Dear Anna is a weekly advice column for the hearing loss community.

Dear Anna: I wear hearing aids and are usually very careful with them, but  I was on vacation with my family and I laid my hearing aids on my towel while swimming in the hotel pool. Well, while I was in the pool, my little brother grabbed my towel off the lounge chair and my hearing aids went flying into the water! What do I do now that my hearing aids wet? – Soaked in San Diego

As a parent of a hearing impaired child, taking good care of your kid’s hearing aids automatically becomes part of your daily ritual. Besides the hygienic aspect, protecting these valuable devices also prevents damage and allows them to have a longer life cycle.

Here are 10 care tips for your child’s hearing aid:

​If you’re a parent of a child with hearing loss, you know choosing the right hearing aid isn’t always black or white. Technical aspects aside, you’ve probably had the color discussion about your child’s hearing devices with your family audiologist. Should you try to blend in with hair/skin tones so people don’t see their hearing aids, or do you go bold and bright? 

Why does fashion matter? Sometimes, fashion may be thought of as frivolous and superficial. But consider this: How do you express your own personality and identity in a way that is immediately tangible? Being able to be open about one’s disability, and to show it off confidently and proudly to their peers, reduces the amount of self-stigmatization, and can potentially reduce the amount of negative perceptions from others. As a result, individuals are more likely to be stronger advocates for their own needs!