Tips and tricks for life with a hearing aid...
June 27, 2013 5:48 AM Subscribe
My 6 year old son got a hearing aid yesterday.....I've educated myself about his hearing loss and his device....I want to shorten the learning curve and get advice about living with a hearing loss....
What are some things that the websites, forums and user guides don't tell you? Things that you only learn after using hearing amplification for a few years? Advice for everyday life and special situations...school, social events, the movies, cell phones, etc. Best tips and tricks.....especially with children. Tips for helping his teacher when school starts back in August, dealing with teasing or questions from others...Just anything that you may have learned about having a hearing loss or a hearing aid or knowing someone who has...
He has a moderate loss in his right ear and just got the Phonak Bolero Q yesterday....seems very happy with it and so far (knock on wood) no problems or resistance to wearing...He likes his new super hearing and I'm hoping will continue to be so open to wearing it. Thanks in advance!
What are some things that the websites, forums and user guides don't tell you? Things that you only learn after using hearing amplification for a few years? Advice for everyday life and special situations...school, social events, the movies, cell phones, etc. Best tips and tricks.....especially with children. Tips for helping his teacher when school starts back in August, dealing with teasing or questions from others...Just anything that you may have learned about having a hearing loss or a hearing aid or knowing someone who has...
He has a moderate loss in his right ear and just got the Phonak Bolero Q yesterday....seems very happy with it and so far (knock on wood) no problems or resistance to wearing...He likes his new super hearing and I'm hoping will continue to be so open to wearing it. Thanks in advance!
My mother has problems with the tiny batteries and I've had difficulties trying to help her with them, as well. Maybe he will need some practice if he needs to change them.
The feedback problem with phones is probably a commonly noted problem.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:32 AM on June 27, 2013
The feedback problem with phones is probably a commonly noted problem.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:32 AM on June 27, 2013
One of my friends has hearing aids. She has a super cool remote to use with them.
One time we were at a conference, and there was a lot of background noise. She had a hard time hearing the speaker, and later she told me she'd gotten a headache because she could hear bits and pieces, but then her brain had to try and put them together, and that was too much.
I could see that being in a problem in school assemblies. Sitting up front would help.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 7:04 AM on June 27, 2013
One time we were at a conference, and there was a lot of background noise. She had a hard time hearing the speaker, and later she told me she'd gotten a headache because she could hear bits and pieces, but then her brain had to try and put them together, and that was too much.
I could see that being in a problem in school assemblies. Sitting up front would help.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 7:04 AM on June 27, 2013
I taught a student with a hearing loss this past semester (college-age). He owned a lavalier microphone that specifically transmitted directly to his hearing aid that he gave his instructors when he came to class. It worked well for this student to have my voice amplified over the sounds of his classmates talking and the ambient sounds of the computer lab where class was held.
Some cursory googling does not show the particular kind of mic I wore, so I apologize that I'm not being extraordinarily helpful here. But do ask your son's doctor/therapists/teachers about whether something like this will help him.
Wearing a mic was a complete non-issue for me as the teacher. Teaching without a mic required adjustment to my teaching style. For example, I couldn't talk while facing the white board. So it may take a little while for your son's teachers to adjust as well if they haven't had much experience with students like him. I imagine you'll have to pay close attention to what he tells you about school in order to suss out whether or not the teacher is accommodating him appropriately.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:12 AM on June 27, 2013
Some cursory googling does not show the particular kind of mic I wore, so I apologize that I'm not being extraordinarily helpful here. But do ask your son's doctor/therapists/teachers about whether something like this will help him.
Wearing a mic was a complete non-issue for me as the teacher. Teaching without a mic required adjustment to my teaching style. For example, I couldn't talk while facing the white board. So it may take a little while for your son's teachers to adjust as well if they haven't had much experience with students like him. I imagine you'll have to pay close attention to what he tells you about school in order to suss out whether or not the teacher is accommodating him appropriately.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:12 AM on June 27, 2013
I've been wearing hearing aids since I was really young.
Make sure you work w/ an audiologist who is unaffiliated with abyss brand. Look for Phds. These are the pros that can find the best combination of tools fir your son as he grows up.
Glad he US positive and liking his hearing"super hearing".
If you are in the US make sure your son is identified and has an IEP under section 508. I was mainstream but had a floating teacher who worked with HoH kids in multiple schools. She was a helpful resource for my general teachers.
Ideally speakers are close and face your son. Even tho hearing aids are lots better this allows your son to use his hearing the best he can. Certain sounds and noisy areas can be overwhelming when new. Encourage him to let you know when he doesn't hear you. Change the words you use when repeating / clarifying. It can be frustrating to ask for repeats and can be too easy to fake it and nod or ok along. I still get called out on this - old habits are hard to break :-) Feel free to pm me.
posted by Librarygeek at 8:39 AM on June 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
Make sure you work w/ an audiologist who is unaffiliated with abyss brand. Look for Phds. These are the pros that can find the best combination of tools fir your son as he grows up.
Glad he US positive and liking his hearing"super hearing".
If you are in the US make sure your son is identified and has an IEP under section 508. I was mainstream but had a floating teacher who worked with HoH kids in multiple schools. She was a helpful resource for my general teachers.
Ideally speakers are close and face your son. Even tho hearing aids are lots better this allows your son to use his hearing the best he can. Certain sounds and noisy areas can be overwhelming when new. Encourage him to let you know when he doesn't hear you. Change the words you use when repeating / clarifying. It can be frustrating to ask for repeats and can be too easy to fake it and nod or ok along. I still get called out on this - old habits are hard to break :-) Feel free to pm me.
posted by Librarygeek at 8:39 AM on June 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yes, do make sure you see an actual Audiologist (technically an AuD, those PhD folks are the researchers), with some regularity.
Hearing aids can take a bit getting used to - and each time he gets a new or different one, there will be a period of adjustment, so be prepared for that. It doesn't mean necessarily the hearing aid is the wrong sort or programmed incorrectly.
Those Phonaks are very popular aids and from what I can tell people are pretty happy with them. Keep in mind that each brand and line of aid is really different. They all use different compression, feedback reduction technology, mic direction, etc - so they are all going to sound pretty different and interact differently with other technologies. As he gets older, he'll be able to try out some different ones and different types and find one that he likes the best.
If he's had good hearing until now, and since the loss is only moderate unilateral, you probably won't have to worry too much about language development, but it's definitely something to look out for, if he starts talking quite a bit less, or, depending on where his loss is, has some other language regression, make sure to go see someone.
He may or may not benefit from an FX system in school, but it's definitely something to keep in mind. His hearing loss isn't too bad, but if he's having trouble in school, inquire about it. The teacher can wear a little mic and they put a sound field speaker on his desk and it can make it much easier for him.
Most hearing aids these days have two mics, one that sort of picks up sound in front and one that picks up sound behind. This is to make speech in noise easier to understand. But...it can still be tricky, especially for kids. So don't be too surprised if it's hard for him, especially at first, to understand speech in noisy environments.
I don't know what's causing/caused his loss, but usually if the hearing loss gets worse, the first thing a kid will say is "my hearing aid isn't working." So if he starts saying that, it's time to go back to the audiologist.
Make sure to change the batteries before you think you need to.
A lot of families keep a cheap back up pair in a drawer in case something happens to the regular ones and they need an emergency pair. Aids are expensive, so it may not make sense to buy another one, but when he moves to a different aid, just hang on to the old one and keep a fresh battery around for it.
Lastly, watch for wax impaction! Sticking that aid in your ear every day can pack the wax in and pretty soon his hearing is even worse in that ear. Usually not as much of a problem for kids since their wax tends to be wetter and comes out easier, but each kid is different.
(IANAAudiologist)
posted by Lutoslawski at 9:44 AM on June 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hearing aids can take a bit getting used to - and each time he gets a new or different one, there will be a period of adjustment, so be prepared for that. It doesn't mean necessarily the hearing aid is the wrong sort or programmed incorrectly.
Those Phonaks are very popular aids and from what I can tell people are pretty happy with them. Keep in mind that each brand and line of aid is really different. They all use different compression, feedback reduction technology, mic direction, etc - so they are all going to sound pretty different and interact differently with other technologies. As he gets older, he'll be able to try out some different ones and different types and find one that he likes the best.
If he's had good hearing until now, and since the loss is only moderate unilateral, you probably won't have to worry too much about language development, but it's definitely something to look out for, if he starts talking quite a bit less, or, depending on where his loss is, has some other language regression, make sure to go see someone.
He may or may not benefit from an FX system in school, but it's definitely something to keep in mind. His hearing loss isn't too bad, but if he's having trouble in school, inquire about it. The teacher can wear a little mic and they put a sound field speaker on his desk and it can make it much easier for him.
Most hearing aids these days have two mics, one that sort of picks up sound in front and one that picks up sound behind. This is to make speech in noise easier to understand. But...it can still be tricky, especially for kids. So don't be too surprised if it's hard for him, especially at first, to understand speech in noisy environments.
I don't know what's causing/caused his loss, but usually if the hearing loss gets worse, the first thing a kid will say is "my hearing aid isn't working." So if he starts saying that, it's time to go back to the audiologist.
Make sure to change the batteries before you think you need to.
A lot of families keep a cheap back up pair in a drawer in case something happens to the regular ones and they need an emergency pair. Aids are expensive, so it may not make sense to buy another one, but when he moves to a different aid, just hang on to the old one and keep a fresh battery around for it.
Lastly, watch for wax impaction! Sticking that aid in your ear every day can pack the wax in and pretty soon his hearing is even worse in that ear. Usually not as much of a problem for kids since their wax tends to be wetter and comes out easier, but each kid is different.
(IANAAudiologist)
posted by Lutoslawski at 9:44 AM on June 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
Change the batteries once a week and make sure he has a pack of them in his backpack in case they stop working when he's in class. Not sure if his hearing aid is waterproof-ish, but I try to keep a small ziploc with me in case I find myself in a torrential downpour. Takes a while to dry those puppies out.
When I was his age, my teachers would read a book to the class about hearing impairment and let the other kids know that I wore hearing aids, so they'd be more likely to act accordingly: speak while looking at me, making sure to get my attention before speaking. Doing this also helped the teachers remember how they should act, too. I never experienced any teasing, though a lot of kids did want to talk about my "earrings." A simple response about your son's spy hearing device should suffice as an explanation if there is any teasing.
Your son's hearing aid likely has several settings - probably one for regular situations, one for use with a telephone, one for use in an especially noisy situation. Test those settings out with him and see if he notices any improvement in a variety of environments. It's easy to switch between those settings, and it might help him feel like he has more control over his hearing experience. Also, new hearing aids work really well with noisy situations - there's pretty sophisticated software for identifying primary sounds and tamping down background noise. Takes some getting used to, of course.
Frequent ear infections are possible - treat 'em as soon as possible. After a few of them, you & your doc will know what works best, your son will know what they feel like, and it'll be a simple matter of calling in for a script for eardrops & amoxicillin, or whatever the kids use these days.
The point made above about a difficult transition between devices is absolutely true. Still throws me off for a few days each time I get a new one (and I've been wearing them for 30+ years). It's kind of like getting a new operating system in your brain.
As a kid, I was sometimes timid about asking people to repeat themselves, but it's a critical skill and nobody actually minds, so far as I can tell. Basic bad-hearing tips: sit with your back to the wall, so the noise is all coming to you. Figure out if you have a good ear and a bad ear, and situate yourself so the good ear is where the conversation is happening.
Best of luck! This is such an exciting time! Your kiddo is lucky to have you advocating for him :)
posted by kelegraph at 10:22 AM on June 27, 2013
When I was his age, my teachers would read a book to the class about hearing impairment and let the other kids know that I wore hearing aids, so they'd be more likely to act accordingly: speak while looking at me, making sure to get my attention before speaking. Doing this also helped the teachers remember how they should act, too. I never experienced any teasing, though a lot of kids did want to talk about my "earrings." A simple response about your son's spy hearing device should suffice as an explanation if there is any teasing.
Your son's hearing aid likely has several settings - probably one for regular situations, one for use with a telephone, one for use in an especially noisy situation. Test those settings out with him and see if he notices any improvement in a variety of environments. It's easy to switch between those settings, and it might help him feel like he has more control over his hearing experience. Also, new hearing aids work really well with noisy situations - there's pretty sophisticated software for identifying primary sounds and tamping down background noise. Takes some getting used to, of course.
Frequent ear infections are possible - treat 'em as soon as possible. After a few of them, you & your doc will know what works best, your son will know what they feel like, and it'll be a simple matter of calling in for a script for eardrops & amoxicillin, or whatever the kids use these days.
The point made above about a difficult transition between devices is absolutely true. Still throws me off for a few days each time I get a new one (and I've been wearing them for 30+ years). It's kind of like getting a new operating system in your brain.
As a kid, I was sometimes timid about asking people to repeat themselves, but it's a critical skill and nobody actually minds, so far as I can tell. Basic bad-hearing tips: sit with your back to the wall, so the noise is all coming to you. Figure out if you have a good ear and a bad ear, and situate yourself so the good ear is where the conversation is happening.
Best of luck! This is such an exciting time! Your kiddo is lucky to have you advocating for him :)
posted by kelegraph at 10:22 AM on June 27, 2013
My four year old son got hearing aids, and the next year when he started kindergarten, he left them on his lunch tray and they were thrown out with the trash. Buy replacement insurance!
posted by MelissaSimon at 1:00 PM on June 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MelissaSimon at 1:00 PM on June 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
We have a student with cochlear implants and we use a Lighspeed system to help him out. It makes a world of difference with teacher's speech, not just to that student but all students. Would ask the school about one- some already have them in place.
posted by jmd82 at 2:13 PM on June 27, 2013
posted by jmd82 at 2:13 PM on June 27, 2013
They are very easy to lose; help him form very strong habits of always putting them in the designated spot. I recommend a small, fluorescent-colored pouch, with a velcro patch, that can go in his pocket, attach inside his backpack with velcro, or next to his bed. and get the insurance. Paint a bright fluorescent dot on each side of each one(nail polish, and use masking tape) if they're external. I had a non-digital hearing aid at 40 - it kind of sucked, and I didn't use it long. Then I got digital aids, properly adjusted for my needs, and they are excellent. My brain adjusted in weeks to the nuances, pretty good after years of working so hard to hear. Extra batteries in his backpack, and probably in his locker or desk, and a place to put the old batteries, which I think have heavy metals in them, for proper disposal. I had an external device that communicated with my aids, but barely used it.
posted by Mom at 3:41 PM on June 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Mom at 3:41 PM on June 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
Cats also like the tasty earwax aspect of ear molds, and will chew them up. Keep them away from the hearing aids if they aren't being worn!
Somehow instill concern in him about losing/damaging that expensive medical device without being super jerky about it. Ideally, since he already has seen a benefit from his hearing aid, he will be able to internalize this without too much trouble. He should be cautious about water and knowing where the hearing aid is at all times. Until he is a bit older and used to having a hearing aid, you should be cautious about water and know where his hearing aid is at all times.
When I was little, I once had the hearing aid part disconnect from the ear mold and fall in between some couch cushions somehow. It was a frantic couple of days looking for the hearing aid. Check your couch cushions if the hearing aid goes missing.
Make sure you have some way of removing moisture (keep it overnight in a little jar full of little moisture-sucking beads like this, yes it's $20 but he will have it for the rest of his life because it never really goes "bad"). This will help the lifespan of the hearing aid, but you might also want to look into little sweat covers if he plays sports or is very active.
The hearing aid batteries that don't contain mercury should sit out for a minute or so before going into the hearing aid once you've removed the sticky backing. I'm not totally sure why, but this is something my audiologist told me.
posted by autoclavicle at 5:56 PM on September 6, 2013
Somehow instill concern in him about losing/damaging that expensive medical device without being super jerky about it. Ideally, since he already has seen a benefit from his hearing aid, he will be able to internalize this without too much trouble. He should be cautious about water and knowing where the hearing aid is at all times. Until he is a bit older and used to having a hearing aid, you should be cautious about water and know where his hearing aid is at all times.
When I was little, I once had the hearing aid part disconnect from the ear mold and fall in between some couch cushions somehow. It was a frantic couple of days looking for the hearing aid. Check your couch cushions if the hearing aid goes missing.
Make sure you have some way of removing moisture (keep it overnight in a little jar full of little moisture-sucking beads like this, yes it's $20 but he will have it for the rest of his life because it never really goes "bad"). This will help the lifespan of the hearing aid, but you might also want to look into little sweat covers if he plays sports or is very active.
The hearing aid batteries that don't contain mercury should sit out for a minute or so before going into the hearing aid once you've removed the sticky backing. I'm not totally sure why, but this is something my audiologist told me.
posted by autoclavicle at 5:56 PM on September 6, 2013
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Hearing aids are extremely easy to lose because they are small. I imagine with a six year old be extra careful to have a designated spot for removing them.
Certain sounds do weird things with his hearing aids. He says it varies for each device. Currently, it's flute sounds.
Also, he takes them out while driving because of how they interact with the car radio. He says this has always been a problem!
Some dogs seem to like to eat hearing aids, so if you a dog, try to keep them where a dog can't get to them.
A few benefits of his hearing loss are he can read lips decently well and doesn't mind when the neighbors mow the yard early in the morning.
posted by bubonicpeg at 6:01 AM on June 27, 2013 [1 favorite]