Am I ready?

How do you feel about wearing hearing aids or cochlear implants?

I am easy-going and don’t get too worked up if someone asks me about my hearing aids.

I worry that people will say something about my hearing aids and that would be so embarrassing.

I feel sad that I have to wear hearing aids.

Sometimes I get angry if someone says something about my hearing aids.

How do you like to learn new things?

I use the internet, TV and books to learn new things all the time.

I like to work with my hands and learn best by doing, building, and trying things out.

I like to learn from other people who have already done things I want to learn to do.

I need a lot of practice learning new things and like to do this by myself.

How do you like sports and exercise?

I like to be involved in sports teams and since my parents talk with my coach ahead of time, they let me play just like the other kids.

I tried to join a sports team and they told me I can’t play because I wear hearing aids.

I like to ride my bike, play sports informally and exercise with my hearing aids on.

I never wear my hearing aids except at school. They might get lost.

I don’t go out and do much because people might notice my hearing aids.

Spending time with friends

I like to be with my friends as much as I can. They accept me and don’t think my hearing aids are a big deal.

I have friends at school but we don’t hang out much outside of school.

I don’t have a lot of friends and it is hard to make new friends because they might ask me about my hearing aids.

I keep to myself at school. That way no one will ask about my hearing aids.

I don’t have friends and I am lonely. Isn’t there anyone else at this school who wears hearing aids?

When you cannot hear well

If I am having difficulty hearing at an assembly or on a field trip, for example, I have some solutions I can try or an adult to talk to about it.

If I am having difficulty hearing at an assembly or on a field trip, for example, I just fake it and pretend I can hear.

If I am having difficulty hearing, it makes me really upset and I don’t know what to do about it.

Your place in the world

I feel loved and accepted for who I am and I know I am important.

My family loves and accepts me but people at school don’t.

I feel all alone.

I don’t trust people once they hurt me.

I think my next steps should be:

Discuss your answers and notes with your audiologist or someone close to you.