4 Year Old and Hearing Aids

My cousins (three of whom are deaf or hearing impaired) all went through a period of removing the aids. For one, they just were not helping her. Another didn't like the way they fit her. A third, I don't know that they ever really figured out the problem, which eventually resolved itself.

Like everyone's said, make sure the aids are actually helping.

Here's a possibility that's not been mentioned yet - many kids have a rough time adjusting to preschool and kindergarten - not so much in the typical "hard time adjusting" ways, but just in being SO TIRED when they're done for the day. A lot of kids come home and just need quiet time to balance out all the noise and activity of school.

Removing the hearing aids is a really sure-fire way of getting that silence. One cousin of mine, who is an adult now, still removes her hearing aids at the end of stressful days, to just give herself some silent time. I believe one other cousin (also an adult) turns his aids off any time he wants to concentrate.

If he leaves them in at school without much fuss, my guess is that they serve their purpose at school...

So perhaps the problem is not that he hates them, but maybe he just needs some de-stress time after school.

Are you sure that the hearing aids are actually helping him understand? I have extensive experience in the Deaf community and usually when kids are taking their hearing aids out (adults too) its because they may make sounds louder but not understandable. If they actually help him understand, which some do depending on the extent and such of the hearing loss, he may be taking them out as a way to try and figure out who he is. His siblings dont wear them and he probably feels different and just wants what every younger child does, just to be like his "cool" siblings. I'll send you a private message with my e-mail if there is anything i can do to help!

First I will tell you that I will soon be graduating from an Interpreter training program. I know that most kids struggle to wear their hearing aids. Not all, but most kids I have met do not want to wear nor use their hearing aids. I suggest trying Sign Language and see if he excels. There are many successful people in the world who get along with out hearing aids. I have met many kids are forced to learn English and are forced to try to speak when they don't want to. Give it a shot. Any questions feel free to email me.

Although you have probably thought of this,but--First rule out possible problems. Do they fit? are they comfortable? Have you discussed this with the audiologist? Then work out a system that if he wears them for so long he gets a privlage.

GL:)

Why does he not like the hearing aids?? My brother is deaf and he hated his too. There are many reasons he may hate them. Do they hurt his ears? Sometimes they are getting background noise that really bugs them. If that is the problem you may be able to them tweeked a little to help. If he just hates them because he feels funny with them ie looks diffrent. Try making them cool my bro. had body aids when he was little so my mom made a Raggidy Andy that had hearing aids. That probably wouldn't work but something that like that I know they have fun color aids and ear molds(I can't remeber the name for them) Major brain cramp. You might beable to paint them with some demntional paint to make them more fun.

I hope this helps,
C.

I've never dealt with this, but perhaps you could make him a reward chart. Say he gets a sticker for every hour or so that he keeps it in and after so many stickers he get a prize. Really praise him when he leaves it in. If he hasn't had it long perhaps he needs to get use to it. Good luck :)

Dear L.,
We have some slight hearing problems in our family. Even though I don't deal with moderate hearing loss day to day like you do, I have many friends with children that have moderate to severe hearing loss. What I have observed, is that most of them hate having the hearing aides in their ears. My friend's child takes them out as soon as he comes home from school too. His Mom also has moderate to severe hearing loss and she also wears hearing aides. She encourages him, but realizes how uncomfortable they are. She has taught all of her children, those with and without loss to read lips. While this is not a perfect art, it is a technique that helps in all sorts of situations. My friend and her children are a masters of reading lips. She does miss some things, but not much. She is amazing and so are her children.

My son just returned from serving a mission in NY. One of his Missionary roommates was completely deaf and served with a "hearing" companion. My son and his companion were hearing but they all spoke American Sign Language with each other. It was incredible! Though three of the companions were hearing, they all learned "sign" to communicate with the other Missionary and those they came in contact with that were hearing impaired.

Both tools, reading lips and sign, could be considered for your son as a "backup". Maybe you already use them. Hearing aides are so important I realize, but if he can access other "tools" maybe he won't feel so frustrated- so different. The reason I write about my son's experience is because he uses sign all the time at home. It is beautiful and so expressive. I hope to learn more myself.

As far as keeping his hearing aides in...try some sort of treat designed by him as a reward for keeping them in- a trip to the zoo, to a movie? Maybe there is a way to encourage him so you don't have to discipline him. Sometimes just acknowledging the hearing aides are uncomfortable will help him- besides they can be very loud when you aren't used to hearing well.

Much hope,
H. B.

Praise him for wearing them when he does, even though it is hard for him. For a four year old to do anything he hates is phenominal. On the flip side, have you ever considered having your family learn sign language? Most (not all) deaf kids hate hearing aides and turn them off when wearing them. (DH was an interpreter)