appendix a: hearing aids 223
You may need new batteries every
week or every couple of months.
How often you need new batteries
depends on how many hours each
day your child wears his hearing
aid, the type of hearing aid he has,
and the kind of batteries he uses.
Some countries provide them free.
Hearing aids and
batteries should
be available to all
children who can
benefit from them, not
just to families who
can afford them!
Can we check the hearing aid every day and take care of it?
Oh no,
I got
wet.
Hearing aids need to be checked every
morning to make sure the batteries and the
aid are working well. The earmolds also need
to be washed and dried regularly so that dirt
will not block sound from getting to the ear.
And hearing aids must be handled carefully. If
the aid gets wet, or is dropped, it may break or
need repair.
If you decide to get a hearing aid
If you decide a hearing aid is right for your child, be sure that you
receive information along with the aid so you can learn:
• how to help your child get used to wearing a hearing aid
• how to care for the hearing aid
• how to check the aid each day to be sure it is working
• what to do when the aid does not work well
Ways to help your child get used to wearing a hearing aid
Every child reacts differently to wearing hearing aids. Some children like
them right away, some children find them uncomfortable
at first. At first, put the hearing aid on for only 15 to 30
minutes. Gradually increase the amount of time your
child wears the aid. It may take many weeks for him
to get used to wearing it.
If your child wears the hearing aid
while he is enjoying himself, it is
less likely to bother him.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)