Fitting your child's bone conduction device
This is an important time in your child's hearing journey. You can prepare with questions to ask their hearing health professional.
Page contents
- Questions to ask a hearing health professional.
- Details about the fitting and programming session.
- Information for after the activation of the sound processor.
After the healing period, there is a first appointment with the audiologist who will deliver, fit and programme the sound processor. What follows is a list of questions to ask the hearing professional about this step and the ones after.
- What happens during the appointment?
- What does programming the sound processor feel like?
- Will the child hear right away?
- How will it sound?
- How long will it take the child to adjust to the new sound?
- How can the parent help to put on the child's device and can the child put it on himself/herself?
- How does it work?
- Are there any special recommendations for using the sound processor?
- How often do the batteries need changing?
- How should the device be stored and maintained?
- What resources can be recommended for rehabilitation?
- What happens if the child's hearing changes over time?
- Is there a network of families of bone conduction implant recipients to connect with?
Fitting day
The child's hearing health professional will fit and program the child’s sound processor a few weeks after surgery.
The sound processor is connected to the programming software and placed on the child's head. A feedback test is performed – the child should hear sounds through the sound processor for the first time.
The sound processor will be programmed to meet individual needs – specific listening programmes can be set for different hearing situations, such as quiet or noisy environments.
After the activation of the sound processor
After the initial activation of the sound processor, several appointments with a hearing health professional may be necessary for fine-tuning and might form part of the rehabilitation process for the child.
It's also advisable to follow the sound processor's guidelines for care and maintenance.
Practice and time
This may take time to get used with a bone conduction device, it varies from a child to another.
Rehabilitation plays an important role in hearing results with a device. That's why it may be useful to practice listening and speaking as much as possible.
A hearing health professional can also provide advice about practising with the device and information about potential rehabilitation programmes proposed.
More information
Disclaimer
Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always follow the directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.
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