Accepting that your child has a hearing loss
Once you have discovered that your child has a hearing loss, you face a demanding time. Initially you will probably feel shocked and somewhat helpless. You may have difficulty accepting what the doctors are saying. Also, you may have a hard time understanding how something like this could happen to your child. These reactions are perfectly natural.
It can take time to accept the fact that your child has a hearing loss. Meanwhile, you may feel sad and anxious about the future, asking yourself questions such as: "Will my child ever be able to speak?" "Will they be able to make friends?” "Will they be able to grow up normally, get an education and a job?” Such concerns are perfectly understandable.
After some time though, you will be able to accept the situation and be ready to move forward. Then you can start focusing on how to make things work on an everyday basis for you, your child, and the rest of your family.
No two parents face having to deal with hearing loss in the same way. How you accept and handle it is a very personal and individual thing.
From talking with parents we have learned that being honest, open-minded and inquisitive is the most constructive way of handling things. Therefore, don't hesitate to reach out for help and ask audiologists , teachers and other parents in the same situation for information and guidance. These people will understand your situation and have relevant, first hand experience that you can draw upon.
You can also search this website for answers to many frequently asked questions. If not, feel free to send us your questions via the Contact Oticon page
Remember that you are not alone in being a parent of a child with a hearing loss. In fact, this condition is more common than you would think. A study shows that two percent of all children in the USA, for instance, are born with a hearing loss. And nearly 15% of all youngsters between ages 6 and 19 have temporary or permanent hearing loss for reasons ranging from illness to noise exposure*. All of those children have parents, friends and relatives, who are coping with a situation similar to yours.
* Figures from a 1998 study made by researchers at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
