About hearing loss

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Understanding your child’s hearing loss can help you feel more informed and confident when making decisions about their care and support. Explore information about how hearing works, different types and degrees of hearing loss, hearing tests, hearing aids, cochlear implants and other hearing technologies.

Hearing loss

In this section, you can learn more about hearing loss, the tests used to diagnose a hearing loss and how the audiologists and doctors describe the type and severity of a hearing loss.

Causes of hearing loss

One of the first questions parents ask when their baby is diagnosed with a hearing loss is “Why?” Find out about the main causes of hearing loss and the tests done to find a possible cause.

Hearing aids

Hearing aids are provided free of charge to all children in Australia. Digital technology allows each hearing aid to be programmed to suit your child’s hearing needs.

Cochlear implants

Cochlear implants provide a sensation of hearing to children who have permanent severe to profound deafness and cannot hear the full range of speech sounds with hearing aids.

Assistive listening devices

Assistive listening devices stream the sound directly to the hearing aids and cochlear implants. They improve the listening experience in many situations – at home and school.

Specific hearing losses

Explore specific hearing losses, such as unilateral and mild hearing loss, and how they impact on the child and some considerations for management and support.