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At LTH we offer a comprehensive pediatric hearing aid program, as well as pediatric and adult cochlear implant services.
PEDIATRIC HEARING AID PROGRAM:
The LTHF audiologists specialize in pediatric care! They work closely with physicians to provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary evaluation of a child’s hearing abilities, determine appropriate treatment options, and make recommendations for long-term care. We maintain a stock of loaner hearing aids from multiple manufacturers so that children can be amplified without delay after their hearing loss is identified. This also allows us to ensure that children will not be without amplification while their hearing aids are in for repair. Hearing aid services include evaluation, fitting, dispensing and follow-up of hearing aids, FM systems and other assistive listening devices (ALD). Our young patients benefit from many types of hearing aid technology, including digital, directional and multiple memory circuit hearing aids. Depending on the child’s age, size of the ear canal, and degree of hearing loss, behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, and completely-in-the-canal styles may be considered. We dispense hearing aids from various manufacturers, including but not limited to: Oticon and Phonak .
HEARING AID CHECKLIST
In The Morning… 
- Check the batteries
- Check the earmolds for any wax/dirt in the opening.
- Listen to the hearing aid using a stetho-set. (Be sure to use a filter when listening to powerful hearing aids.)
- Insert the hearing aid. (You may need oto-ease. If the earmolds are getting small, you may need to use oto-ferm to help eliminate squealing.)
Hearing aids should be worn during all waking hours, except any time they may get wet (e.g. swimming, bathing, in the rain).
At Bedtime… 
- Remove the hearing aids.
- Gently remove the earmolds, trying not to pull on the tubing.
- Place the hearing aids in the dry aid kit. (Do this every night and immediately if the hearing aids get wet from water or sweat!)
- Leave the batteries in the hearing aids while in the dry aid kit.
- The battery doors should remain open.
- Note the color of the crystals and reactivate them if necessary in the oven or microwave.
Hearing Aid Care…
- Remove the earmolds from the hearing aids and wash them once a week. Use warm water and dish soap. Rinse thoroughly. (Do this more often if you notice a lot of waxy buildup.)
- Dry the earmolds on a papertowel overnight. Use the air blower to clear the tubing, and then place them in the dry aid kit.
- Be aware that moisture/humidity can damage hearing aids! Use the dry aid kit as needed, to dry out the hearing aids.
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS:
The LTH audiologists are some of the most experienced, skilled cochlear implant audiologists in the world! Cochlear implant services for pediatric and adult patients include pre-evaluation to determine candidacy, fitting and programming of external equipment, and all follow-up services. We offer the choice of cochlear implants from all three manufacturers: Cochlear Americas, Advanced Bionics Corporation, and MED-EL.
LTH is one of the only centers to offer the Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid cochlear implant, which is currently undergoing FDA sanctioned investigational trials. This device is proving to be a highly effective treatment for those patients with hearing loss too severe to allow the effective use of hearing aids, but too good for standard cochlear implants.
BAHA® SYSTEM:
This is a unique and predictable solution for conductive and mixed loss
hearing impairment. Safe and effective, Baha is used to aid people who
present with chronic ear infections, congenital hearing loss, and single
sided deafness.
For general information about The Baha System, visit:
http://www.entific.com/aboutBaha.asp. To determine whether a Baha device
might be right for you, contact the Hearing Device Center at California Ear
Institute.
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