Teaching Your Child to Care for Hearing Aids
Posted on: 7 November 2016
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Getting hearing aids is a big step for a child with hearing impairment, and teaching your child how to care for his or her hearing aids will help to keep them working properly. Use this guide to help your child adjust to daily life with hearing aids and to keep the hearing aids in great working condition.
Establish a Routine
Remembering to put the hearing aids in every day may be difficult at first. Making them part of your child's daily dressing routine can help your child remember to wear the hearing aids every day. Have your child put the hearing aids in after putting his or her clothes on, and consider placing a flash card with a picture of hearing aids on your child's closet or dresser as a gentle reminder.
Store Hearing Aids in a Safe Place
Hearing aids are small, and they can be lost easily. They can also pose a choking hazard for your child's younger siblings or pets. Place a container on your child's nightstand or dresser so he or she can put them away before bedtime. The container should be one with a lid or top that closes and therefore can prevent the hearing aids from getting lost. This container can also be placed in your child's backpack so he or she can store the hearing aids safely when participating in swimming or other activities that might damage them.
Place a Reminder in the Bathroom
Hearing aids can't be worn in the bath or shower, but your child may have a difficult time remembering this at first. Consider placing a flashcard or note on the wall next to the bathtub reminding your child to check his or her ears to make sure the hearing aids have been taken out. This can prevent the hearing aids from becoming damaged by water.
Keep a Supply of Batteries
Hearing-aid batteries are an important part of keeping hearing aids maintained. Keep a supply of backup batteries on hand, and teach your child how to change the batteries. Your child should be able to change them when in school or away from home, so keep a package of them in your child's backpack. Remember that hearing-aid batteries can cause injuries if swallowed, so they should be kept out of the reach of young children and pets. Work with your child's doctor and audiologist to ensure your child is old enough to handle the batteries, and find a safe place to store them away from younger siblings and animals.
Once your child has gotten into the routine of wearing and caring for hearing aids, he or she will be on the road to better hearing and communication with the outside world. Be sure to ask the audiologist any questions you have about caring for your child's hearing aids. You can also consult a hearing-aid company such as County Hearing And Balance.