How to Make a 1-Year-Old Keep in Hearing Aides

by Travis Rave

Overview

If you find out that your one-year-old is hearing-impaired, have her fitted for hearing aids. Once you have the hearing aids, the most challenging thing is to keep those hearing aids in her ears. As frustrating as it can be, it's vital that you don't show your frustration, or scold her for taking the hearing aids out. From her position, she's suddenly told to put something into her ears that increases noise and brings her into a world of sound she never knew before. Going through this process takes some time, but the rewards for everyone involved are immeasurable.

Step 1

Put the hearing aids in your child's ears as you tell her to keep them in.
Step 2

Reward your child with an age-appropriate toy. As soon as she begins to fuss about the hearing aids or takes them out, take the toy away.
Step 3

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as necessary, setting a timer for 20 minutes. Keep working with your child until 20 minutes goes by without a problem.
Step 4

Take the hearing aids out after 20 minutes, and take the toy away.
Step 5

Wait one hour, and repeat Steps 1 through 4.
Step 6

Increase slowly the amount of time that you leave the hearing aids in, with little breaks in between. Be sure to maintain that the toy is a reward for keeping the hearing aids in her ears.
Step 7

Repeat the entire process until wearing the hearing aids is no longer an issue.

4
Age-appropriate toy Timer
Age-appropriate toy
Timer
If your child is tired of the toy, change it up with another one. Try not to reward your child with food, as it won't last as long nor will it be as rewarding in the long run.
If your child is tired of the toy, change it up with another one. Try not to reward your child with food, as it won't last as long nor will it be as rewarding in the long run.