Dolls, stuffed animals and toys with a cochlear implant

Diversity is playing a bigger role in today’s toy market  and that includes toys designed especially for children with hearing loss.

Dolls with cochlear implants, cuddly toys with built-in hearing aids, and sound toys made for children with hearing devices — toys that celebrate diversity and inclusion can send a wonderful message to families with children with hearing loss, especially during the holiday season.

Toys for everyone

Mattel has been offering a Barbie doll with a pink hearing aid since 2022. ©Mattel

The British initiative #ToyLikeMe demonstrates how diverse toys can be. Since 2015, the campaign has been promoting more diversity in the toys. What started out as a small group has now grown into a non-profit organization that is "based on art and play and playfully initiates conversations about disability."

Examples range from plush unicorns with CI to LEGO sets with wheelchair users to dolls with arm prostheses. The online shop offers a wide range of toys for children with different impairments and disabilities. The aim is for every child to be able to identify with their toys. This not only promotes self-esteem but also shows that diversity is a natural part of life.

Dolls with cochlear implants

Miniland deals with the topics of diversity and inclusion with a selection of different baby dolls. ©Miniland

In Spain, two doll manufacturers have taken up the topic of cochlear implants. In addition to the dolls from Miniland there is a 35-centimeter Nenuco baby doll with CIs. In the United States, toy giant Mattel released a Barbie doll with pink hearing aids in 2022 due to high demand in its "Fashionista" series. And already in 2017, competitor Lottie Dolls launched the Mia doll. She is a young wildlife photographer with a CI, who encourages children worldwide.

There are options in Austria too: the Vienna toy shop Das Wilde Böckle offers dolls with cochlear implants. Thanks to their in-house 3D printer, even children’s own stuffed animals or dolls at home can get a matching CI audio processor. Depending on the size, hearing aids or CIs can be printed and conveniently delivered right to your door.

Cuddly toys with hearing aids and CIs

Inclusion has made its way into stuffed toys and plush dolls, too. The Austrian CI manufacturer MED-EL offers Mellie, a cute plush elephant with a cochlear implant. The German online shop Bajula also features a range of animals, including a bear, cat, fox, monkey, and horse, each with a sewn-on hearing aid or CI.

Why inclusive toys are so valuable

Toys with hearing aids help children with a CI or hearing aids strengthen their own identity. When they discover an image of themselves in dolls or playing figures, it strengthens their self-confidence and gives them a sense of normality.

At the same time, children without hearing impairment learn that hearing aids are a natural part of everyday life. In addition, such toys stimulate conversations about hearing, technology and diversity.

Christmas and inclusion - an invitation to play

MED-EL supports children with cochlear implants through Mellie, the cuddly elephant plush toy. ©MED-EL

The growing range of inclusive toys is giving families new ways to celebrate diversity. Dolls, plush animals, and play figures with hearing aids or cochlear implants are more than just gifts — they help build understanding and acceptance. Under the Christmas tree, hearing aids and cochlear implants can naturally become part of children’s play, bringing a little more everyday inclusion to family life.