5 Simple Tips to Help Kids With Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is so hard on kids for a number of reasons.
Hearing plays an important part in their ability to judge and reason in a lot of things.
But, it also has a lot to do with their ability to have a social life.
Kids who have a hearing loss often tend to be ostracized because they can't hear, or are made fun of, and it hurts.
Although technology available today has made things far easier, than back even in the late 1800's and early 1900's, it still isn't easy on a child, being hearing impaired.
1.
It cannot be stressed enough how important early detection is.
It's kind of like an oil leak in a car-the sooner it's caught, the less damage is done.
Letting hearing loss go on for long periods of time can truly mess up a child's ability to learn, and even develop and grow fully.
Learning sign language is a possibility at any point in time, but it is much easier to do when a child is young.
2.
Kids can get hearing aids as young as four weeks old-no kidding.
So, if you even think your child has a hearing loss, take them in immediately to the doctor, and have them tested.
3.
Check into the IDEA program.
From the Federal government, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act protects people up until the age of twenty one, and gives them access to programs with free access.
The IDEA act is the basis of a lot of planning for children's school programs-IEPs or Individualized Education Programs come from it.
4.
Pay attention to technology, even if you are not a techno-phobe.
So you don't have to speak in decibels and Hertz and all that, but be able to know what will work well for your child based on how things have been going with his testing, and discussions with his doctor.
Children's ears grow-for quite a while-well into their teens.
So make sure that their equipment actually fits as they go through their growth spurts, so that the child can continue to hear properly.
5.
Keep up with the insurance company, and see what, if anything that they will pay towards the cost of the hearing aids.
Some insurance companies are great, and will pay quite a bit; others will pay nothing at all.
IDEA can help out with the cost for some patients, and Medicare can also step in for patients who meet those standards.
Hearing plays an important part in their ability to judge and reason in a lot of things.
But, it also has a lot to do with their ability to have a social life.
Kids who have a hearing loss often tend to be ostracized because they can't hear, or are made fun of, and it hurts.
Although technology available today has made things far easier, than back even in the late 1800's and early 1900's, it still isn't easy on a child, being hearing impaired.
1.
It cannot be stressed enough how important early detection is.
It's kind of like an oil leak in a car-the sooner it's caught, the less damage is done.
Letting hearing loss go on for long periods of time can truly mess up a child's ability to learn, and even develop and grow fully.
Learning sign language is a possibility at any point in time, but it is much easier to do when a child is young.
2.
Kids can get hearing aids as young as four weeks old-no kidding.
So, if you even think your child has a hearing loss, take them in immediately to the doctor, and have them tested.
3.
Check into the IDEA program.
From the Federal government, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act protects people up until the age of twenty one, and gives them access to programs with free access.
The IDEA act is the basis of a lot of planning for children's school programs-IEPs or Individualized Education Programs come from it.
4.
Pay attention to technology, even if you are not a techno-phobe.
So you don't have to speak in decibels and Hertz and all that, but be able to know what will work well for your child based on how things have been going with his testing, and discussions with his doctor.
Children's ears grow-for quite a while-well into their teens.
So make sure that their equipment actually fits as they go through their growth spurts, so that the child can continue to hear properly.
5.
Keep up with the insurance company, and see what, if anything that they will pay towards the cost of the hearing aids.
Some insurance companies are great, and will pay quite a bit; others will pay nothing at all.
IDEA can help out with the cost for some patients, and Medicare can also step in for patients who meet those standards.
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