The insertion gain measured in 34 children of up to 6 years of age with symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, who were fitted successfully with binaural hearing aids, was compared in retrospect to the calculated insertion gain using two different prescriptive methods: the half-gain rule (HGR) and the desired sensation level method (DSL). The measured and calculated values were in fair agreement with the results of both of the prescription methods. The desired saturated sound pressure levels calculated using the DSL method and those measured on a 2-cc coupler were in fair agreement.