aiding infants and outcomes -

[Guest guest]

wrote:

Has anyone ever wondered if aiding a HOH infant might interfere with

the child's ability to develop HOH coping skills / strategies such as

lip reading, etc.?

I can only speak from our experience. 's hearing loss was identified at

birth. He received hearing aids at 3 months old. Even as a baby he was lip

reading. He picked up on all kinds of clues. He's had a CI since he was 20

months old and is now 5. 5 years old. He still can lip read, read body language

and facial expressions, and watch for other clues visually and auditorily. He

will even read a book aloud alone in his room first thing in the morning without

his hearing. (no aid or CI on yet)

So from our experience early aiding didn't hinder anything but only benefitted

in many, many ways.

K