4 Ways You Can Feel Confident About Working with Your Professional Team

You’ve probably heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” For families of children with hearing loss, that village is especially important in providing support. While this is your journey for your child, you don’t have to go it alone. Your professional team is ready to support you every step of the way.

That team may include your child’s pediatrician, pediatric audiologist, ENT/ORL/OTO medical doctor, early interventionists, LSL specialists, speech-language pathologists, teachers, and more. Each member of your child’s team – including YOU – plays an important role in helping them learn to listen and talk.

So, how can you make the most of every visit and build trusting parent-professional relationships? It’s simple! Just remember H-E-A-R for four easy tips for parents of children with hearing loss

H – Have Honest and Clear Communication

This is where it all starts – be sure your professional team knows your goals and expectations. Tell them the dreams you have for your child and be honest throughout the journey.

Update your team on:

• What’s happening with your family
• Any challenges you're facing
• Areas where you may not feel certain

E – Engage and Be Ready to Learn

Each early intervention session and audiology appointment is a chance to build new skills. Even on the days when you’re exhausted or battling brain fog, your presence makes a difference.

• In your early intervention sessions, you’ll learn and practice strategies to help your child listen and talk.
• At audiology appointments, you’ll learn how to manage your child’s devices and understand what they are able to hear.

Engaging fully helps you and your child get the most out of each session and appointment.

A – Actively Practice at Home

The real magic happens between visits. Each appointment and session will give you tools and strategies to weave into your daily life.

Together with your early interventionist, you’ll create a plan that fits your family’s daily life and routines. You’ll use then use the strategies you’ve practiced in everyday moments like mealtimes, diaper changes, car rides, and bedtime.

Your audiologist will also send you home with steps to practice, like caring for your child’s devices and practicing their hearing aid routine, as well as making sure the devices are worn for 10+ hours a day.

Before you know it, you’ll be practicing every day – maybe without even realizing it because it’s become second nature!

For more information on your child’s hearing devices and topics you’ll discuss with your child’s pediatric audiologist, check out Lesson 2 inside First LSL Lessons, “Getting to Know Your Baby’s Hearing Devices.”

R – Reflect on the Journey

Take time to pause and notice progress along the way. Reflection is an important step that helps you celebrate milestones, track growth, and set new goals.

Take time to:

• Remember where you started
• Celebrate where you are now and how far you’ve come
• Look ahead at where you want to go
• Share your reflections with your professional team

It can be hard to take time to pause and reflect when you’re a busy parent of a child with hearing loss. Your time and energy are precious commodities, but it is worth it to slow down and taking a moment to acknowledge where you are on the journey and how you’re feeling.

Make the Most of Every Session and Appointment

The path to listening and talking for children with hearing loss looks different for each family. Your child’s hearing loss is unique and their progress toward listening, spoken language, and reading builds over time. We call it a journey for a reason!

As a parent, you lead that journey so trust your instincts. If you have a concern or if something doesn’t feel quite right, listen to your gut. You know your child and your family best, and your professional team wants to hear from you!

So, just remember H-E-A-R:

• Have honest and clear communication
• Engage in the sessions and appointments and being ready to learn
• Actively practice at home
• Reflect on the journey

These four simple steps will help you feel more confident and prepared as you work with your professional team to help your child listen, talk, read, and thrive!