Pre-schooler (3-6 years)

Taking the first steps towards socialising while spending more hours in challenging environments outside the security of the child’s home requires good hearing support. During this phase your child will also need to develop language complexity and richness in order to be ready for school.

Socialising and seeking answers

“Why? Why?” from morning to night. This phase is about growing self-confidence, self-expression and especially self-control. Your child wants to do more, and they can – with your help.

A preschool child constantly improves his/her language skills and wants to use them to chat with everyone about anything – but they are also able to listen to others with interest and share and build their first friendships. Help them to participate in everything they want and they will develop even more skills. Empower them in relation to their hearing aids and their need for good communication by giving them responsibilities appropriate to their age and development.

From playing alongside to playing together

During this phase, children start to make friends and to play with them. They also begin to compare themselves and their abilities to others.

Playing with friends often happens in day care, playdates at home or in the playground, which is a more complex and noisy environment than the home. Background noise and other children speaking next to them is often a challenge. For some children with hearing loss, noise and delayed language can result in problem behaviours, such as temper tantrums or biting, because they are not able to communicate what frustrates them. Wearing hearing aids that distinguish speech from noise, like the Sensei solutions for children, helps your child be successful in socialising. Why? Because they will be able to follow and participate in what’s going on around them.

Me, others and the rest of the world

The pre-schooler often has favourable opinions of his/her own abilities. They are able to complete tasks and develop and improve their speech intelligibility to question and explain anything in the world. The child shows initiative, seeks independence and becomes increasingly aware of the world around them.

If they are not receiving the full environmental experience due to their hearing loss, they risk being caught in a lower development stage and behaving abnormally compared to hearing children their age. There is also a risk that children with hearing loss are overprotected from experiencing challenges and failures. It is important for their natural development that you allow them to access safe environments outside their home and to have the experiences needed to grow.

Read more about raising a child with hearing loss

Opportunities for empowerment

Make your child responsible for the care of their hearing aids
At the age of four your child has more small muscle control and can handle small objects. Let them change the batteries on the hearing aids and put their own hearing aids on and take them off.

Teach your child self-advocacy
Discuss what a good listening environment is. They will soon be able to state their needs for better communication. Give your child the necessary communication tips to refer to. You can also hand them out to the day care centre.

Two boys in class

Next phase: Schoolchild (6-12)

As children with hearing loss grow, they face a range of challenges at different stages of their lives, from infancy through the school years and beyond. Children learn and progress differently over time and the needs of your child must be assessed continuously. Every new concept of and skill set results in new behaviour. Look out for the signs, so that you can provide support!

When children start school, a time of exciting adventures begins. However, for all children, school is a place that requires a lot of effort on their part as they try to hear, understand and act on what is said in the classroom. Prepare yourself for a new, fantastic and challenging phase in your child’s life.

Read more

  • Why children’s hearing is important

    Your child uses their hearing to learn to talk, read and write, and not least, to develop social skills.

    why-childrens-hearing-is-important
  • Raising a child with hearing loss

    How to keep a balance between protecting and empowering your child so they can enjoy all that life has to offer.

    why-childrens-hearing-is-important
  • Teen to adult (12+)

    Solutions for teenagers and young adults and how you as a parent can support them as a good mentor.

    teen-to-adult-12-plus-years
  • Oticon hearing aids for children

    Explore our hearing aid solutions for children with mild to moderate and severe to profound hearing loss.