Hearing Aids

For families

www.ndcs.org.uk

Our vision is a world without barriers for every deaf child.

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Types of deafness
3. Levels of deafness
4. Frequency
5. Does my child have to wear hearing aids?
6. Earmoulds
7. Hearing aids
8. Customising your child’s hearing aids
9. How do hearing aids work?
10. Hearing aid features
11. T programme
12. Using radio aids
13. Keeping behind-the-ear hearing aids in place
14. Encouraging your child to wear hearing aids
15. Good listening environments
16. Using the phone with a hearing aid
17. Technology
18. Looking after hearing aids
19. Replacing the earmould tubing
20. Hearing aid batteries
21. Feedback
22. Other types of hearing aid
23. What to do if hearing aids are lost or damaged
24. Buying hearing aids
25. Useful resources

We use the term ‘deaf’ to refer to all types of hearing loss or impairment from mild to profound. This includes deafness in one ear or temporary deafness such as glue ear. We use the term ‘parent’ to refer to all parents and carers of children.

Introduction

If an audiologist has suggested your child gets hearing aids you may have lots of questions. This resource will tell you about different types of hearing aids, how to look after them and how your child can get the best out of them. There are more than 50,000 deaf children in the UK, with five babies born deaf every day. Most deaf children are born to hearing parents with little or no experience of deafness. With the right support there’s no reason for a deaf child to develop language at a slower rate than a hearing child with similar abilities, and hearing aids can help with this.

There are lots of different hearing aids available. If you’re not sure which pages of this resource apply to your child’s hearing aids, ask your audiologist to point them out. Hearing aids are only one option. For some children, a hearing implant such as a cochlear implant or bone conduction hearing implant may be more suitable. Throughout this resource we’ll direct you to some of our other free information resources which are available to download from our website at www.ndcs.org.uk. For more information and practical support or to order copies of other resources, phone our Freephone Helpline on 0808 800 8880, email us at helpline@ndcs.org.uk or contact us via live chat at www.ndcs.org.uk/livechat.

Types of Deafness

There are two types of deafness depending on which part of the ear isn’t functioning as it should: conductive and sensorineural.

Conductive deafness occurs when sound is unable to pass efficiently through the outer and middle ear to the cochlea (inner ear) and auditory (hearing) nerve. The most common cause of conductive deafness in childhood is glue ear (fluid in the middle ear) which is usually a temporary condition. Glue ear (also known as OME – otitis media with effusion) affects about one in five pre-school children at any time. For most children, glue ear clears up by itself and doesn’t need any treatment. For some children with long-term or severe glue ear, hearing aids may be provided, or the child may need surgery to insert grommets. Grommets are tiny plastic tubes which are inserted into the eardrum. They allow air to circulate in the middle ear keeping the pressure on either side of the eardrum equal, thereby helping to prevent fluid from building up. Read more about glue ear at www.ndcs.org.uk/glueear.

Conductive deafness can also be caused by a perforation (hole) in the eardrum or when part of the outer or middle ear didn’t form properly before birth. For more information on hearing implants go to www.ndcs.org.uk/implants.

Sensorineural deafness occurs when there is a fault in the cochlea or auditory nerve which carries sound signals to the brain. Sensorineural deafness is permanent.

Mixed deafness is a combination of sensorineural and conductive deafness. One example of mixed deafness is when someone has glue ear as well as sensorineural deafness.

If you’re unsure of any of the words we’ve used in this booklet, you can look them up in the glossary on our website at www.ndcs.org.uk/glossary. It’s very important to watch out for mixed deafness. If your child has sensorineural deafness and they develop glue ear, their hearing may reduce while they have the condition. This may mean that your child can hear fewer sounds or be less aware of background noise. Hearing aids may be offered to children with all types, levels and causes of deafness. If you have any questions about your child’s deafness, your audiologist should be able to give you more information. For a more detailed guide to deafness, including information about hearing tests and medical tests used to determine causes of deafness, see our resource Understanding your child’s hearing tests at www.ndcs.org.uk/understand.

Levels of Deafness

All sounds are made up of different frequencies, measured in Hertz (Hz). The frequency of a sound affects the pitch at which it is heard. The high notes on the right-hand side of a piano keyboard are examples of high-frequency sounds. If your child has a hearing test where the results are plotted on an audiogram, you’ll see low to high frequencies marked along the top. The level of your child’s deafness can be described as:

• Decibel (dB) hearing level
• ‘Mild’, ‘moderate’, ‘severe’ or ‘profound’

The table below lists the terms used to describe levels of deafness and their corresponding decibel hearing levels.

Level of Deafness	Hearing Level in Decibels (dB)
Mild	20–40
Moderate	41–70
Severe	71–95
Profound	95+

It’s possible to have the same level of deafness for all frequencies or to have different hearing levels at different frequencies. For example, your child may have more difficulty hearing higher frequency sounds. Speech consists of vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and consonants (the remaining letters), which are, in turn, made up of a range of frequencies. Consonants communicate most of the information when a person speaks, and they’re also what make speech understandable. Consonants appear in the higher frequencies of an audiogram chart, meaning that children need to be able to hear the full range of speech sounds at a quiet level to be able to understand speech. The speech curve on the audiogram below shows the frequencies at which different vowels and consonants are heard. This curve is sometimes referred to as the ‘speech banana’.

Your child’s audiologist will be able to give you more information about the level of your child’s deafness. They’ll also be able to explain the sounds that your child can and can’t hear. The loudness of a sound is measured in decibels, and may also be described by your audiologist as ‘intensity’. If your child has recently been diagnosed as deaf, your child’s audiologist may need to do more tests before they can give you this information. Your audiologist will be able to explain your child’s audiogram and give you information about the frequencies affected by your child’s deafness.

For more information about audiograms see Understanding your child’s hearing tests at www.ndcs.org.uk/understand.

Does my child have to wear hearing aids?

The ear is fully formed before birth, which means hearing babies are exposed to sound even before they are born. However, the ear is just the first part of the hearing (auditory) pathway. The hearing pathways are made up of nerves that carry sound from the ears to the brain. The most rapid changes in brain development happen in the first three-and-a-half years of life. When hearing pathways are not stimulated in response to sound early in life, they do not develop as well as they could. This is known as auditory deprivation. Encouraging your baby to wear their hearing aids as much as possible will help them to access sound and develop their hearing pathways.

Hearing aids work by amplifying (making louder) sounds going into the ear. They can help your child to hear everyday sounds and make listening to speech as clear and easy as possible.

Incidental Learning

Incidental learning, also called passive learning, happens through overhearing (when children hear speech that is not directed at them). Overhearing helps children to build vocabulary, grammar, and general knowledge. Very young children learn about 90% of their knowledge about the world through incidental learning.

Children often learn about the world incidentally, for example, by overhearing conversations between their parents. Deaf children who are not able to overhear may miss a significant amount of information needed to learn to speak. Children with hearing aids may appear to hear conversation well, especially in one-to-one situations and when background noise levels are low. However, children need to be able to hear soft speech to overhear. If they can’t, they won’t hear speech that comes from more than six feet away. They need to be able to hear conversation all around them, even if they aren’t paying attention to it, or when it may be about things that don’t seem important to them.

Speak to your audiologist if you are concerned that your child is not hearing quieter sounds in their environment as well as face-to-face conversation. Your child’s hearing aids will be programmed to match their deafness and take into account the different listening situations they are in. For example, hearing aids will amplify quiet speech sounds more than they amplify louder sounds, ensuring the sound from the hearing aid is always comfortable for the child. The type of hearing aid suitable for your child will depend on the type and level of deafness they have. Hearing aids can be useful for children with any level of deafness and may be recommended for your child so that they have the best chance of hearing everything going on in the world.

Speech Development

Hearing babies have thousands of hours of listening experience in their first year and hear words hundreds of times before they start to make speech-like ‘babbling’ sounds. By the age of four, children have often heard as many as 45 million words. This helps them to develop speech. Early and consistent use of hearing aids can help deaf children to start school with similar speech and language levels to their hearing peers.

Speech development depends on hearing both your own speech and the speech of others. Hearing, self-monitoring, and correcting your own speech is known as the ‘auditory feedback loop’. Children must be able to hear their own speech clearly to make clear speech sounds. By hearing the speech of others, children copy sounds and words, and learn how to differentiate between sounds. For more information visit our webpage www.ndcs.org.uk/speakingandlistening.

For example, ‘f’ and ‘th’ are both quiet, high-frequency (high-pitch) speech sounds. If a child is not able to make out the difference between the two sounds, they may say them incorrectly or get them mixed up when speaking.

Hearing Aids

If hearing aids are recommended for your child, they’ll need to have earmoulds made. An earmould is made of plastic or silicone. It fits into the ear and holds the tubing in place, which transfers sounds from the hearing aid into the ear. The audiologist will choose the correct hearing aid for your child using the results of the audiogram. Your child may be fitted with two hearing aids (known as a binaural fitting) or one hearing aid. Babies and young children grow very quickly. Because of this, their earmoulds need to be replaced regularly as their ears change size, to ensure they’re comfortable and fit correctly.

Digital hearing aids have advanced features that mean they can be programmed to match your child’s deafness. The most common types of hearing aid worn by children are behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, also known as post-aural aids. They can be fitted to people of all ages and are suitable for very young babies upwards. This type of hearing aid sits behind the ear and has a hard plastic hook (known as the elbow), coming over the top of the ear which joins the hearing aid to the earmould tubing.

Before earmoulds can be made, the audiology department will take impressions. These are casts of your child’s ear canals and are used to make the earmoulds. The audiologist will take into account your child’s level of hearing loss, their age, and any other necessary requirements. The new earmoulds should be ready about a week after the impressions are taken.

Earmoulds can be made of different types of materials. Some are very soft and some are hard. They may also have a small hole through them, called a vent. If the earmould doesn’t fit well, the hearing aid may produce feedback (a high-pitched whistling sound). For more information on feedback, see page 34. Very rarely, children can have an allergic reaction to certain earmould materials. If you think your child might have an allergy, you should discuss it with your child’s audiologist or with the person who takes your child’s earmould impressions.

Information about other types of hearing aid can be found on page 37. Each hearing aid is attached to an earmould which is made to fit the child’s ear. The earmould attaches to the hearing aid by a piece of flexible tubing, which transmits the amplified sounds from the hearing aid into the ear. If your child is given hearing aids at your local audiology clinic, they will usually be from the National Health Service (NHS) range. The NHS uses a range of good quality digital hearing aids that are suitable for children with different types and levels of deafness. If there is no suitable NHS aid available, audiologists can choose an aid from the commercial range, in the same way as a private hearing aid dispenser.

If you’re thinking about buying your child’s hearing aids from a private hearing aid dispenser, we would recommend reading pages 43 and 44 of this resource first.

Customising Your Child’s Hearing Aids

Most NHS hearing aids are available in a range of colours and designs. Ask your audiologist about the options for your child’s model. If you can’t get coloured or patterned versions from your audiologist, there are other ways you and your child can customise their technology. If you decide to decorate your child’s hearing aids, don’t glue anything directly onto the casing, or use paints or nail polish. It’s also important not to cover crucial parts such as additional microphone ports or direct audio input contacts.

Ear Gear is a spandex sleeve that slides onto hearing aids. As well as providing protection from moisture, dirt, and wind noise, they come in a range of colours. Some manufacturers may provide sheets of stickers that fit their hearing aids. Earmoulds can come in solid colours, with marble or glitter effects, or transparent with logos or pictures inside, such as a favourite football team or cartoon character. These logos or pictures can help you to tell the difference between the left and right earmoulds. The next time your child has impressions taken for earmoulds, ask what colours or effects are available. You can also add removable decorations to the earmould tubing.

How Do Hearing Aids Work?

Most hearing aids work by amplifying sounds when they go into the ear. Hearing aids have a microphone that picks up sounds, an amplifier, and a receiver that sends the amplified sounds into the ear through the earmould. Modern hearing aids amplify quieter sounds more than louder sounds so that they always stay within the child’s comfortable hearing range. There are also hearing aids that work by vibration, known as bone conduction hearing aids. This type of hearing aid changes the sound from an acoustic signal into a mechanical signal (vibration). The receiver is a small vibrating pad that allows sound to be conducted through the bone rather than through the outer and middle ear. See page 39 for more information on bone conduction hearing aids.

Your audiologist will program the hearing aids using a computer, before testing them in your child’s ear to make sure that the signal coming from the hearing aid matches your child’s deafness as closely as possible. Hearing aids are a long-term loan to you from the NHS and aren’t your property. If you damage them, you may invalidate any warranty the aid has and be charged for the repair. It’s best to check with your audiologist before customising your child’s technology. For more information about customising your child’s hearing aids, go to www.ndcs.org.uk/decorating.

The settings on the function switch of hearing aids can have different names. Your audiologist will provide information about these settings on your child’s hearing aids.

• Elbow or tone hook
• Microphone
• Tubing
• Meatal tip
• Programme button
• Function switch
• Earmould
• Battery compartment

Your audiologist will assess your child’s hearing levels with and without hearing aids. Once the aids are fitted, you’ll be asked to observe how well your child responds to sound and the difference the hearing aids make daily. If your baby has been fitted with hearing aids for the first time, it’s important to watch their reaction to sounds, especially loud ones. For example, if you notice that your baby blinks often when listening to sounds, inform your audiologist so adjustments can be made if necessary.

Most hearing aids are turned on and off by opening and closing the battery drawer. Modern hearing aids can have several different listening programmes for various situations, such as normal and noisy environments or when listening to music. Young children often have only one programme without controls or buttons. As they grow older, programmes can be introduced, and they may have a volume control, programme button, or function switch.

Volume Control: Many digital hearing aids lack a volume control or have a limited one because they adjust automatically to the listening environment. If a hearing aid has a volume control, ensure you know its functionality and when it should be used. After switching off hearing aids, they usually return to their default settings when turned on again. If unsure about the volume level, turn the aid off and on again to reset to the normal listening level.

"A hearing aid will have a microphone that can be programmed to be omnidirectional or directional. These terms describe the focus or priority given to sounds from around the wearer."

Omnidirectional microphones pick up sounds from a wide area around the wearer. Babies and very young children are fitted with omnidirectional microphones to hear a wide range of sounds. Directional microphones prioritize sounds from directly in front of the user, helping older children focus on one person speaking in a group. A child using a hearing aid with a directional microphone may not hear sounds well from the side or behind them, such as when riding a bike or crossing the road. Most hearing aids automatically switch between omnidirectional and directional settings based on the environment.

Small elbows (or tone hooks) may be used with very young children or those with small ears to ensure the hearing aid fits snugly and securely.

A child-safe battery door lock is a safety feature preventing children from opening the battery compartment and swallowing the battery. The lock is usually secured with a small screwdriver. For further information on battery safety, see page 33.

Some hearing aids have an LED visual status indicator showing if the hearing aid is working, if there’s a fault, or if the battery needs changing. If your child has been fitted with a new hearing aid model and you or your child feel that the old hearing aids were better, discuss this with your audiologist. Remember, it can take time to adjust to the sound of new aids. Some digital hearing aids automatically change settings according to listening conditions.

Using the T Programme and Radio Aids

Most modern hearing aids offer a T programme, also known as the T setting, telecoil, or just T. If activated, it can be turned on or off using the programme button or function switch. Radio aids transmit a person’s voice directly to a child’s hearing aids, making it easier to hear over background noise like construction work, music, or people talking.

Loop systems are often found in public buildings, such as theatres, train stations, banks, shops, or hospitals, usually advertised by the hearing loop symbol. Portable loop systems can also be used at home with compatible TVs, music devices, and telephones. Radio aids are commonly used in schools, enabling the child to hear their teacher wherever they’re sitting in the classroom, making it easier to understand the teacher and participate in classroom activities.

The T programme allows the hearing aid to pick up sound from a loop system, enabling the user to hear a person speaking or sound source more clearly. A loop system is silent to non-hearing aid wearers nearby, but sound fed through the system can be picked up by any hearing aids wirelessly when turned on to the T programme and within the area covered by the loop system. This means a deaf child, with their hearing aids set to the T programme, can immediately hear music, TV, or someone speaking much more clearly, without interference from background noise.

A radio aid system consists of:

• A transmitter (worn by the teacher)
• A receiver or receivers (worn by the child)

The transmitter sends the teacher’s voice directly to the receivers. Most transmitters work across large distances and even through walls, making them especially useful for activities like PE, where the child might be moving around. The most commonly used radio aid receivers are small wireless units attached directly to the child’s hearing aid.

Other receivers can be:

• Body-worn (attached to hearing aids with wires)
• Built into a hearing aid (known as an integrated receiver)
• Neckloop (a portable loop system that sits around the wearer’s neck)

If your child has a mild or unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss, or doesn’t wear a hearing aid, they might use a small ear-level receiver instead. Radio aids can also be useful outside of school, for example, when your child is travelling in the car, using public transport, or enjoying out-of-school activities such as sports, Scouts, or horse riding. A radio aid transmitter can be connected to a range of other products, such as a TV, tablet, smartphone, or other entertainment device, using a cable or by placing the microphone near the speaker. Your child will then receive the sound directly to their hearing aids from their radio aid receivers.

For more information about T programmes and the different equipment available, talk to your child’s audiologist, visit www.ndcs.org.uk/technology, or read our resource How technology can help.

For more information about radio aids, see our resource for parents How radio aids can help at www.ndcs.org.uk/radioaids.

Keeping Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids in Place

Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be difficult to keep in place on babies and small children, or if the pinna (outer ear) is malformed. If the hearing aid is flapping around, ask your child’s audiologist if a smaller elbow is available. When your child first starts wearing hearing aids, it’s important to encourage them to wear their aids regularly. The more your child wears their hearing aids, the easier it is to determine how much they’re helping. Your child’s audiologist or hearing aid clinic may provide double-sided discs to stick the aids in place. Some parents use wig tape, which is effective in keeping the aids secure.

Available from chemists. However, young children may find it painful when the tape is removed or they may be allergic to it. If you’re positive about the hearing aids, your child is more likely to feel positive about wearing them. This is especially true of older children who are wearing aids for the first time. Hearing aid retainers, sometimes known as ‘huggies’, are also available. These are thin plastic tubes that go around the pinna. Attached to this tube are two circular bands of soft plastic which are pushed over the hearing aid to keep it in place.

It’s common for babies to take their hearing aids out themselves. Often this is just a developmental stage and soon other things will occupy their attention. You may need to take their hearing aids away for a short time before trying them again while they are distracted by something else. Sometimes babies and young children will take out their hearing aids when they feel there is nothing of interest to listen to, or because they are bored. Occasionally the hearing aids may be causing genuine discomfort, either from the earmould or from the sound. If your child taking out their hearing aids is an ongoing problem, talk to your audiologist or Teacher of the Deaf.

Hearing aid retainers are available from outlets such as:

• Connevans
• Ear Gear
• My Little Ears
• Hearing Aid Headbands

If you’re worried about your child losing their hearing aids, you could try using special hearing aid clips. These include plastic bands that go onto the hearing aids attached to an elastic cord. On the other end of the cord is a clip that you attach to your child’s clothing. Some of these clips come in fun animal shapes, such as dinosaurs.

Encouraging your child to wear their hearing aids

National Deaf Children’s Society www.ndcs.org.uk

• Hold the earmoulds in your hand for a couple of minutes before trying to put them in. This makes them warmer and less of a shock for your child. It also makes them softer, easier to put in and more comfortable.
• You can also try putting the hearing aids in before your baby or young child normally wakes up, so that they’re already in place.
• Never leave babies and young children alone with hearing aids as they may put them in their mouths.
• Slowly build up the length of time that your child wears their hearing aids. Depending on how your child is taking to the hearing aids, you could start with just a couple of minutes several times a day.
• If your child keeps taking them out, stop trying and have a rest. Try again later or the next day when you’re both feeling more relaxed.
• Have something ready to distract your child, such as a favourite toy. Perhaps you could even have a special toy that they have only when you’re putting the hearing aids in.
• Keep the hearing aids in a special and safe place. If your child takes their hearing aids out, take your child and the hearing aids to the special place and put the aids away.
• Try to make wearing hearing aids part of your child’s dressing and undressing routine. Put the hearing aids in when they get up and take them out when they go to bed. It’ll become normal for your child to wear hearing aids when they’re awake.

Good listening environments

Hearing aids are programmed mainly to help the wearer hear speech frequencies. Although modern hearing aids are better at reducing interfering background noise, it’s important to remember that a lot of background noise is also made up of speech sounds. This may mean your child will find it hard to understand speech when they wear their hearing aids in group situations (for example, at a birthday party, in a noisy restaurant or in an open-plan classroom). Also, sounds ‘bounce’ off hard surfaces making it harder for your child to listen to individual voices. So they may have problems hearing in a school classroom, gym or dining hall with wooden floors and hard surfaces.

If you notice your child removing their hearing aids after loud noises or because their ears hurt, or if your baby blinks often when they’re listening to sounds around them, check the settings on the aids and talk to your child’s audiologist or Teacher of the Deaf.

Your baby’s aids may whistle when you feed them or when they’re lying down. This is called feedback, and it happens because the microphone on the aids is close to something solid. Arranging pillows behind your baby, holding them in a different position or temporarily turning their aids down while they’re feeding can help. Taking a few simple steps to create a good listening environment will help your child to get the most from their hearing aids. A room with soft furnishings, carpets and curtains will absorb sound instead of bouncing it back. You can also help by turning down any background noise (such as the TV or radio) when you’re having a conversation with your child. If you’re talking in the car, turn off the radio and close the windows. Try calling your child’s name to get their attention before speaking and make sure they can see your face clearly. In noisy places or difficult listening environments, such as at school, many children find it helpful to use a radio aid or soundfield system, which amplifies sound evenly across a room. There are lots of accessories that can be used with hearing aids to help wearers hear more clearly when they’re using the phone, watching TV, using the computer or listening to music.

Try to meet other parents of deaf children so they can share their experiences with you. Your child may also get the chance to see another child wearing hearing aids so they feel that they aren’t the only one. It may also be useful to meet adults with hearing aids so that your child can see that people of all ages wear them. Decorate the aids with stickers and personalise them. Let your child have choices. Ask them if they’re going to wear the hearing aids. Perhaps offer them two of their favourite things to choose from as a reward when they wear their hearing aids. These tips are only a starting point. We have more advice at www.ndcs.org.uk/wearinghearingaids. Read about radio aids and soundfield systems at www.ndcs.org.uk/technology or in our resource for parents How radio aids can help. Our resource How technology can help has more information on the accessories available.

Using the phone with a hearing aid

Many deaf children can use both landline and mobile phones. To use the phone with a hearing aid the wearer needs to hold the phone receiver near the hearing aid microphone. The microphone on behind-the-ear hearing aids is positioned at the top of the ear so a child will need to hold the phone slightly higher than usual. They’ll also need to angle the phone receiver so that it faces the microphone. That way the listener can benefit from the hearing aid when using the phone. Occasionally, hearing aid wearers notice a buzzing (interference) when using a mobile phone with their hearing aid so it can be a good idea to try out different models of phone before buying to check compatibility. Many of the latest mobile phones and smartphones are compatible with hearing aids and are rated as to how well they work with a hearing aid on the T (telecoil) and M (microphone) programmes. The scale is from 1–4, with 4 being the best. A phone rated T3/ M3 or T4/M4 will generally produce little or no interference with a hearing aid and so give good sound quality. Adaptations are available to help your child hear more clearly on the phone. For example, phones that have an in-built inductive coupler can be used with the hearing aid’s T programme. If feedback is a problem or if you need to improve clarity when using the phone in noisy situations, children can use a neck or ear loop so they can use the phone while holding it away from their ears. Made for smartphone hearing aids can be paired with compatible smartphones and tablets, meaning audio travels wirelessly from the paired device directly to the hearing aids. These hearing aids can be managed from an app on the device, allowing users to choose volume and balance, view the battery life.

Or activate environmental presets (for example, they can be adjusted for a noisy environment). Made-for-smartphone hearing aids aren’t currently available from the NHS, but can be purchased privately.

Technology

Your child’s hearing aids can be connected to many different products (including TVs, entertainment devices, tablets, smartphones, landline phones, and radio aids) by using the following technologies:

• Direct input shoes: Attach to the bottom of a hearing aid and allow your child to connect other products directly to their hearing aid. You may need to visit the audiologist to ensure compatibility. Each hearing aid model will have a specific shoe model that works with it. If your child gets new hearing aids, they may need a different model of shoe. When the shoe is attached, you can use it to connect to a radio aid receiver or audio direct input lead.
• Direct input leads: Connect an entertainment device directly to your child’s hearing aids using a cable. Again, your child’s hearing aids must be set up by their audiologist to accept these leads.
• Streamers: Send signals digitally to your child’s hearing aids and link with other products that use Bluetooth, such as smartphones, laptops, or tablets. They can also work with your TV or home phone using a special adaptor. A streamer is generally worn around the neck or clipped to clothing.

Bluetooth technology is a wireless communication technology that allows devices such as mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, and laptops to communicate with each other over short distances. Because Bluetooth transmissions ‘hop’ between frequencies, they don’t suffer from interference. You do need to ‘pair’ devices before they can communicate, but this is quick and easy to do. Some hearing aids have built-in Bluetooth technology (e.g., made-for-smartphone hearing aids), but these aren’t currently standard issue from the NHS.

The type of device your child can use will be determined by their hearing aid. For example, if your child has a Phonak hearing aid, they will only be able to use the Phonak streamer. This means that if your child’s hearing aids are changed, they may not be able to use their current streamer.

Looking after your hearing aids

When your child first gets their hearing aids, you should be given a hearing aid record book. You’ll need to show this book when collecting replacement batteries. In the book, there’s room for the audiologist to write down information about each hearing aid and details of any repairs.

Hearing aid care kit

There are items that will help you keep your child’s hearing aids in good working order and as hygienic as possible. You should be able to get most of these from your child’s audiologist. A typical care kit will contain the following items:

• Stetoclip and attenuator: A stetoclip is a plastic headset that lets you listen to your child’s hearing aid and check that it’s working properly. If your child wears powerful hearing aids, you should always use an attenuator, which reduces the level of the sound and allows you to listen at a safe and comfortable volume.
• Earmould puffer: Blows moisture out of the earmould and tubing. Condensation can build up quickly in the earmould tubing, and it’s important to remove it as it can reduce the sound that your child hears through their hearing aid.
• Earmould threader: A handy tool when it’s difficult to thread the tubing through the earmould.
• Drill: You can use a small drill to help remove old tubing from an earmould.
• Spare pre-bent tubing: It’s useful to have some spare tubing to replace any that becomes cracked or damaged.
• Battery tester and spare batteries: A battery tester checks how much power is left in a battery.
• Earmould cream: A small amount of petroleum jelly or a special earmould cream (such as Otoferm) on a conventional earmould makes it easier to put into your child’s ear and can create a better seal, helping to prevent feedback.
• Drying tablets: Special kits are available which you can use to dry out hearing aids overnight. The aids are placed in a small case together with a special moisture-absorbing tablet.

Visual checks of the hearing aids

• Is the hearing aid’s casing cracked or damaged?
• Is there any obvious damage to the elbow (look for holes, dents, or cracks)?
• Has the flap that covers the programming controls been opened or lost?
• Is there a problem with the battery compartment?
• Is there any obvious damage to the battery contacts inside the battery compartment?
• Are there any signs of rust (or rust staining) inside the battery compartment?
• Hold the hearing aid firmly between the thumb and index finger and shake it gently. If there’s a rattling sound, a part inside the hearing aid could be loose.
• Is there any condensation or moisture in the tubing or elbow?

Hearing aids usually have a small red or blue marker to indicate which ear they’ve been programmed for: red = right, blue = left. This marker is usually on the bottom of the hearing aid casing or inside the battery drawer.

Listening test of the hearing aids

If you have good hearing, you can do the listening test below every day. If your child wears powerful hearing aids, you should always use an attenuator. If you are deaf and cannot do the listening test yourself, ask a hearing family member or Teacher of the Deaf to test the hearing aids regularly.

• If a microphone cover is fitted (which is sometimes part of the elbow), is it secure and free from blockage?
• Turn on the hearing aid and talk to the aid throughout the listening test. There will be noises created by handling and moving the hearing aid. Be careful not to rub your fingers or clothes across the microphone.
• If you can’t hear your own voice through the aid, you may have a faulty battery or battery contacts, or you could have the batteries in the wrong way round. Check that the stetoclip tube is not kinked and blocking the sound. If you still hear nothing, there’s probably a fault with the hearing aid, and you’ll need to take it back to your child’s audiologist or hearing aid clinic.
• You shouldn’t hear any crackles or jumps in volume when you listen to your own voice. If the hearing aid has a volume control, gently press it – the sound should not turn off. If the hearing aid does any of these, you need to take it back to your child’s audiologist or hearing aid clinic.

While listening, gently squeeze the hearing aid case, particularly near the battery compartment. Doing this shouldn’t stop you from hearing your own voice. If it does, you need to take the aid back to your child’s audiologist or hearing aid clinic.

Most hearing aids incorporate the on/off switch with the battery door. Open and close the battery door to make sure that the aid switches on and off.

If your child’s hearing aid has a T programme, it’s possible to do a quick test. Use the programme button or function switch to select the T programme. At this stage, you won’t be able to hear your own voice through the hearing aid. Switch on your TV and hold the hearing aid near to it – you should hear a buzzing sound. Alternatively, if you have a battery-operated watch with a second hand, hold the hearing aid against the watch and you’ll hear the ticking of the second hand. This will tell you that the T programme is working. The test won’t tell you how clear the sound is. If your child is old enough, regularly ask them about the quality of the sound that they hear with the aids in the T programme.

Even hearing aids that are working can sound a little strange to people with good hearing. If you listen to them regularly, you’ll become familiar with how your child’s hearing aids sound and how loud they usually are. If you’re in any doubt or think that the sound or loudness has changed, get the hearing aids checked by your child’s audiologist or Teacher of the Deaf.

Cleaning Hearing Aids

Although many hearing aids are now described as water-resistant, you should never immerse them in water. Make sure they’re taken out of your child’s ear when swimming or having a bath or shower. You can wipe over the casing with a dry cloth if needed. If a hearing aid does accidentally get wet, you should open the battery drawer, remove the battery, and place the hearing aid in a drying pot which usually comes with your care kit. If the hearing aid still doesn’t work, you’ll need to return it to your audiologist.

Cleaning Conventional Earmoulds

Conventional earmoulds can be cleaned thoroughly using soap and water. First, detach the earmould’s flexible tubing from the hearing aid’s hard plastic elbow. The earmould can then be washed in warm soapy water. Run water through the tubing to remove debris. If there’s wax build-up in the end of the tubing, use a small brush or the eye of a sewing needle to remove it. Make sure the earmould is completely dry before reattaching it to the hearing aid by using the earmould puffer and/or leaving it overnight. Don’t clean earmoulds with disinfectant or bleaches, or leave them in warm places, such as on radiators or in airing cupboards, as the chemicals and heat will damage the earmould material.

If you notice a strong or unusual smell from an earmould, your child may have an ear infection. You should take your child to your family doctor (GP) as soon as possible and tell your audiologist. The hearing aid shouldn’t be used while the ear is infected, and a new earmould should be made as soon as the infection has cleared up.

Check the Earmould

• The tubing isn’t kinked.
• There are no holes or splits in the tubing or mould.
• The tubing is soft and flexible and hasn’t become hard, brittle, or discoloured.
• The tube is secure in the mould.

The tubing should be changed on a regular basis, usually every 4-6 months. If the tubing needs to be replaced, your child’s audiologist has shown you how to do it and you feel confident to do so, make sure you replace the tubing with the same size and type as the old tubing. Otherwise, take the hearing aids back to your child’s audiologist and ask them to do it.

Faulty Hearing Aids

If you find a fault with the hearing aid that you can’t easily fix yourself, contact your child’s audiologist who will arrange to replace the hearing aid with the same model or will loan your child a similar hearing aid while theirs is sent for repair. If you bought the hearing aids privately, you’ll need to contact your hearing aid dispenser.

Replacing the Earmould Tubing

1. Remove the old tubing from the elbow of the hearing aid. Using gentle force, pull the tubing from the outside face of the earmould. If the tubing has been glued in place, you may have to use something like a tiny screwdriver blade to ease the tube away from the earmould. Take great care not to damage the earmould.
2. If you’re retubing earmoulds which use ‘libby’ tubing, these should be retubed from the meatal tip. This is the reverse of normal retubing.
3. Pull the tubing through. Make sure that it’s in the same position as the old tubing so that the bend in the tubing is pulled up to the mould, meaning the tube stands upright to meet the hearing aid at the top of the ear.
4. When you’re happy with the position of the tube, cut it off flush with the face of the meatal tip of the earmould. Then pull the tube back about half a millimetre.
5. Fit the earmould into your child’s ear and put the hearing aid in position on the ear. This will help you to see how much you need to cut off the end of the tubing to get a good fit. Make sure the tubing is not crushed or kinked on the bend where it leaves the earmould.

Hearing Aid Batteries

If you’ve bought your child’s hearing aids privately, you’ll need to pay for the batteries which are available from most chemists or large supermarkets. Sometimes you can arrange for your local hearing aid clinic to provide batteries for free. Hearing aid batteries are sometimes called cells or button cells. They come in different sizes and are given different code numbers by different manufacturers and distributors. However, all hearing aid batteries share a colour code system, so the coloured sticker or tab on the battery will be the same regardless of the manufacturer.

Battery Safety

Hearing aid batteries are ‘zinc-air’ and will be supplied with small sticky tabs on one side. You need to remove the sticker just before you put the batteries into the hearing aid. It’s potentially dangerous for a child to swallow any battery. If this happens, immediately contact your nearest accident and emergency department and let them know what type of battery has been swallowed and how long ago. Take a similar battery and the packaging with you so that the hospital staff can identify the type of battery and know what action they need to take.

If a new battery isn’t working, check that it’s been put in correctly. Look for the ‘+’ sign on the battery and the compartment, and match them up. If it’s still not working, use a battery tester to check whether there’s any power left in the battery. Young children can also get small batteries stuck in their nose and ears and you may not notice until they start to cause ulcers or other problems. It’s important to keep a check on your batteries and store them out of reach of young children. A battery tester can tell you whether the battery is working and some can tell you how much power is left.

They’ll usually have lights or a meter. How long a battery lasts will depend on the type and power of the hearing aid and how often it’s used. Batteries can last a few days or several weeks. Your child’s audiologist should be able to tell you roughly how long the batteries should last. Get rid of used batteries carefully as they contain chemicals that could be harmful. Some audiology services will ask you to return old batteries so that they can be recycled.

Batteries often run out suddenly rather than losing power gradually. If children wear their hearing aids regularly, many parents get to know how long a battery will last. They then change the battery regularly and don’t wait for it to fully run out. You could put the battery sticker on the calendar each time the battery is changed to give you a visual record. For older children, the hearing aid may be programmed to make regular beeps that will warn them that the battery is running out.

Batteries are issued free of charge with NHS hearing aids. Replacements should be available from your child’s audiology service or other local GP and health clinics. You may be asked to take your child’s hearing aid record book when collecting batteries. This book will hold information on what hearing aids have been fitted and the type of battery issued. It’s good practice to keep your used batteries in the original packaging so that you can keep them safe and make sure that no old batteries have gone missing. If you aren’t asked to return old batteries, you can safely dispose of them in your household rubbish. However, many local councils now have recycling schemes for batteries including household collection. Alternatively, many large stores offer boxes to keep old batteries in as well as recycling schemes.

Storage and Safety: Never leave batteries in hearing aids when they’re being stored for a long time. If your child has a spare hearing aid, it’s important to remove the battery when it’s not being used. Batteries can leak and cause expensive damage to the hearing aid. Batteries need to be stored correctly so that they don’t touch each other. If the batteries still have power in them, they can get hot if their terminals touch. Try not to let young children see batteries being changed. It’s safer if they don’t know that the battery compartment opens. Young children should have childproof battery locks (also known as tamper-proof battery doors) fitted to their hearing aids. Ask your audiologist to confirm that your child’s hearing aids have these if you’re in any doubt. Even if your child’s hearing aids have a childproof battery lock, you should never leave babies or young children alone with their hearing aids. Hearing aids and moulds are small items that could be a choking hazard if removed and put in the mouth.

“Most hearing aids will whistle at some time or another. This is known as feedback.”

Feedback occurs when the microphone picks up the sound coming out of the hearing aid and amplifies it. Modern hearing aids use a range of internal feedback management systems that the audiologist will set when necessary to help reduce the amount of whistling. The most likely reason for feedback is that the earmould isn’t a good fit. This allows sounds to ‘leak’ from around the earmould and be picked up by the hearing aid’s microphone. Because young children grow quickly, new impressions should be taken and earmoulds replaced regularly. For very young babies, this may be at least every month.

Possible Causes of Feedback:

• Earwax: Earwax can cause feedback as more sound is reflected back out of the ear. If an earmould is a good fit but it has started to produce feedback, this could be an early sign of earwax. It’s important not to try and remove the wax yourself as putting cotton buds into the ear can push the wax deeper into the ear canal. Ask your audiologist or family doctor (GP) to check the ears for wax instead.
• Faulty Elbow (Tone Hook): The elbow is the plastic hook that fits between the hearing aid and the earmould tubing. If it’s faulty (for example, if it has a hole or is cracked, split or chewed) it’s very important to replace it with exactly the same type of elbow. You can get a replacement from the clinic that issued your child’s hearing aid.
• Jaw Movement: Jaw movement may make the earmould come out slightly and cause feedback. Using a different earmould material or a new earmould with a different length meatal tip (part that goes inside the ear canal) might help, as could using a different length of earmould tubing. Try using petroleum jelly or a special cream, such as Otoferm. A small amount can help to make a seal between the earmould and the ear itself. In some cases, this can help to reduce feedback and slide the earmould more smoothly into the ear.
• Poor Earmould: Problems can start when the earmould becomes hardened and cracked due to age. In this case, a new earmould would need to be fitted as soon as possible.
• Small Ear Canal: Children with particularly narrow ear canals can sometimes have problems with feedback as sound reflects off the ear canal walls more easily. Certain groups of children are more likely to have narrow ear canals, such as children with Down’s syndrome.

Feeding Young Babies: If you have a young baby who’s wearing behind-the-ear hearing aids, you may find that feedback occurs when you hold your baby close, for example, while feeding. Feedback may also happen when your baby is lying down with their hearing aids on. You may need to hold your baby in a different position or take the hearing aid out for a short time. If feedback becomes a problem, talk to your child’s audiologist or Teacher of the Deaf.

Other Types of Hearing Aid:

• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: Hearing aids can be worn on the body, behind the ear, or in the ear. The most common types of hearing aid used by children are behind-the-ear models. However, there are occasions when other types of hearing aid may be more suitable for a child. In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are more likely to be suitable for older children who have a mild to moderate hearing loss. Your child’s audiologist will be able to tell you whether one would be suitable for your child. All of the parts of an in-the-ear hearing aid are enclosed in the shell, which is custom-made to the user’s ear and looks similar to an ordinary earmould. Most of the shell fits inside the ear leaving the faceplate facing outwards. Because all the parts need to fit inside the shell, the child’s ear canal needs to be large enough to take an in-the-ear hearing aid. These hearing aids produce feedback, just like behind-the-ear hearing aids, when the shell becomes too small. When this happens, the audiologist needs to take a new impression and send the hearing aid away to be re-cased. Because of their small size, in-the-ear hearing aids don’t always have enough room for a telecoil and therefore have no access to a T programme.
• Open Fit Hearing Aids: Open fit hearing aids are behind-the-ear hearing aids that are worn on special ‘open’ earmoulds or soft ear tips (known as a dome or mushroom tip). Open earmoulds are made to fit from ear impressions in the same way as conventional earmoulds. They hold standard tubing that carries sound from the hearing aid and into the ear. They’re designed to channel sound into the ear canal without blocking external sounds around the wearer. They’re most suitable for children with mild or moderate high-frequency deafness as they allow natural hearing of the low frequencies while amplifying the higher frequencies. They aren’t suitable for more severe deafness as the amplified sound will leak from around the open mould and re-enter the hearing aid causing feedback.

Hearing Aids for Children

In-the-Ear Hearing Aids

In-the-ear hearing aids aren’t usually the most appropriate choice as there’s no direct audio input facility. However, they may be able to use direct audio input using a neckloop and the T programme (if this is available). For these reasons, in-the-ear hearing aids aren’t usually considered suitable for young children and are not routinely provided by NHS audiology services.

Talk to your child’s audiologist about the options, and make sure they are aware of any additional technology your child uses with their hearing aids, such as digital streamers and radio aids. Alternatively, soft ear tips in a range of sizes may be used. The sound is channelled from the hearing aid to the ear canal using a very thin tube (microtube). This design is more cosmetically appealing to some wearers but may not be as secure in the ear as an earmould. This makes them suitable for older children or teenagers.

In-the-Canal Aids

In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are generally smaller and less noticeable than in-the-ear aids. The shell, custom-made for each user, fits into the canal part of the ear. Because of their small size, in-the-canal hearing aids aren’t suitable for young children. Receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids are also suitable for open fit technology.

Receiver-in-the-Ear Hearing Aids

Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) or receiver-in-the-canal (RITC) hearing aids look similar to other behind-the-ear hearing aids. However, the ‘receiver’ (or speaker) that’s normally housed within the casing of behind-the-ear hearing aids is instead placed inside the ear canal. The receiver takes the electrical signals and turns them into sound waves.

An advantage of receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids is that the microphone and receiver are further apart, reducing the chance of feedback. However, they may be less secure to wear than a behind-the-ear hearing aid, and the wearer will need to check the earpiece and receiver daily for wax to prevent faults. They aren’t suitable for people who have problems with discharging ears.

CROS and BiCROS Hearing Aids

Children with profound unilateral (one-sided) deafness may benefit from a special type of hearing aid known as a CROS aid (contralateral routing of signal). Although it’s described as a hearing aid, a CROS aid doesn’t amplify sound. It simply transfers sound from the deaf ear to the side of the hearing ear. The main advantage of using a CROS aid is that it can help the child to hear sounds from all directions.

BiCROS aids combine CROS technology with a regular hearing aid. They are suitable when there’s no useful hearing in one ear and the other ear has some deafness.

Spectacle Aids

Spectacle aids are rarely used by children. They combine a hearing aid into the arms of a pair of glasses. These aids are produced for the convenience of people who need to wear hearing aids, as well as glasses, all of the time. Two types of spectacle aids are available:

• Acoustic aids, where the aid is placed in the arm of the glasses and the sound is carried to the ear by tubing and the earmould.
• Bone conduction aids, where the arms of the glasses provide pressure to maintain contact between a vibrating transducer and the mastoid bone.

Bone Conduction Hearing Aids

Bone conduction hearing aids (BC hearing aids) are suitable for children who have conductive deafness. This could be caused by microtia (malformation of the outer ear), atresia (malformation of the ear canal), chronic ear infections, or longstanding glue ear. They’re also suitable for mixed deafness or unilateral deafness.

Unlike behind-the-ear hearing aids, BC hearing aids vibrate in response to sound received by the microphone. These vibrations are then transmitted through the bones of the skull to the cochlea where they’re converted into sound in the usual way, bypassing the outer and middle ear.

Checking Bone Conduction Hearing Aids

The types of checks that you can carry out on a bone conduction hearing aid are limited. The most common problems occur with the cords and transducer. If you hold the transducer between your thumb and index finger while making a long ‘laaaaa’ note into the hearing aid’s microphone, you should feel a vibration. While doing this, gently squeeze the device at different points. The vibration should be continuous.

If you find any problems while doing these checks, take the hearing aid back to your child’s audiologist.

Hearing Implants

If your child wears NHS hearing aids, your child’s audiologist should be able to offer an immediate replacement for a lost NHS hearing aid. If the earmould has been lost as well, a new one will need to be made. New earmoulds should be ready within one working week.

For some children, a hearing implant may be more suitable. These include:

• Bone conduction hearing implants
• Active middle ear implants
• Cochlear implants
• Auditory brainstem implants (ABI)

What to Do if Hearing Aids are Lost or Damaged

The NHS provides all hearing aid equipment on a permanent loan basis and it always remains the property of the NHS rather than the wearer. NHS equipment should always be returned when it’s no longer needed. It’s expected that parents will take reasonable care of their child’s hearing aids. However, should loss or damage occur, there are guidelines that the NHS should follow before charges are made.

Very occasionally, aids are fitted and supplied by your local education service or provided by schools. In these circumstances, you need to be clear about:

• Who owns the aids
• Whether they can be taken home

Home from School

Whether you’ll have to contribute to the cost of any replacement, the procedure for repairs and maintenance, and who needs to be told about tubing and earmould problems. The rules governing NHS aids may not apply to hearing aids issued by education services or schools.

Insuring Hearing Aids

NHS hearing aids can’t be insured as they’re the property of the NHS. However, it may be possible to insure against the risk of being charged for their loss or damage. Private hearing aids are your property, and you’re responsible for the full cost of any repair or replacement. In either case, if you do decide to take out insurance, you should shop around for the cheapest ‘all risks’ policy.

The easiest way to insure hearing aids is to add them to the ‘all risks’ section of your household insurance policy, if you have one. You’ll need to check if the cost of replacing one hearing aid is less than the maximum allowed for one item. You’ll also need to check if the equipment is covered by your insurance policy while you’re on holiday.

If your insurance company won’t cover your child’s hearing aids, either free of charge or for a small extra fee, you may want to consider changing your household policy to one that meets your needs.

Buying Hearing Aids

The NHS supplies a range of good quality digital hearing aids, and all deaf children who live in the UK are entitled to free hearing aids through their local audiology service. You may choose to buy your child’s hearing aids privately but try to keep in touch with your child’s NHS audiologist where possible. This means your child can use NHS audiology services as and when they need them.

Buying hearing aids privately can be very expensive, and most private hearing aid dispensers don’t work with children. If you decide to buy your child’s hearing aids, make sure your hearing aid dispenser has been trained to fit hearing aids to children and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The HCPC regulates health professionals in the UK to protect the public and ensure that the professional is working to current standards.

Some hearing aid dispensers have a money-back guarantee so that you can return the hearing aids within a set time if they aren’t suitable. It may take your child a while to get used to the sound levels of the new aid, so the guarantee period should be at least six weeks. You’ll need to ask whether a follow-up service is included in the price or if you have to pay separately. For example, the hearing aids may need to be fine-tuned after several weeks.

Growing children also need new earmoulds at regular intervals, and batteries will need to be replaced regularly. You’ll need to know whether the aids have a warranty, how long this lasts for, what repairs are covered, and how quickly you can get replacement hearing aids from the hearing aid dispenser. You can check if your hearing aid dispenser is registered by going to www.hcpc-uk.co.uk and using the ‘check the register’ tool.

Considerations for Hearing Aids

You’ll need to think about asking for the T programme facility if your child uses a loop system and/or the direct audio input facility if your child uses a radio aid. You may also need to consider whether any support services that you use, such as a Teacher of the Deaf, have experience of supporting children with different types of hearing aids.

You may want to insure the hearing aids. You can sometimes do this under your household contents insurance, but, as one digital aid can cost up to £2,000, you’ll need to check that your household insurance will cover this for a single item. You’ll also need to know how quickly your insurance company could process an insurance claim if your child lost or damaged their hearing aids.

Some people buy hearing aids abroad. If you decide to do this, you’ll need to know whether a follow-up service is provided in the UK and what would happen if the hearing aid broke down. Bear in mind that the hearing aids might need to be fine-tuned after they’re fitted, so you may have to return for another visit a few weeks or months later. Be careful of hearing aid adverts and promotional literature, as these may make claims about features or performance that aren’t relevant for your child.

If you are considering buying hearing aids privately, talk to your child’s audiologist or Teacher of the Deaf or call our helpline. You may find the checklist below helpful.

Our Information and Support

Joining the National Deaf Children’s Society gives you access to a wide range of services that can support you at different stages of your journey and your child’s development. We want to do all we can to give you the confidence to support your child and make decisions.

The Right Information, at the Right Time

We offer free, balanced information about all aspects of childhood deafness, both on our website www.ndcs.org.uk and in our publications. Our online content and information booklets can help you make some of the difficult decisions you’ll be faced with.

Helping You Make Informed Choices

Every deaf child is different, and families should be able to make decisions that are right for them. That’s why we give independent support, setting out all the options, so families can make informed choices about how they want to communicate, or which type of hearing technology is best for them. We never promote a particular approach, and we’re always clear about the impact it will have on a child’s life.

Support When You Need It

Checklist for Parents Buying Hearing Aids

• The hearing aid dispenser is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• The hearing aids can be used with a loop system and have a direct audio input facility (if needed).
• The hearing aid dispenser has given me written details of the prices and the warranty period.
• The hearing aid dispenser has given me written details of the trial period.
• The hearing aid dispenser has given me written details of the follow-up service, including the cost of new earmoulds and batteries.
• The hearing aid dispenser has told me who to contact if the hearing aids need repairing or servicing.
• The support services that my child uses will be able to support my child using these hearing aids.
• I have insured the aids against accidental damage and loss.
• I have checked how quickly the aids can be replaced if they’re lost or broken.

About Us

We’re here for every deaf child who needs us – no matter what their level or type of deafness or how they communicate. Visit our website www.ndcs.org.uk or contact our Freephone Helpline to find out how we can support your child at every stage of their life.

Join us for free and you’ll be able to:

• Download or order our free information
• Come to our events
• Be a part of our online community
• Borrow equipment through our technology loan service
• Read about other families’ experiences in our quarterly magazine and email updates
• Access support

We are the National Deaf Children’s Society, the leading charity for deaf children. Freephone Helpline: 0808 800 8880 (voice and text) helpline@ndcs.org.uk www.ndcs.org.uk

Published by the National Deaf Children’s Society © National Deaf Children’s Society August 2020 37–45 Paul Street, London EC2A 4LS Tel: 020 7490 8656 (voice and text) Fax: 020 7251 5020

This publication can be requested in large print or as a text file. For resource references or to give us your feedback email informationteam@ndcs.org.uk. The National Deaf Children’s Society is a registered charity in England and Wales no.1016532 and in Scotland no. SC040779. A0192 2020

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Last modified 18th September 2025 12:34:57 pm