We know that it is crucial to follow the "eyes open, ears on" practice to give our kids enough langauge and listening exposure to close developmental gaps. Whether for little ears or a trip to a theme park, we have all found ourselves searching for the best ways to keep those processors or hearing aids in place. Here are some ideas to consider along with some tips for keeping technology on at different ages.

• Toupee Tape - Many families find this double sided tape useful for keeping hearing aids and CI processors on the ear.

• Snugfit/Huggy- This is a piece of plastic that loops around the ear to keep CI processors in place.

• Ear Molds - Some CI users actually use ear molds as a retention device to keep the processors from falling off. 

• BAHA Softbands and Retention Clips for Softbands

• Ear Gear - Made for a variety of hearing aids and cochlear implant processors, ear gear is used by families to clip devices in place as well as to protect from sweat and dust. 

• Headbands - Etsy and other marketplaces have many options for headbands with loops to hold processors. Here are a few that our parents have been particularly fond of:

  • Happy Little Ears Co - Unique headbands and hats that have a lighter fabric over the hearing tech to minimize disruption of sound.  

  • Genie Bands

  • Ear Suspenders

  • BAHA headbands

• Hair Bows - Many families like to use hair bows to secure a CI processor, however please be aware that moving the processor away from the ear can interfere with developing the ability to localize sound.

• Mini Claw Clips - These are great for extra security for a processor. Just clip the cable to your child's hair! 

• Otoclips - This is one brand name of retention clip. There are many varieties and hand made brands available via online shops. Some have loops that go around the cables or earmold tubing. Others have silicone loops that go arond the device. A variety of clip options are available as well. 

• Eyeglasses cords - Some families use the loop that would go around the glasses frame around the CI cables and clip the back to the child's shirt to improvise an otoclip type device. 

• Ball Caps - One father with CI's tucks his processors inside the fabric fold on the inside of his ball caps to keep them in place. 

• Namu Caps are popular for securing a device (that is separately waterproofed) for swimming. Lycra swim caps are another, similar option without the ties. 

• Sports necklaces with retention clips. 

• Reviews of Some Retention Options 

• Another Chart of Options

These are products that families say they wish they had found sooner. Please check any product you use to be sure it is safe to use with your device and child. 

• Otoease

• Electric Dryers! - In the Florida humidity, these dryers make a huge difference in maintaining hearing technology. There are many different ones on the market. 

  • Dry N Store

• Skins for Hearing Aids and Processors

  • Skinit - Phonak, Advanced Bionics, Med El, Cochlear

  • Etsy - There are a lot of options here. Just check with the store to verify safety and fit for your device.

• Alarm options that families use include - Sonic Boom (vibrating alarms), Smart Watches, Flashing Light  and Bed Shaker Smoke Detector/Fire Alarms, iphone visual alerts and sound recognition.

• Headphones - Most children prefer to use a DM system, bluetooth, or audiocable for a clear connection, but the big padded, over-the-ear style headphones tend to be the most popular solution for kids choosing to use headphones. 

• Keep a binder with everything - doctor’s notes, dates, phone numbers for providers, IFSP, test results, audiograms. Take it with you to appointments. You can save time and extra appointments by having everything in one place and with you. Some parents also use Google Drive or similar cloud based solutions to keep a virtual binder that is always accessible. 

• Keep a paperclip in your purse for opening battery doors, clearing wax from a device (CAREFULLY), etc. 

• In a pinch, the end of an earring can open a battery door. 

• Carry spare parts and batteries in a small pouch or case. A generic "airpod" sized case can work well for some hearing aids. 

• Coloring Books from the manufacturers are great to have on hand to give to classmates/new friends. Links to digital versions: Cochlear Americas, Med El, Advanced Bionics, Phonak. The Coalition also has a series of individual coloring pages featuring children with hearing technology, which are available by request. 

• Swim goggles can be frustrating. Two solutions parents find helpful are wearing a swim cap and/or goggles that clip in the back. 

• A skull cap works well for holding processors in place when taking a helmet on and off. Kids who play baseball, softball, hockey, or football often use these.

• Parents frequently ask which helmets work best with CI's. It really depends on each child's head and implant placement. Generally speaking, helmets that adjust in the back are easier to fit. Here's a breakdown with more sport specific information.