One thing every parent knows is that children lose things. Whether they left their favorite toy at Bear Creek Park or forgot to bring their homework to school, encouraging them to keep their things safe can be challenging
Data from the 2015 MarkeTrak IX survey of 17,000 households indicated that approximately 3% of children experience hearing difficulties and that approximately 1% wear a hearing aid. If your child has been recently diagnosed with hearing loss, it’s natural to worry about how they will keep ahold of their new hearing aids. Let’s look at a few tips for teaching your child to keep track of these essential devices.
Make Sure Their Hearing Aids Are Comfortable
One of the most important aspects of helping your child keep track of their hearing aids is to make sure they’re comfortable to wear. When they first get their new devices, your child may find all-day hearing aid use uncomfortable—leading them to remove and misplace their devices. To make their experience more comfortable, start slow by having them wear their devices for a few hours with breaks in between.
Make Hearing Aids Exciting
Getting your child excited about wearing hearing aids can help them keep a closer eye on their devices. Including them in the decision-making process will help give your child a sense of ownership and independence, making them more inclined to keep track of the devices they pick.
Demonstrate the exciting benefits of hearing aids by taking them to the playground, where they can experience how their new devices help them interact with peers. Watching some TV can also highlight how the devices bring clarity and fun to their favorite shows.
Attach Clips
Children love to run around, swing, hang upside down and play every sport they can. Clips help prevent hearing aid loss during these activities by securely attaching them to their clothing. This not only reduces the risk of losing the devices but also protects them from damage if they fall.
By increasing the comfort of hearing aids, encouraging excitement and attaching safety clips, you can help your child keep track of their new devices. For more information on pediatric hearing aids, contact Oregon Ear, Nose & Throat Center today for an appointment with one of our experts.