Talking to Kids About Hearing Loss

If you have a child with hearing loss, there is going to come a time when you – or your child – are going to need to explain to other children exactly what hearing loss is and what it means. With very young children, there are signs to indicate the presence of a hearing loss, which can be found here. If you believe you child may have a hearing loss, it is important to schedule a hearing test and consultation with us at Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services.

Explaining Hearing Loss

Before you sit down with your child to explain hearing loss, do some research online. There are lots of different visual materials that help illustrate the auditory process. Using visuals can help show how hearing works: the outer ear acts as a funnel to collect sound from the environment; sound waves travel through the middle ear to the inner ear, where it is translated into neural signals that are sent to the brain to processed as sound.

It could help to put hearing loss on par with needing glasses. Everyone has different levels of ability when it comes to their senses, and using the example of vision is a good way to normalize the experience for children. Without a doubt, children are familiar with family members and friends who wear glasses to correct their vision. Hearing aids, like glasses, are devices used to help improve one’s interaction with the world.

If your child does not have hearing loss but knows someone who does, they may be curious about the experience. Ask them to cover their ears with their hands and then ask them to pay attention to what it sounds like when you play music or talk. They may be able to catch some sounds, while others may appear muffled or difficult to catch.  For slightly older children, you could explain the profession of audiology and the intricate process of hearing. Aspiring scientists or doctors will be fascinated by the inner workings of the ear!

Be sure to emphasize healthy hearing! Even if you child does not experience a hearing loss, it is important to discuss the dangers of high volumes. Especially in this day and age, with portable electronic devices and earbuds, make sure your kids are well aware of the permanent damage that could result from listening to music or videos for long periods of time at high volumes. On your end, there are several apps that can be downloaded to your kid’s devices to control the cap on volume levels. Swap out earbuds for noise-canceling headphones – a safer choice for portable listening.

Communication is Key

When it comes to hearing loss, communication can be difficult. For kids with hearing loss, help by establishing some good communication habits. Encourage them to figure out the best ways to ask for accommodation when they find it difficult to hear, and help them understand the normalcy of their experience.

For children with normal hearing, it may be beneficial to help them understand the challenges that people face with hearing loss. Give them some pointers on how to accommodate friends and loved ones – whether classmates or grandparents – when it comes to conversation and socializing.

Communicating Your Child’s Needs

When it comes to differently-abled experiences, children can be flexible and open. Explaining hearing loss to your child and your child’s teacher can assure that proper accommodations are put in place in an academic setting. Before reaching out to schools and coaches and other adults in your child’s life, make sure that you and your child have a thorough understanding of life with hearing loss. There may be certain things your child will want to emphasize and other things they may not want you to discuss.

When communicating with school staff, it could help to pick an in-service day at your child’s school to schedule a meeting to discuss your child’s needs. It is important to emphasize that accommodations for hearing loss are required by law, and your child should receive the services they need to ensure that they are on-track academically. Another concern may be bullying, which has become more common in recent years. Make sure that school staff are looking out for instances where this may be happening.

Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services

Our professional team provides comprehensive hearing health services for the entire family. If your child lives with hearing loss, contact us at Orange County Physician’s Hearing Services to receive the best care.