Schoolchild (6-12 years)

Our children starting school is a big event for all families. It is an exciting adventure in an ever-changing setting, with new people. But now performance and concentration are also expected – even when the listening environment is not always optimal.

Making close friends, learning and evaluating

Schoolchildren are constantly evaluated, but they also evaluate themselves. Success or failure makes them feel either competent or inadequate. They now become conscious of their hearing loss and may feel embarrassed by their hearing aids.

Friends become increasingly important throughout one’s school years and children mirror themselves in others in order to develop their own identity. Some children become victims of bullying and there is a risk that your child will minimise his/her need for a hearing aid because they do not want to draw attention to themselves.

Acknowledge their feelings
Recall your own emotional reaction when you received their diagnosis of hearing loss. You can then listen and acknowledge how they feel, and reassure them that their hearing loss does not stand in the way of healthy relationships or important learning.

Support their need for privacy
Raising a child with hearing loss requires some adjustments to your family. Your child needs privacy at this stage in life – but they still need to hear you when you call them for dinner and other family activities.

In the classroom

An active and noisy classroom is a challenging environment for your child to understand the teacher’s voice and concentrate on learning. Child-friendly technologies can help your child enjoy the learning process and achieve their full potential.

At school, your child needs to maximize their vocabulary - while applying themselves to all of the other subjects in the curriculum. Modern schools require children to be able to multitask.

Children need to use computers, understand and act upon what the teacher says, and participate in group work. They are also introduced to sport and extracurricular activities. It is therefore extremely important that your child receives the right child-friendly hearing solution.

EduMic is a classroom microphone that's dedicated to learning

EduMic is a remote microphone that transmits the teacher's voice wirelessly to your child's hearing aids. This makes it an ideal partner in noisy classrooms and halls, and on the sports field when the teacher may be some distance away.

See more about EduMic

Empower your child

Hearing aids
Check that your child can independently care for and clean their hearing aids and maintain and set up other equipment. Giving them these responsibilities will help them to take ownership and minimise the risk that they will refuse to use them.

Communication
Ensure that your child is comfortable with advocating for their listening and learning needs and is able to repair communication breakdowns. Because of their evaluative behaviour at this stage they might not wish to draw attention to themselves. Talk about ways they can ask for help without feeling exposed. Use these communication tips to discuss good communication and listening environments.

Hearing care centre
When visiting the hearing care professional, make sure to involve your child in decisions about their hearing aids such as colour and accessories, and give them time to talk about their feelings with the hearing care specialist without you taking over. Your child is the expert on their own needs, feelings and experiences – let him or her know that.

Introduction to others
Being the only “different” child at school is not easy. And as your child now tends to listen to peers more than to you, you can use this in a positive way and consider finding an informal group of children with hearing loss in your community, which your child might benefit from joining. Your hearing care professional might be able to direct you to such groups.

Visit Support for parents

Next phase: Teen to adult (12+ years)

As children with hearing loss grow, they face a range of challenges at different stages over the years, from infancy through the school years and beyond. Children learn and progress differently over time, and the needs of your child must be continually assessed. Every new self-concept and skill results in new behaviour. Look out for the signs, so you can provide support!

When your child becomes a teenager, they are on a fast journey to adulthood. Your child may sometimes experience confusion or become overwhelmed about his/her own role and feelings. During these years you will need to let go, so make sure that they are prepared to deal with their hearing loss without needing your support.

Read more

  • Raising a child with hearing loss

    How to balance your role of protecting and empowering your child so they can enjoy all that life has to offer.

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  • The child's environment and social life

    Hearing is important for developing social skills and being able to communicate in different environments.

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  • Why children’s hearing matters

    Your child uses their hearing to learn to talk, read and write, and not least, to develop social skills.

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  • Oticon hearing aids for children

    Explore our hearing aid solutions for children with mild to moderate and severe to profound hearing loss.