[Procedure of fitting in early rehabilitation]

The early fitting of a hearing aid is an essential extension of early diagnosis, and also the first step in restoration of function. It must form part of a global approach to the child and requires the closest cooperation between the parents and the various members of the team, most especially between the speech therapist and the audiologist prescribing the aid. The electro-acoustic properties of aids should be chosen with extreme care and great precision so as to take in the two essential requirements effectiveness and harmlessness. To achieve this, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the residual hearing, and hence the importance of behavioural audiometry.