signia Motion 3Px
This line of digital behind-the-ear hearing aids is based on the Primax platform. The model appeared only four years ago, but it is of high quality, it allows you to clearly hear speech and all the sounds around. Available in four different models, selected according to the level of hearing loss.
Features:
| Class | average |
| View | digital |
| Application | for any degree of deafness |
| Features | modifications with 12 and 24 signal processing channels |
| Additional functions | loud noise suppression function |
| Compatible with IOS or Android | no |
Advantages and disadvantages
How to choose a hearing aid for a child
Vera Shinkarenko, otorhinolaryngologist, audiologist at JSC “Medicina” (clinic of Academician Roitberg), member of ISA (International Society of Audiology) told Healthy Food Near Me about the intricacies of choosing hearing aids for children.
Popular questions and answers
Hearing aids are categorized according to their design. Pocket (obsolete, rare) behind the ear, intra-ear и intracanal.
Their body is molded from an individual cast of the patient’s external auditory canal, into which a rebuilt digital device is then placed. The body of a behind-the-ear hearing aid is located behind the ear at the location of the temple of the glasses. The insert of the behind-the-ear device itself can be individual, it can be standard. In terms of power, no type of digital apparatus loses to another.
With more complicated hearing loss (3 and 4 degrees of hearing loss), only behind-the-ear hearing aids are used. For very young patients, only behind-the-ear models are used.
Low power devices are designed for hearing loss of degrees 1 and 2, medium power devices are designed for degree 3 hearing loss, heavy-duty devices are designed for degree 4 hearing loss.
Separately, it is worth highlighting bone hearing aids (they are divided into implantable and non-implantable). Such devices are used for hearing loss, accompanied by an inflammatory process in the ear. This type of device provides air permeability in the shell and eliminates the impact on the infectious process in the ear.