The dynamic listening environments that a child encounters have challenged hearing aid manufacturers to create hearing aid options designed for children. The manufacturers, Phonak and Oticon, have recently included a 5-year warranty on their current line of pediatric products. Furthermore, these products are rated IP68, giving parents peace of mind that the hearing aids can withstand the environmental debris of a playground or an accidental dip in the bathtub. Additionally, tamperproof options are available for preventive safety measures. The tamperproof solution allows parents to choose a non-rechargeable battery option for their child's hearing aid, without the worry of a swallowing hazard.
A phone application is available, both Android and iPhone compatible, for the Oticon Exceed Play pediatric product line. This application assists parents and older children with controlling the hearing aid and enables the "find my hearing aid" feature. Depending on the age of the child, the amount of activity, and willingness to wear the device, having the ability to locate the hearing aid when lost may be beneficial.
The Sky Marvel hearing aid connects to many Bluetooth-enabled devices, including most older Bluetooth phones, however, the Oticon Play device is a made for iPhone hearing aid, and can only be paired for Apple users. If streaming phone calls, music, or educational materials directly from an Android device is essential in your family lifestyle, then this may be important to consider when making your decision.
