For children with single-sided deafness (SSD), a lack of binaural hearing can affect speech understanding in noise, sound localization, learning, and everyday interaction. In this article, Annabelle Fischer explores the causes and consequences of SSD, compares current treatment options, and explains how cochlear implantation, when combined with targeted rehabilitation and family support, can help children unlock the benefits of hearing with both ears.

The Hearing Healthcare Alliance (HHA)—a strategic partnership between MED-EL and the Austrian Development Agency—worked to enhance the diagnosis and rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss across numerous countries in the Global South.

Early auditory development plays a critical role in a child’s spoken communication journey. Supporting families and professionals during these early years requires tools like ReDi and the LittlEARS ® Auditory Questionnaire that are simple, accessible, and practical in home and clinical environments.

Hearing professionals can use the EARS® (Evaluation of Auditory Responses to Speech) test battery to assess the auditory skills of children with hearing loss. Delivering a robust framework for tracking progress and informing developmentally appropriate goals, EARS is now available for download as a digital resource in several languages.

Children who receive cochlear implants later often face a significant gap in language development. Discover the challenges they face in school plus strategies you can use to support them in the classroom.

What is taught and practiced in rehabilitation therapy sessions can provide improved hearing and speaking abilities faster after implantation if these skills are also routinely practiced at home between sessions. This article introduces The Essential Strategy Cards, a free set of cards to assist caretakers and parents as they help young hearing implant recipients develop between therapy sessions.