Re: Digest Number 409

[Guest guest]

--- wrote:

My insurance carrier is Optimum Choice and they do not cover hearing

aids, has anyone had any luck convincing them to do so? Another dumb

question, I'm sure.

Last, but not least, how do the hearing aids impact on the child's day

to day activities? Relationships with other children and sports? I am

thinking and worrying too far ahead, thinking about when he plays t-ball

and swims on the swim team and plays on the playground.

--- end of quote ---

We persuaded our insurer (who doesn't normally cover hearing aids) to do so.

Our letter is posted on Kay's website - http://www.listen-up.org/haidfund.htm.

Not a dumb question - I always figured it didn't hurt to ask - and it didn't!

Re: sports - Tom's not going to make it in the NBA anytime soon, but he has

participated in basketball and soccer and took swimming lessons the past two

summers. He is an oral kid, so swimming lessons were challenging but doable.

We always try to meet with his coach before the first practice to talk with them

about how best to communicate with Tommy - they have always been receptive. And

of course we meet with his swim teachers.

Re: day to day - the hearing aids for the most part haven't affected his day to

day activities. As part of Tommy's IEP, we've stressed independence and his

teacher gives him chips when he does his " morning activities " independently -

i.e. trainer in, on and personal hearing aids put away. His teacher this year

is wonderful (he's in first grade) and is very attuned to working with Tom and

his hearing loss. His trainer was out for a week and it wasn't a huge big deal

since other helps were in place already (preferential seating, " eyes on the

teacher " , etc.). We have had tried to make his hearing aids not a big thing.

We've worked with both our boys (and continue to do so) to nicely advocate for

themselves - so if a child or an adult stares, Tom will just tell the kid " I

wear them to hear better " . That generally answers their questions!

He does well on the playground and with friend and at the after school program

where he's the only kid who is hoh. We've worked hard on this - last year, the

after school program left him on the playground twice (guess why - if they'd

only tapped him on the shoulder and TOLD him to come in instead of yelling at

the kids...). Of course I was ballistic - I'm now on the board of the after

school program :>).

Not to say that all this has been easy - it hasn't always and we've worked hard

- and of course Tom and Sam have worked hard at this. (as I sit here wondering

how Tom will handle Tae Kwan Do - yikes! - what if he gets kicked in his hearing

aids?!) But it does seem to get somewhat easier as we move on....

Good questions!

Barbara