RE: First Days with Hearing Aids

[Guest guest]

Hi Tawnya,

My best reccomendation is to attach them to a hearing aid clip (can possibly

get through audiologist). At that age my daughter was constantly ripping

them out but, persistance sure does pay well:) Good Luck!!!

First Days with Hearing Aids

>

> My 10 month old is getting his loaner hearing aids on the 8th.

>

> Any " must haves " for the first days?

> Any advice for us?

>

> Thanks a bunch!

>

> Tawnya

>

>

>

>

>

> All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each post

> is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to

> copyright restrictions.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tawnya,

My best reccomendation is to attach them to a hearing aid clip (can possibly

get through audiologist). At that age my daughter was constantly ripping

them out but, persistance sure does pay well:) Good Luck!!!

First Days with Hearing Aids

>

> My 10 month old is getting his loaner hearing aids on the 8th.

>

> Any " must haves " for the first days?

> Any advice for us?

>

> Thanks a bunch!

>

> Tawnya

>

>

>

>

>

> All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each post

> is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to

> copyright restrictions.

>

[Guest guest]

I saw those and thought they were a great idea. Thanks!

Re: First Days with Hearing Aids

>Hi Tawnya,

>

>My best reccomendation is to attach them to a hearing aid clip (can

possibly

>get through audiologist). At that age my daughter was constantly ripping

>them out but, persistance sure does pay well:) Good Luck!!!

> First Days with Hearing Aids

>

>

>>

>> My 10 month old is getting his loaner hearing aids on the 8th.

>>

>> Any " must haves " for the first days?

>> Any advice for us?

>>

>> Thanks a bunch!

>>

>> Tawnya

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each post

>> is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to

>> copyright restrictions.

>>

[Guest guest]

I saw those and thought they were a great idea. Thanks!

Re: First Days with Hearing Aids

>Hi Tawnya,

>

>My best reccomendation is to attach them to a hearing aid clip (can

possibly

>get through audiologist). At that age my daughter was constantly ripping

>them out but, persistance sure does pay well:) Good Luck!!!

> First Days with Hearing Aids

>

>

>>

>> My 10 month old is getting his loaner hearing aids on the 8th.

>>

>> Any " must haves " for the first days?

>> Any advice for us?

>>

>> Thanks a bunch!

>>

>> Tawnya

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each post

>> is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to

>> copyright restrictions.

>>

[Guest guest]

Tawny

That's exciting news! The things that helped us when my daughter

received her aids at 6 months were (in no particular order):

1. Be consistent. If she took her aids out, we put them back in, no

muss, no fuss, just a simple, " Let's get these aids back in your ears. "

I may have been stressing internally, but I did my best never to let her

see me sweat!

2. Use the clips, and try out a few brands to see what work best. I

know some families swear by dental floss, thread and other home remedies

(and for a long time, there were no other options), but these aids are

going to become part of your son's daily wardrobe, probably for a while

too. Accessorize! (you wouldn't buy your child an ugly outfit or ugly

glass frames, right??).

3. Think of a few responses in advance for the inevitable question,

" What's on his ears? " that you'll eventually get from strangers. It's

easier to have something at the ready in case you get tongue-tied. (My

standard response is a simple, " Hadley wears two hearing aids. " It gets

the job done!)

4. Make up your own hearing aid survival bag and keep it in your diaper

bag. Mine includes spare batteries, a air blower, OtoFerm cream (a

lubricant that helps create a better seal when the molds are poorly

fitting), a tube of KY (lubricates brand new tight molds), a toothpick

(removes wax and extra lubricant from the tubing). We used Super Seals

until Hadley was about 20 months old (they are a latex covering that

helps protect the aids from dirt, moisture, baby's mouth, etc.). The

bag included the Super Seal tool and extra seals.

5. In the first weeks of using the aids, make sure that everyone who is

close to your son gets comfortable inserting and adjusting the aids.

It's much easier for everyone to practice when your son is getting used

to them. Once they become a part of his life, he may not enjoy new

people fumbling with his ears. Babysitters, siblings, grandparents,

etc. anyone who sees him regularly should know how to do the aids. It's

also easier for adults to learn together so people don't feel

self-conscious about it.

6. If the aids are drooping or flopping off his ears, ask your

audiologist about pediatric ear hooks. They are about half the size of

a regular ear hook (the plastic piece that connects the ear mold to the

hearing aid) and help secure the aid closer to the child's head. If you

can get them, ask for a couple of them. They tend to develop small

cracks that increase feedback, so you may need to replace them every

month or so.

7. You know your son best. Some families or professionals may suggest

that you ease your son into the hearing world by gradually increasing

the amount of time he wears his aids. Your son may take to them from

day one (as my daughter did). For the first few days, you may want to

be low-key and just stay in your house (keeping it to a dull roar

inside). We were low-key for 2 days, then went back to our regular

routine, including attending a family Easter celebration with 50 people.

She was fine.

8. Your child is so young, life is changing on a daily basis. Suddenly

hearing may sound drastic to you, but to him, it's just one of probably

6 or 7 new things he will discover on August 8, from sounds to eating

his toes. Yes, this is going to be a big change, emotionally, for you,

but it's probably going to be no big deal for him. Just keep reminding

yourself of that!

9. If he pulls them out, distract him with a toy or book. If he is

constantly at him, play around with him and be physical. If he keeps at

it, introduce new sounds, like you singing or some music. If he

continues this for a while, have him wear a hat (some families love the

pilot cap from Hanna Andersson, probably the least expensive item in the

whole catalogue!).

Don't be worried if he doesn't react to the aids at first. It may take

his brain a few days to begin to interpret these new sounds. Also, when

he gets his regular aids, he may go through a short adjustment period

again.

Good luck, and let us know how it all goes,

Kerry

First Days with Hearing Aids

My 10 month old is getting his loaner hearing aids on the 8th.

Any " must haves " for the first days?

Any advice for us?

Thanks a bunch!

Tawnya

All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each

post is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to

copyright restrictions.

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate the input.

I don't think the 8th can come fast enough!

Tawnya

First Days with Hearing Aids

>

>

>My 10 month old is getting his loaner hearing aids on the 8th.

>

>Any " must haves " for the first days?

>Any advice for us?

>

>Thanks a bunch!

>

>Tawnya

>

>

>

>

>

>All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each

>post is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to

>copyright restrictions.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate the input.

I don't think the 8th can come fast enough!

Tawnya

First Days with Hearing Aids

>

>

>My 10 month old is getting his loaner hearing aids on the 8th.

>

>Any " must haves " for the first days?

>Any advice for us?

>

>Thanks a bunch!

>

>Tawnya

>

>

>

>

>

>All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each

>post is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to

>copyright restrictions.

>

[Guest guest]

I think I may have some clips at home. My daughter does not use them

anymore. Email me privately and let me know if you are interested and I

will look for you.

________________________________

From: The Archers

Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 12:58 PM

To: Listen-Up

Subject: Re: First Days with Hearing Aids

Thanks so much. I really appreciate the input.

I don't think the 8th can come fast enough!

Tawnya

First Days with Hearing Aids

>

>

>My 10 month old is getting his loaner hearing aids on the 8th.

>

>Any " must haves " for the first days?

>Any advice for us?

>

>Thanks a bunch!

>

>Tawnya

>

>

>

>

>

>All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each

>post is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject

to

>copyright restrictions.

>

[Guest guest]

I think I may have some clips at home. My daughter does not use them

anymore. Email me privately and let me know if you are interested and I

will look for you.

________________________________

From: The Archers

Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 12:58 PM

To: Listen-Up

Subject: Re: First Days with Hearing Aids

Thanks so much. I really appreciate the input.

I don't think the 8th can come fast enough!

Tawnya

First Days with Hearing Aids

>

>

>My 10 month old is getting his loaner hearing aids on the 8th.

>

>Any " must haves " for the first days?

>Any advice for us?

>

>Thanks a bunch!

>

>Tawnya

>

>

>

>

>

>All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each

>post is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject

to

>copyright restrictions.

>