To Wear or Not to Wear

The question of “to wear or not to wear’ has been around for ages.

Often, we hear parents asking the question of whether or not their children should wear their amplification on the weekends, in the summer, when they play sports and go to friends’ houses. The answer amongst parents is often different, depending on the child’s age, hearing loss, activity level, tolerance to hearing aids or cochlear implants, and tolerance to sound.

However, from aprofessional standpoint, the answer is more consistent. The answer is almost always, “Wear your amplification at all waking hours.” Remember, the key to connections is communication and the key to communication is language.

If you choose the Spoken and Listening Language route, then consistent amplification is key, as well. In order for a child with hearing loss to map information into his/her brain, s/he needs to hear the information 100 times. Children with hearing loss do not overhear information as a person with hearing does. This language needs to be presented in a structured setting in numerous manners. In order for a child to be successful in learning this information, s/he needs the best amplified situation. 

Children with hearing loss need to focus and listen harder than children with normal hearing. Due to this, they are more likely to be tired after a long day. Amplification lessens the strain a child will need to make to hear correctly, thus lessening their exhaustion level.

Children playing sports or on a playground in the summer are at a distance from the speaker. The distance then makes it harder for the children to hear the speaker. The speaker’s voices are distorted and quieter the farther away they are.
Children’s amplification will increase the volume of the speaker, so that the
child is able to accurately hear the speaker.

Of course, children will need to remove their amplification during swim time, boating, or beach play. The family could benefit from a plan relating to these activities -do you take the amplification out and leave them at home, in the beach bag or in the car? A consistent place for amplification is critical, so the child learns
routine and is able to be independent.

Overall, while children might wish to have a ‘break’ from their hearing aids or cochlear implants in the summer, it is my strong suggestion to have your child continue using his or her amplification at all waking hours. There is never a time when your child is awake that s/he doesn’t need to hear or won’t benefit from overhearing information. If a set routine is established, children will go with it and the benefits will be endless.

For more information about hearing loss or early intervention services for families with hearing loss, please contact Allison Schley, MEd at allison@communicationconnections.org. Visit Communication Connections, Inc. on the web at www.communicationconnections.org or https://www.facebook.com/#!/communicationconnection for fall programming for children, families and parents.