Mattel has introduced the first ever Barbie doll with hearing aids

(NEXSTAR) – Barbie releases her first ever doll with hearing aids in June as part of Mattel’s toy maker’s efforts to make its range more diverse and inclusive.

The latest additions to the company’s Fashionista line will also include Barbie with a prosthetic leg and a doll with different body types, “including a smaller bust, gorgeous and original,” an email from a Mattel spokesman said.

Ken’s Vitiligo doll is new this year, two years after the release of Barbie with Vitiligo, which entered the top five best-selling Fashionista dolls for the first year, according to Mattel.

To make sure the hearing aids were displayed accurately, Mattel consulted with an audiology expert, Dr. Jen Richardson.

“As an audiologist by education with more than 18 years of experience in promoting hearing loss, it’s inspiring to see those who experience hearing loss reflected in a doll,” Richardson said. “I’m thrilled to have my little patients see and play with a doll like them.”

Barbie and Doll World Manager Lisa McKnight said it is important for children to see themselves in the toys they play with, as well as play with dolls that are not like them, to foster a sense of inclusion.

“Barbie wholeheartedly believes in the power of representation, and as the most diverse line of dolls on the market, we strive to present dolls with different skin tones, body types and disabilities to reflect the diversity that children see in the world around them. them, ”McKnight said.

The latest Barbie fashionistas will sell for $ 9.99 in retail chains across the country.