The Best Hearing Aid Accessories for Kids: Pediatric Clips and More

Your child wears hearing aids, or is going to get hearing aids soon. What accessories will help keep those precious listening devices safe and comfortable for little ones?

Our son received his hearing aids at the age of four months, and we found several hearing aid accessories that really helped us care for his hearing equipment. Retention devices, tape, desiccators (dryers), and the wonderful pilot cap have helped to ease his journey to better hearing.

Even if you live in an arid environment, having a drying kit (also known as a desiccator) is essential. Children may sweat heavily, get into a summer water fight, or accidentally drop a hearing aid into a cup of milk. Stranger things have happened! While many hearing aid kits come with a canister and desiccant, a product like the Dry & Store Global II are well worth the investment. The Dry & Store units circulate warm, dry air over a desiccant brick in a secure container, thoroughly drying the hearing aids. This will prolong the life of the hearing aid, as moisture will eventually corrode the internal components. The Dry & Store products also include a UV light (for all models, excluding the Zephyr), which helps sanitize the hearing aids.

The sight of a sandbox or large ball pit will create a lot of stress if a child loses a hearing aid while playing. A hearing aid clip or other retention device is essential. There are several clip types available:

• A standard elastic retention device which clips to the shirt. The Junior Kid's Clip is a good clip for small children, as the elastic bands are short enough to prevent "Junior" from teething on his or her hearing aids.
• Critter Clips are excellent for keeping hearing aids from getting lost, and add the benefit of fun clip designs for preschoolers and older children.
• Ear Gear is wonderful for children of all ages, and provides a neoprene cover for the hearing aid body. This protects the hearing aid from sweat, sand, and the occasional saliva of a teething toddler.
• For very young babies and toddlers, nothing can beat a Hanna Andersson pilot cap for keeping hearing aids on and out of harm's way. These little hats prevent children from taking their hearing aids off, and have a very thin fabric which does not produce hearing aid feedback.
• Double-sided tape, such as toupé tape, will also help keep hearing aids from flopping off the ears when the child is engaged in active play. Toupé tape is available at beauty supply stores, or you can save some money and use Res-Q tape (avaiable at Wal-Mart and other discount retailers, in the sewing section).

If your hearing aid kit did not come with a stethoset at the time of purchase, it is absolutely vital to purchase one. Stethosets are stethoscopes that attach to the child's hearing aids, allowing an adult listener to verify the aids are working well.

A battery tester will ensure the batteries have sufficient power to last through the day. It is a good idea to test batteries every evening, before putting the hearing aids away in their drying container for the night.

A small wire loop to remove ear wax and other debris from the hearing aid earmold is also vital. Ask your audiologist before using any disinfectants on the hearing aid earmolds, to verify it won't react with the earmold material (i.e. rubbing alcohol can cause some materials to degrade).

Tube Riders are fun designs that sit on the hearing aid tubing. Children can choose their own designs, personalizing their hearing aids. There are several Tube Rider designs through Adco Hearing Supplies.