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Did your audiologist show you a graph, but you left not quite remembering what everything meant? Here is a video to explain those results.

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This is a great guide for understanding how hearing works, what the different types of hearing loss are, and the language milestones your child should be meeting.

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I know the audiologist said that my child has hearing loss, but I think they just aren't paying attention during their testing.

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I know the audiologist said that my child has hearing loss, but I think they just aren't paying attention during their testing.

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Children with hearing loss often present as having a lack of attention to situations. That being said, your audiologist is carefully considering all behaviors you are describing at home in addition to their test results. Ask your audiologist about the testing they are doing, both based on your child's behavioral results and other objective results that do not depend on their attention.

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October is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month. If it seems like more and more kids suffer from ADHD, it is because diagnoses are, in fact, on the rise. In 2003, only 7.8 percent of American kids received an ADHD diagnosis, but by 2011 that number was up to 11 percent, says the CDC. One potential reason for the shift may be ever-increasing academic pressure on kids combined with a heightened focus on behaviors like executive function, which are related to a child's ability to keep track of time, make plans, apply learned principles and analyze ideas.

Hearing loss in kids can sometimes look
like ADHD.

What is ADHD

ADHD is not a disease or medical condition. It is a collection of symptoms without any known cause and has no definitive physical tests. Its symptoms can mimic other disorders such as hearing loss. Unlike hearing loss, ADHD is a non-specific psychiatric condition which, as defined by the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) handbook, includes the following symptoms:

Fails to pay close attention to detail or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities

Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or activities

Does not appear to listen when spoken to

Does not follow through on instructions and does not finish tasks

Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities

Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort (e.g. homework)

Is easily distracted

Can hearing loss in kids look like ADHD?

If a child can't hear their teacher, they will have difficulty focusing, paying attention and completing assignments - all of which might incorrectly indicate ADHD. The increase in the number of ADHD diagnoses means the likelihood of incorrect diagnoses or potential for overlap with hearing loss increases as well. According to the Better Hearing Institute and the Center for Hearing and Communication, about 1.4 million people under the age of 18 in the U.S. have hearing loss, and 15 percent of kids between the ages of 6 and 19 have a measurable hearing loss in at least one ear. Even a mild hearing loss can cause a child to miss up to 50 percent of what is said in the classroom.

Some indicators of hearing loss that might be confused for ADHD include:

Poor academic performance

Inattentiveness

Not responding when spoken to

Acting out

Inappropriate responses to questions

Low self esteem

Difficulty with social interactions

In some cases, a child is affected by both conditions, but it is important to accurately determine the reason behind a child's poor school performance or inattentiveness to avoid a misdiagnosis of ADHD, unnecessary medication and to determine the best course of action to help a child succeed in school.

It is easy to see where the lines blur, especially when a child has already been diagnosed with one or the other. "It can be very difficult [for parents] to determine whether or not a child with hearing loss has ADHD," Nanette McDevitt, PsyD, Med., with the Greater Minnesota Assessment Service (GMAS) reports to Minnesota Hands and Voices. "Hearing loss can be like trying to listen on a cell phone when it is cutting in and out. It is very hard to maintain your attention when you can't get all of the information. It can be very hard to attend, and this can look like ADHD."

Diagnosis is the key

Accurate diagnosis is key to a child's successful academic performance, followed by appropriate intervention and treatment. In kids with hearing loss and ADHD, the hearing loss tends to be diagnosed first thanks to mandatory newborn infant hearing screening programs and observable behaviors obvious to astute parents. Testing for hearing loss and ADHD are vastly different processes, and hearing loss is much easier to diagnose and quantify. Some hearing tests, like otoacoustic emissions used in newborn screening programs, don't require active participation from the patient and yield valuable information. ADHD, on the other hand, is diagnosed by observation of behavioral and psychological symptoms and answering a series of questions, and it can be somewhat subjective.

We have looked at the similarities between ADHD and hearing loss, but it is important to remember that there are differences as well. For example, some children with hearing loss can have delays in speech-language development. Unless they have received early diagnosis, intervention and treatment in the form of hearing aids or cochlear implants, along with speech-language therapy, they often lag behind their peers in this area. In contrast, children with ADHD tend to have normal speech language development on par with their peers.

If a child can't hear their teacher, they will have difficulty focusing, paying attention and completing assignments - all of which might incorrectly indicate ADHD.

In cases where hearing loss has already been diagnosed, it is important to note the effectiveness of programs put in place for intervention such as amplification, speech-language therapy programs and academic and classroom support. If the child's behavior and academic progress does not improve, it may then be appropriate to begin testing for ADHD to determine if there are further problems beyond the hearing loss.

Whether a child has ADHD, hearing loss or both, the key to success is early and professional diagnosis and management by a team of qualified healthcare professionals. If you suspect hearing loss, see a hearing healthcare professional for a formal audiologic evaluation, diagnosis and treatment, and recommendations for management of educational goals. See a pediatrician or a psychologist for professional help if you suspect your child might have ADHD.

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October is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month. If it seems like more and more kids suffer from ADHD, it is because diagnoses are, in fact, on the rise. In 2003, only 7.8 percent of American kids received an ADHD diagnosis, but by 2011 that number was up to 11 percent, says the CDC.

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Being the caretaker of a child with hearing loss was probably very unexpected, and has been a huge adjustment for you and your family. You are your child's #1 advocate, and you need to be supported throughout this process!

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This is a community of people who are hard of hearing themselves, as well as caretakers of such people. It's a great forum for hearing honest stories and opinions on a variety of topics!

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Hearing Loss Community - Hearing Like Me

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Welcome to HearingLikeMe.com. A hearing loss community brought to you by Phonak for better living, raising, supporting and learning.

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This is a free resource (all you need is to sign up for a free account!) that provides all sorts of activities and games to work into you and your child's daily lives that will allow your child to work on a language skills in a fun, natural way!

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We're putting something in their ears when they're used to not having to wear anything at all! Disliking this change is very normal. Keep your audiologist informed, however, because we never want the hearing aids to be uncomfortable on their ears, or too loud for them! Never be afraid to ask questions to your audiologist and express your concerns.

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Have them start their hearing aid journey with a furry friend!

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Have them start their hearing aid journey with a furry friend!

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Introducing Leo, the young lion cub with hearing aids! As a kid, did you ever want a doll or action figure that looked like you? This story book and stuffed animal allows your child to play, color, and read along with a lion friend that's just like them!
Find more about him at https://www.phonak.com/com/en/hearing-aids/hearing-aids-for-children/leos-world.html

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Hearing aids can come in a variety of colors, including both the device itself and the earmold! We love to have kids pick their own fun earmold color, especially since this is something that will need to be remade often as they grow!

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Baby Beats is a free app for your phone to allow you and your young child to create a foundation for listening through fun musical activities.

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Don't want them to have a crazy colored device for years?

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Don't want them to have a crazy colored device for years?

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Maybe you're looking forward and realize they may not want a hot pink hearing aid in a few years. We get it! Look for fun stickers from the manufacturer, or elsewhere online like these fun superhero ones!

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Hearing Aid Stickers ONLY for Oticon Opn BTE

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Superhero inspired stickers! They are only for the Oticon Opn BTE. These are for ANY color hearing aid, they are not transparent as the other stickers that I sell. All copyrights of the character images used belong to their respective owners and are not being sold.

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Is it not staying in place when they're trying to be active?

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Is it not staying in place when they're trying to be active?

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Kids love to run and play, and sometimes those hearing aids just won't want to stay in place. Keep them secure with fun accessories like these Ear Suspenders! Before getting any accessories, be sure to check in with your audiologist to make sure their microphones aren't covered and the device works well with them.

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Ear Suspenders Hearing Aid Headband with adjustable head sizing, silicone grip and sliding silicone sleeves for natural BTE fit

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Ear Suspender Headbands are carefully designed to offer functionality and peace of mind to hearing aid wearers of all types. FEATURES OF OUR HEADBANDS: -Clear silicone hearing aid sleeves. -Headband is lined with silicone for a non slip grip. -Adjustable headband allows you to adjust the headband

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This is a great resource for both parents and teachers for providing your child with practical strategies for learning language. This resource is from a Cochlear Implant manufacturer, but is helping for children with hearing aids, too.
https://www.cochlear.com/uk/home/support/rehabilitation-resources/leaping-on-with-language/leaping-on-with-language

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This is a community of families with children with hearing loss. It's a great way to get involved with other families and connect.
http://www.handsandvoices.org/

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Does my child have to learn American Sign Language?

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Does my child have to learn American Sign Language?

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The way your child communicates is a decision you and your family will make. Your audiologists job is to make sure they have best access to language, in whatever form that is. You can learn about the different options available to you below.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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How People with Hearing Loss Learn Language | CDC

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People with hearing loss and their families often need special skills to be able to learn language and communicate.

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What are the basic parts of a hearing aid?

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What are the basic parts of a hearing aid?

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Take a look at this website for basics on a hearing aid.

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Published: 11/30/2015

Last Updated: 08/07/2017

Hearing aids continue to offer groundbreaking technology with the latest features packed inside small shells, essentially making them tiny computers that are worn on your ears. While it may be difficult to understand the complexities and nuances of this technology, it's important to have a basic understanding of the different main parts of the hearing aid as they help bring sounds back into your life.

Regardless of the style of hearing aid, whether it's a behind-the-ear or a completely-in-the-canal, they all have the same three main components:

1. Microphone

The hearing aid microphone is the start of the process to help you hear better. The microphone picks up the different sounds in your environment and converts them to electric signals that can be understood by the processor. Microphones are now able to differentiate sounds, such as speech and background noise, and process them differently for a much more seamless hearing experience than in the past.

There are two types of microphones: directional and omnidirectional. Directional microphones pick up mostly sounds in front of the wearer. This can be helpful when trying to understand a conversation in a noisy environment. Omnidirectional microphones pick up sounds from all directions, helping to give the user a better sense of where sounds are coming from. Most new hearing aids come equipped with both types of microphones to help wearers pick up speech from multiple directions, creating a more natural listening experience.

2. Processor/Amplifier

The processor or amplifier can be viewed as the computer or motherboard of the hearing aid. It takes the electric signals received from the microphone and converts them into digital signals that can be manipulated.

It's during this step that the sound, now a digital signal, is adjusted to the wearer's requirements, including how much the signal needs to be amplified to effectively accommodate the person's hearing loss. Any feedback or noise from wind is cancelled or reduced. This is also where any tinnitus masking features would be added.

Once all of the appropriate adjustments have been made to the digital signal, the processor then converts it back to an analog signal. It's here when the signal is sent to the third and final hearing aid component.

3. Receiver

The final component in the process is the receiver. It creates an enhanced soundwave that will meet the hearing loss needs of its wearer. In order for this to happen, the receiver must convert the signal sent from the processor to audible sounds and output it to the wearer's ears.

The receiver is the piece of the device directed at the wearer's inner ear. Some hearing aids have the receiver placed directly in the ear canal, such as with a completely-in-the-canal style. Other devices have the receiver connect to a small tube that's inserted into the ear, like with the behind-the-ear style.

The complexity and the sophistication of modern hearing aid technology cannot be overstated. While it may appear to be a long process from start to finish, it's actually happening in a fraction of a second. It's through constant research and development that hearing technology continues to improve, and people with hearing loss can enjoy the most natural listening experiences possible.

Other Hearing Aid Parts

Ear-Hook/Tone-Hook: The clear tube that connects to the receiver and loops over the top of the ear. This is found on behind-the-ear devices.

Hearing Aid Battery: The power source for the other hearing aid components.

Vent: Allows for airflow and prevents the feeling of a plugged-up ear.

Volume Control: Allows the user to make adjustments to the intensity of the sound. This is not available on all styles of hearing aids.

Wax Guard: A small replaceable filter that prevents earwax from getting into the internal hearing aid components.

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What are the main parts of a hearing aid?

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Published: 11/30/2015 Last Updated: 08/07/2017 Hearing aids continue to offer groundbreaking technology with the latest features packed inside small shells, essentially making them tiny computers that are worn on your ears.

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This helpful video goes through how to clean each part of the hearing aid. Don't be afraid to bring it up at your appointments with your audiologists if you have questions!

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How to Care, Clean, and Maintain Your Hearing Aids?

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Keep their hearing aids in a place where you can put them on every day.

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Keep their hearing aids in a place where you can put them on every day.

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We don't recommend keeping them in the bathroom (there's too much moisture for the electronics), but in the kitchen, by your keys, and other common places that are a part of your routine are great options!

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Before they put them on your child, do a listening check on the hearing aids.

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Before they put them on your child, do a listening check on the hearing aids.

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To make sure they are working properly, attach them to the listening scope from your hearing aid kid and talk into them. It should sound nice and clear and not cut in and out. Since you'll be doing it every day, you'll get used to the way it sounds and know when something sounds off.

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The battery life of your child's hearing aids will vary depending on how much it is connected/streaming to other devices, but should last around 4-5 days. Keep track of how many days your hearing aids last by putting a sticker on your calendar when you change it. If your child is going to be leaving the house, go ahead and change the battery before they leave if it's on the day of changing, to make sure they don't have any time without their ears turned on!

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Unless otherwise indicated by your audiologist, hearing aids are water resistant, not water proof. That means it's okay for them to get wet when caught in the rain, but not good enough to sustain swimming or showering types of water. Talk to your audiologist about accessories that may be used during these times to protect the devices!

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Prepare your child to advocate for themselves before going to school or other new environments.

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Prepare your child to advocate for themselves before going to school or other new environments.

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This may be the first time your child has been around people who don't know they have a hearing loss. Your child should be prepared to explain to peers and teachers that they have hearing loss, and how to best communicate with them! Check out this guide for good tips for advocating for better listening environments.

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I'm not ready to move forward with the next steps.

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I'm not ready to move forward with the next steps.

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We understand that this is an uncomfortable time, and a lot of information to process. It is critical for your child to take advantage of their ever-changing brains to learn language during this period of time.