Talking to Your Child's Teachers About Hearing Loss

When children are born with hearing impairments or develop them early in life, the effect on their education can be profound. Not only is it difficult to learn when you cannot hear your teacher clearly, but early hearing loss can have a profound effect on a child's language development. If your child has been diagnosed with a hearing disability, it is very important to build an educational plan with his or her teachers, audiologist, and other professionals who can help.

Raising a hearing impaired child is challenging, especially for parents without hearing impairment. If you have any questions about available hearing restoration technology, or need assistance finding an effective but affordable hearing aid for your child, HearingPlanet is here for you. Call our hearing aid specialists today at 1-800-432-7669.

What Teachers Need to Know

If your child will be in an average class – as opposed to one designed for children with hearing loss – it is especially important to clearly communicate with his or her teachers about the situation. You may want to meet with your child's teacher at the beginning of each year to explain the situation and the best ways to help your child. Some information you may want to cover includes:

• Your child's abilities and limitations. You will certainly want the teacher to understand that if your child does not immediately come when called or answer a question in class, he or she is not necessarily misbehaving. Otherwise, your child may be punished for problems he or she cannot help.
• Any hearing devices your child uses. If your child wears a hearing aid or other assistive device, the teacher needs to know so he or she can make sure it does not get left behind in the classroom or on field trips.
• Any accommodations your child needs. It is often best for a child with hearing loss to sit at the front of the classroom so he or she can hear the teacher better. Your child may also need additional help, such as printed materials or hand gestures that clarify a speaker's meaning.

Be sure to carefully explore the programs offered by the school and your community. There are many counselors, speech therapists, and other professionals who can help your child excel in school.

Contact a Hearing Aid Consultant

Innovations in hearing aid technology are being developed every day. To learn about state-of-the-art hearing aids and other devices that could help your child, contact the hearing loss experts of HearingPlanet at 1-800-432-7669.