Watching five-year-old son Jett prepare to start school next week was similar to the experience of most mums for Clifton Springs’s Samara Bondin.
But the big milestone will have special meaning for the Bondin family which relies on hearing aids for Jett’s education at St Thomas Aquinas School.
Jett was diagnosed with hearing loss and fitted with his first hearing aids soon after birth.
The family relied on not-for-profit service Australian Hearing to help Jett’s adaptation to the devices.
Ms Bondin was thrilled to see him now ready and capable of starting school.
“Jett’s well and truly ready for kindy. He can’t wait for this next step.
“He’s most looking forward to wearing his hat and he can’t wait to learn lots in class and play with his new friends.”
Australian Hearing audiologist Marnie Halloran, who watched Jett’s development, said the aids assisted him immensely.
“Jett’s confident using his hearing aids and using them has helped with his speech and language development,” Ms Halloran said.
Jett tried on his new school uniform at a special Australian Hearing event in Geelong to celebrate his achievements.
Australian Hearing Geelong manager Rosslyn Jablonsky was pleased Jett could begin school with comparable language skills to other kids.
“The early years are critical so beginning intervention as soon as possible after the diagnosis of a hearing loss minimises any delay in a child’s language development,” she said.
“Australian Hearing specialises in paediatric hearing care and we work with families to provide them with the support, advice and any technology required to help a child with a hearing loss.
“Our role is to help optimise a child’s hearing to make sure they are given the best opportunity to develop speech, communicate effectively and reach their full potential at school and beyond.”
The federally-funded Geelong service assists children and young Australians aged to 26 with permanent hearing loss.
More information is available at hearing.com.au.
