Children with Hearing Loss: Preparing for the New School Year

Are you getting your child ready for the upcoming school year? Whether it will take place in a physical classroom or online, if your child has hearing loss, now is a good time to help them transition into a new classroom, school, or online course. Hopefully, under these new circumstances, we've learned that it’s always good to be prepared for what life throws at you.

Before Heading Back to Class 

First, check and make sure your child’s hearing aids are functioning properly. Get adjustments, cleanings, supplies, or repairs done prior to their first day of school. 

Talk to school staff members to make sure your child can fully participate in class:

• Give the school time to get essential equipment or train staff members. Discuss your child’s particular hearing needs.
• Meet with the teacher and show them how your child’s hearing aids work.
• Find out if your child’s school has any assistive listening devices, for example, FM systems.
• Find out the best area for your child to sit in the classroom that would enhance their learning experience. 
• Make sure there are accurate captions available if your child will be learning remotely through a virtual classroom.

Essential Hearing Aid Supplies  

Along with school supplies, here are some other things to add in your child’s backpack:

• Extra batteries for the hearing aids or assistive listening device. If your child can handle basic maintenance for their device(s), you should also include a tool for earwax removal and a cleaning brush.  
• An adhesive to secure hearing aids or sound processors in place. When your child is active during P.E. or recess, their devices are at a higher risk of falling out and becoming damaged. You can use fabric tape, toupee tape, or body glue. Your child’s device might include body clips or a mic lock (this is a small plastic tube which fastens to the ear hook and the base of the sound processor to form a loop). A cord clip will ensure that if the processor falls off, it will stay attached to your child rather than falling on the ground. 
• A hard case with a label, to place all hearing supplies.   
• A notebook to write notes, questions, and suggestions to and from the teacher or classroom aid.
• A sheet or index card containing basic information about the hearing aid or sound processor.

Let Your Child become Familiar with Their New Hearing Aids

If this is your child’s first time wearing hearing aids, educate them on the importance of using hearing aids especially in school. Children with hearing loss are more likely to struggle with their development in speech and language, which is the basis of all education. Ask your child’s teachers to keep an eye on whether your child is wearing their hearing aid at school. 

Children and teens may be unwilling to wear their hearing aids, for fear of embarrassment among their peers. Teachers should be aware of this.  

A School’s Duty to Your Child

If your child has a 504 plan or an IEP, it’s the school’s responsibility to verify that the hearing aids are properly working. Schools are held accountable for making sure that teachers are trained to help the students when necessary.

In order to help your child, their teachers should be able to check and make sure the hearing devices are working during school hours. There are many different types of testing equipment that is available. Talk to your hearing healthcare provider to find out what would work best for your child. Teachers should also learn how to change batteries for hearing aids or sound processors if your child is too young or cannot do it themself. 

Using Assistive Listening Devices

An assistive listening device must be provided by the school at no additional charge to the family if the student is part of the 504 or IEP plan. Here are some assistive listening devices that can be used:

• CART system: This stands for Communication Access Real-time Translation. It’s similar to a closed-captioning system, but for a classroom. There is a trained CART operator who uses a transcription machine and records all spoken text. The text will then show up on a monitor or screen for the child to read. This is a more expensive system because an operator needs to be paid to carry out this task. CART is usually only used at colleges and universities. 
• FM system: This device blocks out background noise by amplifying the teacher’s voice and broadcasting sound straight to the student’s hearing aid(s) or sound processor.
• Loop system: The teacher will talk into a microphone and the signal goes through a loop that surrounds the listening area. This is helpful for hearing aid users that have built-in telecoils (T-coils). These systems are economical and simple to install. 
• Sound field system: This technology helps to shut out background noise by making the teacher’s voice louder via a microphone and broadcasting it through a speaker inside the classroom. 

Participating in Extracurricular Activities

Your child should be given the opportunity to carry out a normal life with their hearing aids. Encourage them to participate in sports or other extracurricular activities that they would like to enjoy.

Use a sport loop, splash guard and drying container. Discuss your child’s hearing loss and ask them to help your child care for their hearing aids, if necessary. 

Dealing with Teasing or Bullying

Your child may be sensitive about their hearing loss and very self-conscious about their hearing aids being seen or stared at by peers. Ask teachers to observe any bullying from other students.    

If there is bullying, set up a meeting with the bully’s parents. They might not be aware that their child is misbehaving. They may have a family member with hearing loss, and the child might not know it. If a loved one has the same condition, it will hopefully change their attitude. 

With the student’s permission, break the ice and discuss their hearing loss with the class. Find a book to read, that illustrates a positive message for children with hearing loss. 

A new school can be scary for a child. There are expectations from teachers and peer pressure from students. Hearing loss while learning and interacting with others is just another thing to be concerned about. Parents and teachers need to work together to facilitate that transition into the classroom. 

If you, or a loved one, would be interested in a free hearing test and hearing aid trial, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a consultation. 

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