Being a parent is hard. Learning your child has hearing loss can be overwhelming, especially immediately after you receive the diagnosis. Below are our top tips for raising a child with hearing loss.
How Common Is Hearing Loss?
While hearing loss is often seen in adults, especially those over the age of 65, people of all ages can develop this condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one to three of every 1,000 children are born with hearing loss.
Understanding your child’s hearing loss is important, as it can help you make sure you are providing the right treatment options. While it may seem overwhelming and as if your child may not be able to interact with other children at Wingfield Park, the hearing aids available today are more advanced than ever before. These devices can help children with even profound hearing loss engage with their peers.
Love Them
Showing your child that you love them helps them feel more relaxed and confident, which can prompt them to take part in more activities within the hearing world.
Empower Them
Assigning your child with hearing loss weekly chores and household responsibilities helps them recognize they are on equal terms with their siblings and peers.
Prepare Them
Life is full of ups and down. Making sure your child is prepared for both success and failure helps prepare them for the real world. While it may be hard to find the line between protecting your child and giving them the freedom to participate in activities without you, this will help them develop the coping skills they need.
Encourage Them
Celebrating your child, even for something small, can help them feel like they can accomplish anything and gives them the confidence they need to go after what they want.
Engage Them
Allow your child to take responsibility for their hearing loss. While some children may be too young to be solely in charge of wearing their hearing aids every day, you can start small by having them place their devices in the drying case every night or being responsible for cleaning their hearing aids.
In addition, allowing a child to have a say in the color of their hearing aid helps them engage in the treatment process.
To learn more about raising a child with hearing loss or to schedule an appointment, contact LeMay Hearing & Balance today.
Learn More About Hearing Loss
- Hearing Resolutions to Stick to in 2021
- How Insomnia Affects Hearing
- Underlying Causes of Tinnitus You May Not Know About
Call LeMay Hearing & Balance at (775) 323-5566 for more information or to schedule an appointment.