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Regardless of age or level of hearing loss, Phonak offers solutions for unilateral hearing loss which are easy-to-use, while ensuring that listening remains fun.

Choices of hearing solutions are unique as your child

Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) is a type of hearing impairment where there is normal hearing in one ear and any degree of hearing loss in the other ear. It is estimated that up to 6.3%1, or 4.4 million children2, in the United States are living with UHL. Phonak is dedicated to advancing the treatment approach for UHL, so every child has the best chance to succeed in life.

UHL effects on children

Untreated UHL may result in language delays and academic difficulties, but may also cause your child to suffer from fatigue, feel withdrawn or leave them suseptible to a greater risk of social and emotional difficulties. Research indicates:

  • Children with UHL are 10 times more likely to need to repeat a year of school than children with normal hearing.3
  • They are 5 times more likely to need support services.4

These effects are signficant for the 1 in 1000 newborns identified with UHL5 and the 3 in 100 children who have UHL once they are school-aged.6

image hispanic girl at school
image teen girl clinmbing up a wall

What experts recommend for UHL7

In an effort to advance the treatment approach for UHL, Phonak brought together an international panel of experts to discuss best practices. They made the following recommendations:

  • Intervention by the age of 6 months is imperative as UHL can negatively impact a child’s development, including their speech understanding, cognition and speech/language development.
  • A variety of hearing technologies should be considered as part of early intervention for every child with UHL.
  • Audiologists have an important role in providing support, information, and resources to families throughout their child’s hearing journey.

How Phonak can help

Our vision is to ensure success for every child with UHL right from the start. As there are many considerations in choosing the right hearing technology or multiple technologies as they grow, Phonak offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use portfolio of hearing solutions.

Aidable hearing loss on one side

When your child has some hearing loss on one side that is aidable, Phonak Sky™ B provides the ultimate in performance. Specifically designed for kids, the AutoSense Sky OS operating system, automatically adapts to your child’s everyday listening needs.

More information about Phonak Sky B

Severe to profound hearing loss on one side

Option A

Phonak CROS B is a microphone built in a small behind-the-ear housing that picks up sound from the impaired side and sends the sound to the normal hearing ear wearing a small Sky B BTE. With advanced processing, this system is great when a child needs to hear someone on their bad side.

More information about Phonak CROS B

Severe to profound hearing loss on one side

Option B

Roger™ Focus along with a Roger microphone is an easy-to-use system that sends a teacher or peer’s voice directly into your child’s normal hearing ear. This approach eliminates distracting noise, allowing your child to hear and understand more of what’s being said, no matter where they sit.

More information about Roger™ Focus

Roger for all children with unilateral hearing loss

At Phonak, we believe that all children should have the chance to succeed in school and therefore offer a family of Roger™ solutions for every child with UHL, regardless of the type of hearing aid they may wear daily.

More information about the Roger solutions

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References

1Ross, D.S., Visser, S.N., Holstrum, W.J., Qin, T, & Kenneson, A. (2010). Highly variable population-based prevalence rates of unilateral hearing loss after the application of common case definitions. Ear and Hearing. 31(1): 126-133. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0b013e3181bb69db

2Central Intelligence Agency. (2017). The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html, accessed May 23rd, 2018.

3Bess, F.H. & Tharpe, A.M. (1986). Case history data on unilaterally hearing-impaired children. Ear and Hearing, 7, 14-19.

4Oyler, R.F., Oyler, A.L., & Matkin, N.D. (1988). Unilateral hearing loss: demographics and educational impact. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. 19, 201–210. https://doi.org/10.1044/0161-1461.1902.201

5Prieve, B., Dalzell, L., Berg, A., Bradley, M., Cacace, A., Campbell, D. , DeCristofaro, J., Gravel, J., Greenberg, E., Gross, S., Orlando, M., Pinheiro, J., Regan, J., Spivak, L., & Stevens, F. (2000). The New York State universal newborn hearing screening demonstration project: Outpatient outcome measures. Ear and Hearing, 21 (2), 104–117.

6Bess, F. H., Dodd-Murphy, J., & Parker, R. A. (1998). Children with minimal sensorineural hearing loss: prevalence, educational performance, and functional status. Ear and Hearing, 19(5), 339–354.

7Bagatto, M., DesGeorges, J., King, A., Kitterick, P., Laurnagaray, D., Lewis, S.,…Tharpe, A.M. (2018). Quick Practice Guideline - Tools and considerations for assessing and managing unilateral hearing loss in children. Retrieved from https://www.phonakpro.com/evidence, accessed May 23rd, 2018.