ABSTRACT
Developments in newborn hearing screening and diagnostic auditory brainstem response assessments have meant that hearing impairment can be identified within weeks of birth. Paediatric habilitation continues throughout childhood with the support emphasis shifting from parent to child to adolescent before transition to adult services. Once a child is diagnosed with a hearing loss, referrals are made in agreement with families to audiology, hearing support services, ENT, paediatricians and for aetiological investigations to inform habilitation planning, hearing aid selection and family counselling. In the UK, hearing support teachers are a critical bridge between children, families, schools and audiologists to facilitate hearing aid use, education and effective amplification. Early amplification, support and monitoring are key to achieving the goals of paediatric hearing habilitation. Family engagement is critical. While our goal is to provide effective amplification and constantly review this in response to family observations, investigations, assessments and changing technology, it is the family that manages hearing impairment on a daily basis.
