Hearing loss is not a condition confined to adults; people of all ages can be affected by a hearing impairment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one to three of every 1,000 children have hearing loss. If your child is one of those, it is important to know how to empower and support their future. Below are tips on raising a child with hearing loss.
Understand Their Loss
Receiving a hearing loss diagnosis can be overwhelming, and it is reasonable as a parent to feel concerned. You may ask yourself if your child will be able to make friends or play with others at Cherokee Park. There are more treatment options than ever to help children with hearing loss live happy, social and successful lives.
The first thing you should do is to learn as much as you can about their type and degree of hearing loss. Understanding their unique needs can help ensure you are providing the support they need.
Empower Their Success
Hearing loss does not have to restrict your child’s future. There are a number of things you can do to help your child achieve their dreams.
Offering love and encouragement shows your child that you accept them for who they are. Paying attention and spending time together can help your child feel relaxed and confident. Make sure to offer reassurance whenever needed.
Giving them responsibilities at home, such as weekly chores, puts them on equal footing with their siblings and peers. It is important to raise your child, as much as possible, as you would if they had normal hearing.
Helping them develop healthy coping skills ensures they can handle both success and failure later in life. Finding the balance between protecting them and giving them the freedom to participate in activities without you may be hard, but it is important to prepare them for the real world. This can help them become strong, independent, self-reliant adults.
Allow Them to Take Responsibility for Their Hearing Loss
Teaching your child to take responsibility for their hearing loss and engaging them in the treatment process is crucial. While young children may not be able to put their hearing aids in themselves, they can learn to change the batteries, place the devices in their drying case at night or even be responsible for the daily cleaning.
Learning how to advocate for themselves and their listening needs is crucial. These skills can help prevent communication breakdowns in the future.
Understanding what goes into their hearing treatment is also important. Allowing your child to pick out the hearing aid color they want and any fun accessories, such as a charm, can help them engage with the process. To learn more about raising a child with hearing loss or to schedule an appointment with an expert, contact Heuser Hearing Institute today.