So Annoying!

kingfisherblue

My son has learning difficulties and started to wear a hearing aid in December. He goes to a special school and they encourage independence. Now, I'm keen for him to learn independence where possible, but they have taught him how to remove his hearing aid. He can't put it back in, and they know from experience that he puts things down and wanders off. At home, when I take his aid out, it goes into its special case and is put on a specific shelf next to a small make up bag that contains spare batteries.

Tonight, he has taken his aid out - or it might have been earlier in PE at school. He can't remember when or where. He has never been good at locating things that he has put down.

I did ask the school not to teach him how to remove his aid yet, as he was still getting used to wearing it (very successfully until school told him he had to learn to remve it!). Since they started to teach him to remove it, he keeps wanting to take it out.

Now, it is lost. I don't know if he was wearing it when he came in from school. I didn't specifically look, and I didn't notice. It's so frustrating and I'm so annoyed! I know he has to learn to remove and insert the aid, but I was giving my son a chance to get completely used to wearing it first. Then my intention was to teach him to insert it first, before learning how to remove it.

It isn't in the usual place and it's not anywhere that I can see. I've tried backtracking with him, but he has become more confused and upset, so I've calmed him down and he's gone to bed (he often goes early as he needs his sleep).

I'm going to watch Corrie and then start searching again! Wish me luck

[Deleted User]

as you mention PE i`m wondering if its a"safety"issue that he takes it out for that?
otherwise i`d be a annoyed as you.
i`m sure it will turn up........where you least expect it

Brassedoff

I am sure it is the start of a habit that will result in losing a fair few over the years. I remember going to School and having a best mate who was profoundly deaf, he had aids in both ears. He was always losing them after PE, sometimes the other kids would hide them for a so called prank. The School had a special Hearing unit and they kept spairs. He even taught me sign language. Happy days!!!

kingfisherblue

woodbine wrote: »

as you mention PE i`m wondering if its a"safety"issue that he takes it out for that?
otherwise i`d be a annoyed as you.
i`m sure it will turn up........where you least expect it

You're right Woodbine, it did turn up where I least expected - in the boys' toilets at school! I rang this morning to let the teacher know that he wasn't wearing the hearing aid, and why. The receptionist was taking the message when she said that the cleaners had handed in an aid. Sure enough, it was my son's - although why it was in the boys' toilets, I'm not quite clear!

He doesn't take it out for PE, and his teaahers have sent a note saying that they don't ask him to take it out - but they have previously told me that he has to learn how to remove it and put it in again :cool:

Brassed Off, he probably will lose a few in the future (he's lost enough pairs of glasses since he started wearing them!). I'm keen for him to take care of these things. He already costs the NHS a fortune! It's not just the cost, though (and I appreciate that we do not pay for them, but the taxpayers do), it's the inconvenience. It can take a few days to get a replacement and in the meantime he can't hear. It also means another appointment - this one in another district on the opposite side of town to his school, so he needs at least 1.5 hours off school, and that's if we are seen straight away!

Still, at least it has been found. Thank you both for your reassurance. Maybe I won't get into such a state next time (and as Brassed Off says, there will be a next time!).

Savvy_Sue

One suggestion is that you get a fine 'Sharpie' or permanent marker, and write his surname and postcode on it!

There's a massive problem of hearing aids going AWOL in hospitals too ...

kingfisherblue wrote: »

You're right Woodbine, it did turn up where I least expected - in the boys' toilets at school!

:rotfl: It would have been more surprising if it had turned up in the girls' toilets though!

kingfisherblue

Good idea Sue - I'll do that today. Thank you.

Mrs_Arcanum

If you can lose them at 52 a child has no chance. If the battery running out whistle starts, all you want is it to stop.

Good luck.

kingfisherblue

I change the battery every Sunday (as advised by the audiology service), so my son shouldn't experience any whistle - but I would imagine it is very unpleasant and could drive you mad

Mrs_Arcanum

kingfisherblue wrote: »

I change the battery every Sunday (as advised by the audiology service), so my son shouldn't experience any whistle - but I would imagine it is very unpleasant and could drive you mad

Blimey - my batteries are supposed to last 2 weeks. :eek:

piglet4

How about one of these hearing aid clips for little children? That way he can't just put the aid down somewhere and wander off.
http://www.connevans.co.uk/store/viewProduct.do?id=779
http://www.connevans.co.uk/store/viewProduct.do?id=1234525

Alternatively, get a little tupperware box (to use at school), and teach your son to put his aid away safely when he removes it. Would he be able to manage that? Even if the box gets lost, at least the aid is protected from dirt and water, and it will be easier to find again. You could have fun together decorating the box with special stickers

kingfisherblue

Mrs Arcanum, the children in our area all have their batteries changed on Sundays so that they have a new battery at the start of each week at school. My son's aid wasn't working, but he didn't tell me - I found out by accident on the Wednesday and I don't know how long it hadn't been working properly. I thought it was the batteries, but it turned out to be the aid itself. It would be great if he had the knowledge and ability to tell me when his batteries need changing, but he has a learning disability.

Piglet, thanks for those links - I'll order on Monday. I'm not sure which to get yet, I'll have to consider which is most appropriate for my son.

He already has a little box for his aid, supplied by the audiology department, but he's obviously not learned to use it properly yet :cool: