It is important to:
- Explain the benefits of using hearing aids
- Teach a child and their caregiver how to use and look after the hearing aids correctly.
If a child needs assistance to use their hearing aids, involve their caregivers.
Benefits of using hearing aids
When talking to a child and their caregiver, explain hearing aids:
- Make it easier to learn and understand things at school
- Help with talking and playing with friends
- Support speaking clearly and learning new words by making sounds easier to hear.
Building up use
Explain it takes time to adjust to wearing hearing aids for the first time.
At first, some sounds may be too loud or unclear. This is normal.
You can adapt to wearing hearing aids by using them regularly and by listening to your voice and other voices.
ہدایت
Learn more in tips for hearing aid users.
How to improve understanding of words
It can be helpful for parents and teachers to understand different ways to support a child at home and school:
- Stand in good lighting and position yourself so they can see your face clearly when you speak
- Speak naturally – don’t raise your voice or exaggerate lip movements
- Encourage one person to speak at a time to help the child focus on who is talking
- Seat the child at the front of the class to help them hear and see better
- Reduce background noise in the classroom as much as possible
- Encourage the child to let you know if they are having difficulties with activities at school.
ہدایت
Some children may have difficulty hearing clearly in noisy classroom environments. Learn how to improve hearing aid use in noisy environments in the TAP Personal remote microphone systems module.
Using hearing aids
It is important to teach the child and their caregiver how to use the hearing aids including how to:
- Identify the parts
- Turn on and off
- Adjust the volume
- Put on and take off
- Replace and look after battery.
Parts of a hearing aid
Show and explain the different parts of a hearing aid.
Demonstrate which hearing aid is for each ear.
Encourage the child to find the red marker for the right hearing aid and blue marker for left hearing aid.
Turning on and off
Explain: Turn the hearing aid on and off at the battery compartment.
سوال
1. Which way should you put the battery in the battery compartment?
دو کو منتخب کریں۔
اگر آپ نے a اور c کا انتخاب کیا تو آپ درست ہیں!
The plus (+) symbol should be facing up. If the battery has a bump on one side and flat surface on the other, the flat surface should be on top. This allows the battery door to close.
2. What turns the hearing aid on?
ایک کو منتخب کریں۔
اگر آپ نے b کو منتخب کیا تو آپ درست ہیں!
Insert the battery and close the door to turn on. Keeping the door open turns the hearing aid off.
انتباہ
Explain to the caregiver and child that batteries can be dangerous. If batteries are swallowed, this is a medical emergency.
Follow your local recycling rules for battery disposal.
Adjusting the volume
Demonstrate how to adjust the volume up and down.
Put on and take off
Before teaching how to put on and take off a hearing aid make sure the battery door is open to avoid any whistling (feedback) sound.
Explain the earmould goes inside their ear and the hearing aid rests behind their ear.
Reassure the child it will not hurt and encourage them to touch the earmould to feel more comfortable with it.
Teach the child and their caregiver how to put on and take off the hearing aids correctly.
ہدایت
Watch this video to remind yourself how to put on and take off a hearing aid.
For more information on how to use hearing aids refer to the TAP Preprogrammed hearing aids module.
مشورہ
Using hearing aid clips can help avoid the hearing aid falling off. This is particularly helpful for younger children.
Replace and look after battery
ہدایت
Watch this video to remind yourself how to replace a hearing aid battery.
Test your knowledge of looking after hearing aid batteries by answering the following questions.
سوال
1. On average, how long will a hearing aid battery usually last?
ایک کو منتخب کریں۔
2 weeks is correct!
A battery will usually keep a hearing aid powered for up to two weeks before it needs replacing.
2. What are signs of a low battery?
تین کا انتخاب کریں۔۔
If you selected a, b and e, you are correct!
The hearing aid may have an alert signal or not sound as loud as before when the battery is low. It may also stop working.
مشورہ
Store replacement batteries in a cool place. Always carry a set of spare batteries with you.
