Accepting your child’s hearing loss

When you first realize that your child is suffering from hearing loss, you will probably feel shocked and helpless. It may be difficult to accept what the doctors tell you. This is a perfectly normal reaction, and it can take time to accept the reality of a hearing loss.

Everyone experiences variety of emotions when coping and learning about their child’s hearing disability. A parent may deny that there is a hearing deficit. A parent may experience depression and shame, especially when help is not close by. Frustration, anger and confusion are others feelings that are experienced, particularly when medical and educational support are not be found in your community. Men may hide their feelings and have more difficulty dealing with the issues at hand than women. Women may feel it is their fault, and other family members may blame the mother for the hearing loss. Often a parent feels isolated, especially when no other child with hearing loss lives nearby.

It is important to realize many different feelings are normal. Working through these emotions can happen when parents work together and get the information needed to better understand their child’s hearing loss. After some time, the reality of hearing loss is understood and parents can come to terms with their personal situation. The task then becomes to make the best of it. A child’s daily life and future are all different, and no two parents react in exactly the same way. Emotions may evolve and change and repeat themselves, particularly as the child grows and enters different stages of their young life. Parents have the power to learn about their emotions and what they can do to help their child.

Know that support is available, and parents should ask many questions about hearing loss. The best approach should be honest and open-minded. Seek help from audiologists, doctors, other parents in the same situation, family and friends. The professionals can provide information and guidance. There are online resource to compare information you find; seek the answers you need. A parent should learn the facts.

When a parent shares feelings and personal situations, it helps develop confidence needed to help raise a child with hearing loss. It is important to talk with other parents of hearing-impaired children and learn about their experiences. Family and friends may also provide psychological and moral support. Find positive and healthy support and work through all emotions. Be strong for your child.

Remember that you are not the first parent to have a hearing-impaired child and that hearing-impaired children are better able to cope than you might realize.

Aceptación de la pérdida de audición de su hijo

Cuando descubre que su hijo sufre pérdida de audición, probablemente se sienta horrorizado e indefenso y puede resultarle difícil aceptar lo que le dicen los médicos. Ésta es una reacción perfectamente natural y puede llevar un tiempo aceptar el hecho de que su hijo sufre una pérdida de audición.

Después de algún tiempo, aceptará esta pérdida de audición y tendrá que trabajar, junto con su hijo, para mejorar su situación. Pero antes de eso, se habrá hecho muchas preguntas acerca de la vida y el futuro de su hijo. Recuerde que todos somos diferentes y no todos los padres reaccionan exactamente de la misma forma.

La mejor forma de controlar la situación es ser honesto, sincero y preguntar todas las cuestiónes que se le planteen. Busque la ayuda de audiólogos, médicos, otros padres que estén en la misma situación, la familia y los amigos. Los profesionales pueden ayudarle con información y orientación, los padres de niños con alteraciones auditivas con su experiencia y la familia y los amigos pueden ayudarle con su apoyo psicológico y moral.

Recuerde que no es el primer padre que tiene un hijo con problemas de audición y que los niños con alteraciones de audición pueden afrontar el problema mejor de lo que piensa.