Enjoying books, toys and games that celebrate hearing loss will help the children in your life develop their understanding of others, fostering a greater sense of inclusion and respect for diversity.
Here are five of our favorite gifts for expanding kids’ minds.
Best Book for Young Children
“Super Kena: A Girl Made Fierce with Hearing Aids”—This book follows Kena, a girl teased by her classmates about her hearing aids. With her mother’s support, Kena realizes her hearing aids are her “superpower” and bands together with her friends who are also differently abled to explain to her classmates during show-and-tell how their differences make them stronger.
Best Book for Readers Ages Nine to 12
“Rally Caps”—Jordan is injured during Little League Travel team baseball tryouts and struggles at summer camp to manage his anxiety about getting back in the game. Fortunately, he becomes friends with Luca, a cochlear implant user and fellow baseball player, who has a “nothing is impossible” attitude that inspires Jordan to return to the baseball field and play his best.
Best Book for Teens
“Diary of a Hard of Hearing Kid”—Author Isaiah John Baier lost his hearing due to meningitis when he was 20 months old. At age 11, he decided to write about his journey navigating the world as a child with hearing loss. The result is this beautifully heartfelt memoir, which is funny, sad and inspiring—just like real life.
Best Game
“Hearing Things: The Lip-Reading Challenge Game”—Many people with hearing loss use lip-reading during conversations. Now, kids can experience what that’s like with this fun game! One player wears speech-canceling headphones, limiting their hearing, while the other says a phrase on a card. The first player must read their teammate’s lips to guess the phrase correctly.
Best Doll
Lottie Mia Doll with Cochlear Implant—Standing seven inches tall, Mia is a wildlife photographer who loves animals and is thrilled to be the world’s first fashion doll rocking a cochlear implant!
Another great gift idea? Giving the gift of better hearing! Now’s the perfect time to schedule a pediatric or adult hearing checkup.