Tips please!

Merike - posted on 04/11/2009

My son (now 5) has severe to profound hearing loss. He was diagnosed around 2 1/2 years old and got his aids soon after. At first he was unsure if he liked them or not. I found if I showed him how they worked he liked them better. I would take them out and give him a toy or book that made noise that he could not hear. Then I would put his aids in and give him the same toy or book. When he saw he could hear with them in he loved them. We also, did the old potty treat trick. You know when you are potty training and every time they go in the potty they get a sticker or gummy bear or something. Every time Owen put his aids in and left them for a certain period of time (a tv show, story time, breakfast, lunch, dinner, ect.) then we would give him a treat. These really seemed to help us I hope they help you too. 

Portia - posted on 04/09/2009

I also have a 2 1/2 yr. old boy who has profound to severe haring loss. At first we had the hardest time keeping them on. He got his aids when he was abt 6 months old and really didnt start wearing them until he was atleast a yr old. It was so hard trying to keep them on! he would take them out non- stop & it would drive me crazy! Then one day he just left them on :) I take him to school everyday thats 1 1/2 hr. away from home and he used to take them out about half way through the ride but now he keeps them on for the whole ride up. My son has gotten to the point where he enjoys hearing the sound diffrence between them being on & off... he will turn them off and scream and then turn them back on... I guess he like the vibration sound when there off?? My son also still throws them off when he gets upset..It's a control thing. Just dont give up! keep on puting them back on and use toupe tape to keep them more secure. Before you know it he will be asking for you to put them on first thing in the morning :)

Terri - posted on 04/01/2009

A long time ago for my son (now a teenager), a friend said to me... "Does your son keep his shoes on?  Well, hearing aides are the same.  Everytime he pulls them out, put them back!"  I know it's annoying while you find yourself doing it what seems like hundreds of times a day but if you are consistant soon enough he will realize Momma does know best!  All the sudden you will notice it happening less and less!

Jean - posted on 03/31/2009

 Our daughter was diagnosed when she was just over 2, and she had body aids. that was hardware on her chest, when she wanted to play. she would take them off outside and then we would have to find them,. she finally left them in, but would turn them off...in order to have any sound the aids would have to be turned up so high that it hurt, and so she took them out and we did not fight with her cause we knew that she was profounldy deaf, and aids would not help her. she has used ASL ever since.

Randi - posted on 03/27/2009

I had the same problem with my little girl. she has a moderate loss in both ears and has worn hearing aids since 8 weeks. She used to pull them out when she was little and put them in her mouth. There are still teeth marks in her aids. The only thing I found was like anything else with parenting you have to be consistant which for us meant not making a big deal about them and keep putting them back in as much as it annoys you! Don't worry eventually he will want to keep them in. My daughter is 4 and she brings them to me in the mornings to put them in now! hang in there it WILL get easier

Michelle - posted on 03/15/2009

my son is still younger and YES he still pulls them off.  I like to put them on while he's occupied with a toy so that he doesn't realize it's on him.  I use double stick toupe tape to make them stay.  I don't use the crokey's that go around the neck as he pulls them and it takes away from the stick of the double stick tape to the head. What Clarissa suggested with the sticker chart is a great way to reward them and I may even use that when he's of age.  We are currently in the process of getting CI's for him but even that is similar to keeping those on like the HA.  Best of luck...

I also forgot to mention that in addition to the double stick toupe tape that you can get @ your local beauty supply store, you can buy hats which i have.  I bought them @ hannaanderson.com and they are pilot caps that go over the ear and you can tie them under the chin...those work great as well and are so cute!

Clarissa - posted on 03/14/2009

You could have a sticker chart and start off with small goal....5, 10, 15 minutes, whatever works for him to start. Make it small @ first so it's something he can reach. Say 5 minues...if he leaves them on for 5 minutes he gets to put a sticker on the chart! When the chart is full then he can pick a prize (get some small things from target's $1 spot or a dollar store :)  Put them in a "treasure box" kleenex boxes work great and that's where the prizes are until he fills the chart. Then up the time to 8 minutes to get a sticker, and so on until he's wearing them all the time for you! Once he has reached a goal he will want to earn a prize again, but guess what...it's going to to be little bit longer time you have to wear them! You could even set a timer so he knows when he has reached it! You have complete control of the goals and prizes! It's an easy incentive tool to reach a number of goals. I hope this helps!

Bobbi Lynn - posted on 03/12/2009

We put hearing aides on our daughter at four months, but she loves them! She is now 1 and signs to me when she is ready to wear them in the morning.  Hers are the sumo hearing aides they are enormous so she has a hard time keeping them on.  We tried the toupe tape which would work great if you can shave right behind the ear so it doesn't rip his hair off.  Right now we use a head band that my mother made for her.....I know wouldn't quite work with a boy...maybe a sports sweatband or a beanie hat and then velcro the aides to it?  Good luck though.