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Toys and books representing the experiences of children with hearing loss can be hard to find. As a teacher of the deaf and school principal, Dr. Anna Tess, the FHSR Education Coordinator, understands the importance of representation in and out of the classroom. Having characters with representation can help your child learn more about their hearing loss and gain confidence with wearing their devices. Below, Anna shares some toys that share representation of hearing loss.Â
These toys can also help as your child is getting a new device: Their favorite stuffed animal can get a cochlear implant just like them – even in the same color! When playing with these toys, you can work on self advocacy skills by modeling these skills with the dolls.
Below is a list of a few toys that you can purchase. These include legos, dolls, barbies and 3D-printed items that can be added to current stuffed animals and dolls in your home.
If you are interested in books with characters with hearing loss check out our book recommendation blog.
ToyLikeMe has a wide range of toys from lego sets, dolls and stuffed animals with cochlear implants and hearing aids.
Lego and Duplo Tree house have come out with a few sets that have characters with hearing loss.
Click on the names above to find them on Amazon.
Amazon also has different dolls with hearing aids of different ethnicities and genders. Here is a link to a girl doll with hearing aids, and boy baby doll with hearing aids.
In 2020, the American Girl Doll doll of the year was Joss, a ten-year-old who surfs, skateboards, participates in cheerleading, and was born with hearing loss.
There are a variety of options of 3D-printed hearing aids and cochlear implants that can be added to stuffed animals and dolls on Etsy and other sites. You can use these to make dolls and stuffed animals have different hearing devises.
Here are a few options for purchasing these:
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Note: This article may contain affiliate links; if you click on a shopping link and make a purchase FHSR may receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate, FHSR earns from qualifying purchases.
Author information:
Dr. Anna Tess is the FHSR Education Coordinator. She is profoundly deaf herself with two cochlear implants. She has experience as a teacher of the deaf and school principal as well as a doctorate in Special Education.
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