Re: Widex Sensos Trial - Update

[Guest guest]

,

Same deal for us, that the digitals were just big enough that they didn't fit

perfectly on her head (Hadley has the Siemens Trianos, which we love).

Likewise, the advantages of these aids far outweigh that one problem (albeit, a

big one), and we've stuck with it and learned to deal with it. For us, the

trick was purchasing a strap from the Ear Connection (www.getsafensound.com).

Hadley had worn the clips with her analogs for about a year, until they fit

perfectly on her head, so we were familiar with this company. The strap just

adjusts along the nape of the neck and I've found has a tighter and better hold

on the digital aids than the clip does. I've experimented with having the

elastic be on the hook and on the aid, just above the mike; depending on how old

the molds she has are, we attach to those two places.

Have you tried a smaller ear hook, if that's available on the Sensos? (I forget

from when we looked at them). The Ear Connection also sells a hearing aid and

glasses combo strap that might do the trick; I know of several families who have

had great luck with them.

Hadley received her digital aids at age 2, after spending 18 months with her

analogs. It took 3 1/2 days for her brain to adjust to the sound; she woke up

from a nap one afternoon and just blew me away with how strong and clear her

language was suddenly! She had always struggled with the initial consonant

sounds and those are all coming along nicely now. It really is amazing to see

and hear the difference (and nice to know that our money has been well spent!).

Kerry in Boston

Mom to Hadley, 2.4, severe bilateral loss, Cx26, AVT

Widex Sensos trial - update

Hi everyone,

Wanted to give you an update on our digital aids trial ... Kate has been

wearing the Sensos for about 2 weeks now - we're getting 2 months to try

them out - and she's doing fine. We've seen some subtle changes in her

expressive language (yay!) like speaking a little more clearly and

actually putting some consonant endings on words: " all doNe " , " arM " , " uP "

etc. It's a bit of a bummer that she did not miraculously start saying

all those elusive consonants, but progress is progress!! I was amazed

how much clearer the digitals sounded when I listened to them - I guess

you'd get used to the constant humming, shushing, and other background

noises with analogs, but how nice to hear nothing, when there is nothing

to be heard.

Anyway, the only issue we're having is that we can't seem to keep them

hooked behind her ears. The digitals are a little wider and heavier than

the old ones, plus she has the glasses too. I've tried toupee tape,

which worked briefly until hair and such got on it and lost its sticky

(several hours). I've tried twisting the earhook inside the tube to push

the aid up against the head. I haven't yet tried the mini-rubberband to

attach aids and glasses. She's just so active - even upside down a good

majority of her day - that it's hard to keep them put. Any

suggestions? I'd hate to switch brands for such a nontechnical reason

...

in CO - mom to:

(4.7) - TDK

Kate (2.7) - mod bi-lat SN (aided since 4m), glasses

[Guest guest]

<<I've just always wondered if maybe we were more the " norm " or if

what was described above is the more typical thing

that occurs.>>

Hi Debby,

I can't say if the description in the original post is the " norm " but we did not

have this with , who was aided at 4.5. In fact, he had " phonological

errors " which didn't go away for almost three more years. I think there are

just so many variables in play on something like this. The amount of residual

hearing the child had in the first place, whether or not the loss was

progressive, what the loss is in the various speech frequencies, etc. I think

the MOST important variable, for us anyway, was that had already learned

the wrong way to say things (which was the way he heard them) and, those

problems with articulation were then a habit.

One thing I did just before got his aids was to sit with him for about a

half-hour, playing with a puzzle and having a conversation with him, which I

recorded. About a year after he was aided (and after a year of intensive

auditory training in a school where the corrections were constant), I listened

to the tape...and was blown away by how far he'd come! If you'd asked me before

I listened to the tape, I would have told you he was learning a lot more words

but I would still have focused on the phonological errors. When the change is

gradual, it's harder to see.

On the other hand, if you feel your daughter's speech articulation is not

proceeding as it should, have a chat with your speech path. (I'm assuming she's

receiving speech services, privately or through your school district?) You

should feel comfortable that is receiving enough therapy. Also, do you

have a current speech articulation assessment? If not, you might want to

request one and have it compared to her original testing.

Carol - mom to , 7.9, mod to profound, LVAS

[Guest guest]

I think it depends on the child's age. My old son, Tommy, was aided at 3-1/2

and did seem to take off orally although I can't say I remember a burst of

language. Once he was aided, he made rapid progress. My younger son, Sam, was

aided at 15 months and made slower progress initially.

I will say when Sam got his new hearing aids last year (Phonak Superos) his

diction seemed to immediately become clearer (Sam is now 9). He also could hear

noises he hadn't heard before. so we're very pleased with the Superos....

Barbara

Deb wrote--

I have a question for all of the parents whose kids

wear HA's (and I hope this makes sense). Have many of

you experienced what was described above? We never

really noticed that sudden burst of language when

was aided at 2.9 years. Her language has come

quite a ways in the past 2 years, but it seems slow to

us. Maybe we were just hoping that the aides would be

the magical key to her language delays. I've just

always wondered if maybe we were more the " norm " or if

what was described above is the more typical thing

that occurs.

[Guest guest]

I think it depends on the child's age. My old son, Tommy, was aided at 3-1/2

and did seem to take off orally although I can't say I remember a burst of

language. Once he was aided, he made rapid progress. My younger son, Sam, was

aided at 15 months and made slower progress initially.

I will say when Sam got his new hearing aids last year (Phonak Superos) his

diction seemed to immediately become clearer (Sam is now 9). He also could hear

noises he hadn't heard before. so we're very pleased with the Superos....

Barbara

Deb wrote--

I have a question for all of the parents whose kids

wear HA's (and I hope this makes sense). Have many of

you experienced what was described above? We never

really noticed that sudden burst of language when

was aided at 2.9 years. Her language has come

quite a ways in the past 2 years, but it seems slow to

us. Maybe we were just hoping that the aides would be

the magical key to her language delays. I've just

always wondered if maybe we were more the " norm " or if

what was described above is the more typical thing

that occurs.