Today’s blog was written by Patricia Ramirez, Au.D. Dr. Ramirez received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona, her master’s degree from Arizona State University, and her Doctorate from A.T. Still University. She worked clinically and dispensed hearing aids for 5 years in the Phoenix Metro area before joining a hearing aid manufacturer, where she worked as a Customer Trainer, Training and Education Manager, and Region Sales Manager. She is currently Senior Manager of Education and Training for Siemens Hearing Instruments, where she is responsible for the planning and implementation of customer and employee product meetings.
Preparing your child for camp
Parents of children who wear hearing aids may have mixed feelings about sending their kids to summer camp, particularly the sleep-away variety. On the one hand, they want their children to enjoy all the fun experiences of other campers — hiking, swimming, going on adventures with friends while learning to respect and appreciate nature. On the other, concerns that hearing aids will get damaged or lost in the process are legitimate.
If you find yourself in this situation and are still on the fence about sending your child to camp, here are some facts and suggestions to help you decide.
Choose robust hearing aids that stand up to summer activities
Even though modern hearing aids are smaller and smarter than ever, some are also extremely robust, using state-of-the-art technology to protect them from sweat, dirt, dust, rough handling, and even submersion in water. To be certain your child’s hearing aids will stand up to moisture, dirt, and other intrusions, ask for the IP certification. Hearing aids rated IP67 are dust- and dirt-proof and will resist moisture (please note: water-resistant does not equal waterproof, so your child should not swim in these). An IP68 rating maintains the same dust- and dirt-proof qualities, but is also completely waterproof—meaning no water will enter the hearing aid, even when it is fully immersed in water.
Let your child participate in choosing the camp
When it comes to picking out a camp, review the options with your child and make a decision together about which would provide the best experience given his or her interests and abilities. With today’s more robust high-tech hearing aids, most children with hearing loss can fully participate in their favorite camp activities. Children who have a say in their summertime activities are more likely to go off to camp with a positive attitude. Remember, the earlier you apply, the more likely it is your child will get into his or her first choice.
Preparation is key
A few weeks before summer begins, start incorporating camp into family discussions. Encourage your child to talk about what he or she is looking forward to, any concerns about being away from home or meeting new children, and other hopes and worries. This gives you time to set reasonable expectations and allay fears, so that your child will go off to camp emotionally prepared.
Be sure your child knows how to manage his or her hearing aids, including inserting and removing them, changing the batteries (or using a charger if they are rechargeable), and basic troubleshooting, just in case there isn’t an adult available to help. It’s also a good idea to contact the camp in advance and make sure at least one of the counselors either already knows how to work with hearing aids or provide one with basic training, just in case your child needs some assistance.
Make sure your child understands how to advocate on his or her own behalf while at camp. For example, if your child cannot hear directions, he or she needs to be willing to notify an adult, so that important directions or other information aren’t missed. It’s also a good idea to explain the importance of reporting any teasing or bullying to a counselor.
Finally, make sure to give your child all information necessary to reach you or another emergency contact, in case a hearing aid is lost or fails to work properly.
By choosing the right hearing aids for an active summer and involving your child in choosing and preparing for camp, you can set the stage for a fun, safe camping experience.
Note from Jane Madell: The advantage of waterproof hearing aids is that they allow the child with hearing loss to hear when swimming, However, not every hearing aid works well for every child, so when purchasing a hearing aid for a child it is important to be sure that the hearing aid provides excellent auditory access all the times – not just in water. If waterproof hearing aids are not the optimal instruments for a particular child, but it is possible to purchase a back up set (if the child swims a lot), waterproof aids might be considered.
