At what age can a child begin using a bone-anchored system with a softband?
Answer
Based on my conversation with practicing pediatric audiologists, many children are ready to get a bone-anchored system on a softband as young as five or six months of age. The rationale for this age has to do with head control. When the child exhibits some head control and when the softband with the device in place will stay on the head, it is often an indication that the child should be ready to begin wearing it.
This Ask the Expert was adapted from the text course Surgical and Audiological Considerations in Pediatric Bone Anchored Solutions - click here to access the full course.
Director of Clinical Research and Professional Relations
Dr Ravi Sockalingam is the director of clinical research and professional relations for Oticon Medical LLC. A native of Singapore, he completed his training in speech pathology and audiology at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia where he also received his PhD in Audiology. As a full time faculty in audiology he had taught and undertaken research in various areas of audiology in Australia, Israel, Canada, China, New Zealand. Prior to joining Oticon Medical LLC in Dec 2010, he was the senior audiologist and manager of audiology communications at Oticon’s international head quarters in Smorum, Denmark for three years.
Related Courses
1https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/bone-conduction-hearing-devices-pediatric-36632Bone Conduction Hearing Devices (BCHD): Clinical and Surgical Considerations in PediatricsThis course will provide information on clinical considerations for Bone Conduction Hearing Devices (BCHDs) in the pediatric population. Both non-surgical and surgical options will be discussed with a focus on transitioning patients from a softband to surgical BCHD.auditory, textual, visual
This course will provide information on clinical considerations for Bone Conduction Hearing Devices (BCHDs) in the pediatric population. Both non-surgical and surgical options will be discussed with a focus on transitioning patients from a softband to surgical BCHD.
2https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/ponto-5-mini-advanced-fitting-37508Ponto 5 Mini Advanced Fitting Techniques - Adult and Pediatric PopulationsThis course will train clinicians on best practices and advanced fitting techniques for fitting the Ponto 5 Mini for both adults and children. This course will use case studies to illustrate examples of challenging fitting scenarios for both adults and children.auditory, textual, visual
This course will train clinicians on best practices and advanced fitting techniques for fitting the Ponto 5 Mini for both adults and children. This course will use case studies to illustrate examples of challenging fitting scenarios for both adults and children.
3https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/oticonmed-ponto-children-36774Fitting Children with a Ponto System - Best PracticesThis course is dedicated to reviewing fitting guidelines for children with a Ponto System. Specifically, the course will focus on best practices when fitting a child with a Ponto 3 SuperPower and a Ponto 4 Sound Processor. We will review the different parameters within Genie Medical as well as introduce new pediatric resources to assist with the fitting process of a young child.auditory, textual, visual
This course is dedicated to reviewing fitting guidelines for children with a Ponto System. Specifically, the course will focus on best practices when fitting a child with a Ponto 3 SuperPower and a Ponto 4 Sound Processor. We will review the different parameters within Genie Medical as well as introduce new pediatric resources to assist with the fitting process of a young child.
4https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/making-most-ponto-for-kids-34080Making the Most of Ponto for KidsThis course will provide a review of the connectivity options that are available for Ponto devices and resources available in the Genie Medical software. The course will also include options and special considerations for pediatric patients.auditory, textual, visual
This course will provide a review of the connectivity options that are available for Ponto devices and resources available in the Genie Medical software. The course will also include options and special considerations for pediatric patients.
5https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/clinical-evidence-supporting-open-sound-36420Clinical Evidence Supporting OpenSound Navigator in Children with Hearing LossThis course is designed to present new key evidence related to the use of Oticon Ponto 4 Bone Anchored Hearing System in the pediatric population. This course will demonstrate how signal processing in the Ponto 4 (OpenSound Navigator) differs from traditional signal processing strategies, and how these differences open the possibility of signal processing at younger ages.auditory, textual, visual
This course is designed to present new key evidence related to the use of Oticon Ponto 4 Bone Anchored Hearing System in the pediatric population. This course will demonstrate how signal processing in the Ponto 4 (OpenSound Navigator) differs from traditional signal processing strategies, and how these differences open the possibility of signal processing at younger ages.
