How Do I Keep My Child’s Audio Processor On?

For Babies and Small Children

1. Desensitize Them

There are many children who dislike any form of contact with their head or hair. This may cause a reluctance to wear audio processors. The first step towards desensitization is making wearing the audio processor just as normal as wearing a pair of shoes. Here is what you can do:

• Keep the audio processor nearby during the day so it becomes part of the child’s everyday world, thereby reducing their anxiety about it.
• If your child feels safe, let them play with the processor. You can also carefully “take it for a ride” on a toy car or train.
• Try to put the audio processor on your child while it’s switched off. If your child uses a soft band to keep the device in place, try using the band without the device. You can start introducing the device once your child accepts the headband.

Remember, desensitization requires time and effort. It doesn’t happen overnight. So don’t give up!

2. Ensure That the Audio Processor Is Comfortable and Secure

• If you notice that your child takes off their processor when hearing loud sounds or blinks frequently while hearing sounds around them, contact their audiologist as soon as possible.
• For children who are very active, speak with your audiologist about available audio processor retention options (head bands, hair clips, etc.). These will help secure the processor in place.
• Custom caps with knit and athletic mesh are also options that help babies keep their hands away from hearing devices.

3. Increase Your Child’s Wear Time Gradually

• If your child pulls their processor off repeatedly, take a break and try again later when you both feel more relaxed.
• Gradually increase the duration of wearing time as soon as possible up to full time use.
• Make the experience positive.

4. Make It Part of Their Daily Routine

Integrate the audio processor into your child’s daily dressing and undressing routine. Continue to encourage your child to wear the audio processor as soon as they wake up, and remove it just before they go to bed. There is so much rich language and communication during bedtime routines that would be a shame for them to miss!

5. Use Distraction Techniques

Make a hearing implant toy box. Only give it to your child while putting their audio processor on. Using this distraction technique will keep your child busy. The toys should be exciting and motivating. Try to limit the exposure to these toys throughout the rest of the day. You can try to rotate the toys inside the box to keep the excitement going.

6. Get Your Child Excited About Their Hearing Implant

Decorating their audio processor can be exciting for younger kids. If your child wants their processor to be colorful, contact your audiologist to find out about covers and accessories.

Learn more about how to customize your child’s audio processor here. There are stickers, charms, and decorative clips available on the market to decorate hearing devices. When decorating, don’t cover anything that needs to stay uncovered, such as the microphones. Check with your audiologist if you’re unsure.

7. Attend Regular Audiology Appointments

Your child may be struggling to wear their processor because of the way it has been programmed. Attend all audiological appointments to ensure your child’s implant is programmed correctly.

8. Never Give Up

Even though it may seem like things will never get easier, they will! As a parent, just aim to have your child keep their audio processor on a little bit longer than the day before. Before you know it, your child will soon be asking you to put it on for them.

9. Reach Out to Other Parents

Other parents have faced similar challenges. They might have some other tips and tricks that worked for them and might help you as well. Talk to our Hearpeers mentors for help and advice.

Older Children and Teenagers

When children reach adolescence, the acceptance of their peers has a strong influence on them. The reason most older children reject their hearing implant is that they want to fit in. Here are a few tips that may help:

1. Find the Reason They Don’t Want to Wear Their Processor

Find out how your child feels about hearing loss and hearing implants. Give them the opportunity to express how they feel about wearing their hearing device. Children who reject their hearing device may do so for a variety of reasons. Maybe they don’t feel well with the implant, are being teased or bullied, or they feel they don’t fit in. It is important to address this reason.

2. Self-Esteem and Fitting In

Self-esteem and confidence are especially important in mainstream settings. Children with hearing loss are at risk of rejecting their hearing implant if they don’t have strong self-esteem. This can be addressed by teaching children about their hearing loss and how to talk about it right from the beginning. Read more about how to build confidence in children with hearing loss.

3. Explain the Importance of Wearing Their Audio Processor

It is crucial to explain to older kids the importance of wearing their audio processor. Discuss with them:

• The effects of not hearing well
• How wearing their audio processor promotes their quality of life and relationships
• The educational benefits of wearing their audio processor
• How it provides the best listening possibilities and learning opportunities
• How it helps with speech understanding, sound clarity, and communication skills

4. Reach Out to Other Cochlear Implant Users

Children of this age will benefit greatly from being connected to peers who also have hearing implants. Also, role models such as Hearpeers who use hearing implants and advocate for themselves will model positive self-confidence.

5. Maintain a Positive Attitude

• Express a positive attitude towards your child’s hearing loss and use of hearing implants.
• Use positive language when responding to your child’s questions and doubts.
• Teach your child strategies to deal with challenging situations. It is important to make them aware of their needs and teach them how to communicate these to others. This ability to speak up for themselves to get what they need will make them more independent. Teaching them self-advocacy skills is very important in challenging situations. Learn more about self-advocacy tips here.

Download a printable version of these recommendations here.