How Long Should Children Wear Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants & How to Make It Happen

During the first few years of life, babies spend a lot of time sleeping! The moments they’re awake are amazing opportunities to connect, interact, and learn together.

For babies with hearing loss, they'll need a little extra support to make the most of the time they're awake – how can you help? Be sure to keep their hearing devices on during all waking hours, so they don’t miss a moment of listening, learning, and brain building.

From day one, a baby’s brain builds connections through sound and interaction – strengthening the pathways they need to listen, talk, read, and thrive!

Why Is Hearing Device Wear Time So Important?

Children with typical hearing hear sounds all day long – voices, laughter, music, and everyday moments that help them learn to listen and talk. Children with hearing loss need a little extra support – and that’s where you come in.

By keeping hearing devices on during all waking hours, you give your child the best possible access to speech and everyday sounds happening around them. Each moment they wear their hearing aid or cochlear implant is another chance to learn, connect, and grow.

All those moments add up, and daily wear time makes a BIG difference for your child’s listening and talking journey.

It’s All About the Brain!

A baby is born with about 100 billion brain cells, and through listening and interaction, these brain cells connect to form pathways needed for listening, talking, and reading.

The more a child wears their hearing devices, the more words they’ll hear, and the stronger the connections and pathways will become!

Learn more about your baby’s brain and find everything you need to be the best brain builder for your little one inside Lesson 1 of First LSL Lessons.

How Long Should Children Wear Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants?

All waking hours is the goal!

Research shows children who wear their hearing aids or cochlear implants for 10-12 hours per day make the most progress in learning to listen and talk. ¹

So, any time your little one is awake, their devices should be on. From breakfast to diaper changes, playtime to story time, those everyday moments are where listening and learning happen!

This infographic shows what "all waking hours" really looks like in a day – and why consistency matters. It’s easy to share with teachers, daycare providers, and caregivers, so everyone understands how important wear time is for your child’s listening and talking journey!

Tips for Reaching Your Wear Time Goals

Reaching your wear time goals for your child can take practice, patience, and a few helpful strategies along the way. These simple tips can help you build routines, keep devices on little ears, and make the most of everyday moments for listening and learning.

Set Helpful Habits

Habits make daily routines easier! Just like washing your hands or brushing your teeth became automatic, wearing hearing devices all day can become a natural part of your child’s routine.

Try a simple morning routine:

• Do a quick visual and listening check for your child’s devices
• Put hearing devices on your little one right away
• Talk to your baby and observe their response to sound
• Keep devices on during everyday moments

Repeat, remind, and reflect! Repeat this morning routine, set reminders around your house or on your phone, and reflect on how it’s going with your early interventionist and care team!

Devices On During Daily Routines

There are so many opportunities just waiting in your everyday moments that are perfect for helping your child practice their listening and talking skills:

• Getting dressed
• Diaper changes
• Playing
• Feeding
• Walks, outings, and car rides
• Reading aloud together

Each moment helps your child soak up sounds and interactions happening around them while they wear their hearing devices. Find more tips about making the most of your daily routines in this helpful video!

Keeping Devices On

It’s normal for many children to pull off their devices, or they might fall off – you are not alone! Here are a few tips to help you keep your child’s devices on, so they can access the sounds around them during all waking hours.

Between Naps Matters

Even short stretches between naps are great times for your child to listen and learn! Remember, the more your child wears their hearing device, the more words they’ll hear, the stronger the connections are forming in their brain to learn to listen, talk, and read!

Redirect

If your child takes a device off, shift their focus to something new – like a toy or a favorite song – to keep their attention and hands busy.

Put the Device Right Back On

Even if your child takes a device off again and again, simply and calmly put it back on each time. Each effort adds up and makes a big difference to build a bright future of listening and talking for your child!

Curious Toddlers

Little ones are naturally curious and love to test the limits. If your toddler keeps pulling off their devices, try not to make it a big moment. A calm response while simply putting the devices back on helps even the most curious toddler learn to keep them on.

Helpful Tools

There are many tools available to help support wear time and keep devices on little ears:

• Pilot caps: Hearing device-friendly pilot caps for babies help keep hearing aids and cochlear implants snug and secure – and keep tiny hands from pulling them off.
• Headbands: Headbands come in lots of shapes and sizes, and some even have special pockets or attachments for hearing devices.
• Cords, Hooks, or Clips: Many simply attach to your child’s clothing, so the devices are less likely to get lost or damaged.
• Accessory to “Hug” the Ear: These attach the device to a soft rubber tube or flexible piece that snugly fits your child’s ear to help keep it in place.
• Adhesive: Double-sided medical or wig tape will help keep the device on when used properly.

Explore this helpful infographic to find tried-and-true tips for keeping hearing devices on little ears so your child can wear their hearing devices all waking hours!

Remember: you are doing a great job, and your persistence is worth it!

Share with Others

Anyone spending time with your baby needs to know the importance of hearing technology wear time and how to keep devices on properly.

Whether your child attends daycare or spends time with family members, share your commitment to wear time so everyone can help support your child’s listening and language journey.

Prefer to Watch a Video?

Hear from Dr. Teresa Caraway, a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 40 years of experience. You’ll learn why wear time matters and get practical tips for keeping devices on little ears.

¹ Tomblin JB, Harrison M, Ambrose SE, Walker EA, Oleson JJ, Moeller MP. Language Outcomes in Young Children with Mild to Severe Hearing Loss. Ear Hear. 2015 Nov-Dec;36 Suppl 1(0 1):76S-91S. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000219. PMID: 26731161; PMCID: PMC4704115.