Once your kid is diagnosed with hearing loss, there are obvious waves of emotion and uncertainty. Upon the initial diagnosis of our son, Ike, there was SO much running through my head. One thought that I never even considered until we actually received his hearing devices ... How the heck are we supposed to keep these things on his head??
Let me tell you, the struggle is real y'all. You have a tiny person, with tiny ears, curious minds, wandering hands, and an affinity for putting EVERYTHING in their mouths. You also have these seemingly small devices, but, compared to your little one's LITTLE ears, actually appear to be huge. Luckily companies like Phonak do make pediatric hearing aids, which are a bit smaller, but with the rapid growth of babies it really makes financial sense to get the little kid size (bigger), than the baby size (smallest). Cochlear's, however, are just plain huge on babies.
So how, exactly, do you keep these devices on a small child? After some trial and error, here is what has worked for us.
Toupee tape ... Yes, you read that correctly. You will now be adding toupee tape to your Amazon cart for the foreseeable future. Amazon, if you are reading this, PLEASE let me add it to my Subscribe and Save! Santa even brings a couple packs for Ike's stocking each year.
This stuff is AMAZING. We cut it into strips and put a piece on the back of Ike's hearing aid. The double sided tape then sticks to his skin right behind the ear. This prevents the "huge" hearing aid from flopping off his ear and keeps it securely in place. I think this also helps prevent him from trying to take the hearing aid out because it is not bothering him by flapping around everywhere.
You can also use this on the back of Cochlear devices, however I have noticed it is not as effective as the hearing aid. The Cochlear is larger and doesn't have the anchor of the ear mold, so is a bit tougher to use with the tape ... but still possible!
PS-this stuff has also come in handy in several other situations. It is great for women who need to keep garments in place (think deep v necks, pesky bra straps, or off the shoulder tops). I have also used it to tape signage in place in a pinch. It really is pretty handy!
2. Pilot Cap
These pilot caps are so great for babies with Cochlear implants or hearing aids who are not yet crawling (or who are VERY interested in grabbing and playing with their devices). I love these particular pilot caps because they are made with mesh sides. This allows sound to still get to the devices microphone ports, and allows more air flow (so they are not as hot).
We used these hats for several months while Ike was still immobile. They helped A LOT when he started rolling. Since it kept the devices close to his head, it helped keep the magnet attached ... and me from pulling my hair out! I also think it helped teach him not to mess with the devices. Since they were covered up with the hat, he really wasn't able to play with them. By the time he outgrew the hat, he was so used to wearing the devices and he really doesn't bother them much anymore unless he is overstimulated or tired.
This band has been a LIFESAVER for the Cochlear implant device. Best used once your baby is crawling and beyond. It is a lightweight headband with little pockets on either side, so it can be used unilaterally or bilaterally. It is specifically designed for the Cochlear device with custom pockets and a small hole for the magnet cord to go through.
I love this product because it keeps the (relatively) large Cochlear device secure on the head. Since the device is not flopping or moving around, it helps keep the magnet on the head as well. It is easy to slip it on and off. It has also been a huge help because, if your baby likes to take it off and throw it somewhere, it is much easier to find on the headband rather than the device alone.
Another reason I love this headband is the fact that it is gender neutral. There are, of course, a ton of great options for girl headbands, with flowers and bows. I found it terribly difficult to find one that would be a good fit for boys. This one hit the mark. It comes in a variety of colors, so you are sure to find one you love for either your little boy or girl.
PRO TIP: We keep Ike's backup processor in the waterproof case on one of these headbands. This way, we are able to easily switch to it for bath time or when playing in water in the backyard.
Full disclosure, we never really used these. I have heard from a ton of other families who do use these and love them, so still wanted to share them here. It is a thin elastic band with silicone sleeves to hold the devices securely. I have typically seen these used for kids with unilateral or bilateral hearing aids, but they do also have a Cochlear device attachment as well. They come in all different colors, so are another good unisex option.
We did try the Ear Suspenders out when Ike was small (before he got implanted). Unfortunately, the band ended up being too big so it never really worked out for us. We also found other options that worked great, so have not circled back to these yet. As he gets older, we may just have to give them another try!
Delving into the world of hearing loss has its struggles, including keeping the dang devices on your kid. There are a ton of great products out there to help ease the frustration. The ones listed here are what we have used and found helpful. My advice would be to give them a try until you find what works best for you and your kid. You will eventually find the right fit!
**Note: I have no affiliation with any of these companies
Comments