[Hearing aid management in young children with residual hearing and implications for use of cochlear implants]

Hearing aid fitting in children with profound sensorineural hearing loss (greater than 90 dB) has been regarded as problematic because of the risk of a further hearing aid induced damage. Maximal output levels of 125 dB (SPL) were the upper limit in such cases. We believe, that the danger of a further damage to hearing as a consequence of too high output levels has been overestimated. We therefore offer a strategy which may make it possible, to benefit from high output levels (up to 140 dB (SPL)) and at the same time may reduce the risk of further hearing damage. Furthermore the limit between hearing aid fitting an cochlear implantation is discussed.