Even with the most appropriate hearing aids or cochlear implants, children may still experience difficulty hearing in certain environments. Noise, distance, vibration and poor visibility can all cause problems for a child. The following suggestions may help parents and others to overcome the difficulties that children with hearing impairments may experience at home, in the supermarket, at the park or on the playground. 1. Reduce noise Try to minimize the amount of external noise as much as possible. For example, turn off the TV or radio when talking to your child. Move away from sources of noise, such as other children, fans, air conditioners, amplifiers and traffic noise Your child can hear you most clearly when you are no more than one meter away from him or her or when you use an FM system, which improves the clarity of speech in noisy environments. Be aware that in large rooms without carpets, curtains and soft furniture, your child’s hearing may be more difficult due to vibrations. 2. Ensure line of sight Take care to ensure that your child can see your face, especially your mouth. Do not eat or cover your mouth when you are talking to your child. Make sure you are in the same room as your child and you are facing them. Pay attention to the lighting; too bright or not enough light can cause difficulties. Speak clearly but naturally. Exaggerating or yelling may make it more difficult for your child to understand what you are saying. Yelling may overload your child’s hearing aid and cause distortion of the sound. When speaking, try to stay in one area; it can be difficult to read the lips of someone who is moving around. When reading out loud, exaggerate facial expressions and try not to let the book cover your face. If you want to talk to your child, call their name or gesture to them. Make sure that your child has your attention when you are trying to communicate with them. Try to use visual aids, e.g. writing, drawing pictures, and use gestures to help your child understand what you are trying to say. Don’t require your child to be able to concentrate constantly, as your child will have to work harder to communicate effectively than a child who can hear. Make sure your language is appropriate for your child’s level of language development. For example, use short, simple sentences at first. As your child’s language skills progress, increase the length and complexity of the sentences. If you are unsure of the level of language you should use, discuss this further with the rehabilitation teacher. 5. Check for understanding Observe your child’s reaction to what is being said to check if your child understands the instructions, or you can ask questions to determine the level of understanding. If your child does not understand what you are saying, try saying the same thing in a different way. Check your child’s hearing aid or cochlear implant and FM system every day, and do an aural hearing check, such as the LAM Six Tones. Ask your audiologist how to perform this test. Encourage your child from an early age to tell you if the equipment is working properly so that it can be repaired as soon as possible. This will ensure that your child gets the most out of his or her hearing aids, rather than having them turned into earplugs or noise makers.