Transitioning from the carefree days of summer to the more structured school days is important for all children. But for mainstreamed children with any kind of hearing loss, it is important to do some advance preparations to ensure your child’s smooth transition and successful year. Here are five helpful tips for parents and educators.      

1. Meet the Teacher in Advance

If possible, contact the school as soon as possible and inquire if your child can meet his or her teacher in advance of the first day. Often, teachers in mainstream settings have had little or no experience with a deaf or hard of hearing student in their class. An advance meeting can allay fears and clear up misconceptions. One of my daughter’s teachers told me that she was “quaking in her boots” when she learned that she was going to have a deaf child with a cochlear implant in her class. We set up a meeting where we discussed how cochlear implants work, how hearing loss impacts my daughter in school and some of the classroom modifications she would need. Afterward, the teacher was considerably calmer and looking forward to teaching my daughter.

2. Verify that Assistive Devices are Working

Some schools will send out all assistive technology devices for repairs and checks over the summer while others may not. If your child will be using such equipment, don’t leave anything to chance. Call the school and speak with the person responsible for maintaining the equipment and make sure it is in working order. If the technology is new to your child, ask for a brief meeting so that your child can try out the device in advance to save time on the first day of school.

3. Check Your Child’s Hearing  and Devices

When was the last time your child had a hearing test? Children with hearing loss should have their hearing tested at least 1 to 2 times a year. If their loss has been progressive, more frequent testing should be considered. Often, when hearing has changed, the hearing aids or cochlear implants they use to help them hear need to be adjusted. By having a hearing test and device adjustments done just prior to the start of school, you are ensuring that your child’s hearing will be at its optimum.

4. Stock Up on Batteries and Spare Parts

Make sure you have plenty of batteries on hand before the start of school. Hearing aid batteries are readily available in most pharmacies but cochlear implant batteries often need to be ordered from the manufacturer. If your child tends to lose or break cochlear implant parts, consider having spare parts on hand to save time when they break or go missing. It is also a good idea to give the school nurse, teacher of the deaf or main classroom teacher a box of extra batteries on the first day of school.

5. Tour a New School

If your child will be starting a new school this year, consider asking for a tour before school starts. New buildings and teachers are overwhelming for many children and possibly more so for students with hearing loss. If your child will be moving from class to class throughout the day, ask for a class schedule in advance and practice the route. The first day of school in the noisy hallways will be easier if your child already knows where his or her classes are and the easiest way to get there.

Do you have a tip for people with hearing loss? Be sure to submit it to the Comments area linked below.

Paula Rosenthal, J.D. has had a life-long hearing loss and is a bilateral cochlear implant recipient as is her daughter. She is the founder of HearingExchange, a blog and resource community for people with hearing loss and their families. She also speaks around the country to organizations and parents about hearing loss and related issues. For more information, read Paula’s complete bio here.

This article is one in a series of Paulas Pearls articles intended to support people with hearing loss and their family members. It can be reproduced under certain conditions. To see a list of available articles, visit the Paula’s Pearls page here and contact Paula for further information.

© 2008 Paula Rosenthal and HearingExchange. All rights reserved. For reprint permission send an email with your request to mailto:hearingexchange@gmail.com.

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