Skin-It stickers for your CI

Skin-it has templates for all the BTE processors from Med-El, Cochlear, and Advanced Bionics.  They also have the universal headpiece (coil) for Neptune Users, and a template for the Rondo from Med-El.

 I got a custom laptop skin-it, and the process to choose the right template, and then upload my own custom design was really easy.  They also have loads of stock graphics and designs to choose from.

One nice thing about the skin-it material it how tough it is. It stuck on my husband's laptop through daily work and commute, and the edges never peeled up. I even was able to remove the skin it and put it on my laptop when he changed jobs! It still looks great, and sticks perfectly.

This is an easy, ready-made solution to help customize a CI, and while it is not the cheapest, the stickers aren't extremely expensive, and do last a long time.

A few ideas posted recently: using the custom feature people created skin-it's with pictures of their own hair for super camouflage, or favorite video game themes, or their local sports teams. The
Possibilities  are really endless!

Undershirts with pockets

I have seen some really cute ideas for little girls with body-worn configurations. I remember thinking that there were so many good ideas out there for girls, but not so many for boys. My friends who are into fashion design complain about the same thing for boys clothes in general, so I guess it isn't just me ;)

I read several posts about altering little camisoles for girls to wear their processors under their shirts, and as I was looking for them I stumbled on this site: Pump Wear, Inc. They sell ready-made undershirts with pockets.

It looks like they started with clothes to hold insulin pumps and expanded from there. There is some cute stuff on the site, but at almost $30 each, I think it is really expensive for what it is.

I also found Hearing Pockets, who have girls and boys undershirts at about $10.

And even though it wouldn't have worked for my "roll around on my back as much as possible" son, the baby onesie is another possibility. (And the baby in the onesie is adorable!)

For an inexpensive and easy undershirt quick fix visit Let's Fill the Van for her take on a DIY boys undershirt.

For another take on a DIY undershirt with pockets, check out:: Audrena's Ears' Cami tutorial

Med-El's new sports headband

Headbands that even fit the Rondo! Check out their site here.

Pockets!

If you have a body-worn configuration for your (or your little one's) CI processor, you can tuck it into a pocket.  You can find things that already have pockets in the right places, or you can add pockets.

Pockets were mentioned on the Listen-Up website as being sewn on everything from leotards to Halloween costumes, but I knew pockets were needed even before I saw that page ;). What I really needed was HOW to make those pockets well, and patterns and templates.

In a few future entries I will post patterns for various Neptune-specific pockets, since that is what I have to work with.  You don't need a Neptune to use pockets, though! I know some of the other baby /toddler set ups have a body-worn component, or maybe you just want a perfect place to tuck a spare battery holder. Vest pockets, breast pockets, pockets on the shoulder of your sleeve...pouch pockets, secret pockets, super cute pockets!

Pockets allow you to tuck cables in, and possibly do without the bulky clips that come to attach the Neptune to clothes. Pockets allow you to personalize the way you are holding the CI, too. You could use a favorite pattern or even make pockets that look like super hero badges!

If you sew even a little bit I think you will be so inspired by this set of pocket tutorials that you will WANT to sew pockets onto everything, just to try some of the techniques out!

The blog (ikatbag.com) has so many great tutorials and lots of fun ideas. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been.

Quick fix for off-the-rack button-up shirts

My little guy is not yet two, so we usually use his Neptune processors. They are sturdy and the processor itself is waterproof. The accessories sent with the Neptune are great for the tub or pool, but they aren't very fashion forward for day-to-day wear. Seeing a kid at Early Start in a neoprene harness makes me want to go home and sew him a cute shirt.

But you don't have to make a shirt from scratch. If you have a sewing machine this fix can take about 5 minutes. If you don't have a sewing machine a dry cleaners that does alterations could alter a bunch of shirts for just a few dollars, or you could sew by hand (though sewing on elastic and making buttonholes by hand aren't the top of my fun list ;). I have bought new shirts that have two pockets, but I have also found almost new shirts at goodwill for $1.99.

I like the button up shirts because then I can easily remove the shirts for nap time, and the processors are in a spot where they aren't uncomfortable in the car seat.  My little guy wears a t-shirt or short sleeve onesie under the button up shirt most times, or a long sleeve t- or turtleneck on cold days. We live in a pretty mild area, but I imagine if it were really hot we could just go without the undershirt. You also don't need the big plastic clip, or the small wire clips with this, and if the headpiece (coil) comes off the head, it just dangles from the collar, it won't fall completely off. This works best on a toddler with the 12" cable.

This is a very discreet way to wear the Neptune, too. You can hardly see it!

What you need: a collared shirt with two front pockets, some narrow elastic, and thread that coordinates to the shirt.

First you attach elastic under the left and right points of the collar to hold the cable. I used the buttonhole stitch on my machine (a zigzag stitch that is at a 0 length for sewing the top and bottom of button holes) to attach the elastic to the top and bottom of the collar band, underneath the collar. Then trim down the elastic after you have sewn on both top and bottom.

Then you add a buttonhole to the left and right sides of the collar. Some sewing machines have automatic buttonhole functions, so you would just need to use a button the same diameter as the plug on the end of the cable. I just marked the start and end of my buttonholes and made them with closely spaced narrow zigzag stitches. The holes aren't going to have a lot of strain on them, so even hand sewing would probably work.

You are done!

Pilot Caps

Two brands have come up many times for parents who need a cap to keep their little one's BTE's on: Hanna Andersen pilot caps, and Silka caps, which were specifically designed to be acoustically transparent.  We used pilot caps when Peter was a baby, and had hearing aids; they were a lifesaver!  The caps keep the baby from pulling things off, which babies just like to do. Peter never pulled his hearing aids out because they were hurting him, but because those silicone ear molds were perfect teethers in his mind. Most expensive teethers ever, not to mention a choking hazard. I have not used the caps since Peter got his CI's, but he doesn't try to eat those (usually...once in a while in the car I have to snatch the coil (headpiece) out of his mouth).

The caps are quite cute, and Silkawear also makes cute headbands as well.

Have you used the caps or the headbands?

Comparison chart for several BTE solutions

As I was looking for one product's website I found this really handy chart on a website titled Success for kids with Hearing Loss. The website has lots of technical information and graphs and studies and resources, but if you are already overwhelmed with the mountain of information you have about hearing loss, just go straight to the chart linked to below. The products in the chart are for hearing aids or Behind-the-Ear (BTE) processors, and the chart may overlap with some of my information but it is really useful information, and there are pictures. The comparison about ease, safety, durability, etc. is nice, too.

Hearing Aid Retention Accessories chart

Hearing Henry Headbands (and hats)

The Hearing Henry Headbands were recommended by one of our speech therapists for keeping BTE processors on. They are sporty or sweet, so good for boys and girls, and were developed by a mom who needed a way to keep CIs on her baby. I like that she also gives half of her earning back to groups who help kids get access to hearing technology. There are baby, kid, and adult sizes, too.

Hearing Henry

Listen-up Website

The Listen-up yahoo group is an incredible resource for parents of children with hearing loss. Support, ideas, and loads of information are available, and if you are the parent of a child with hearing loss it is a great group to join!

 There is also a website, www.listen-up.org, but the creator has retired and is no longer updating the information. I found some great ideas on her page "CI Holders, Pouches, Harenesses, Fanny Packs, Shirts..."

I want to give her page credit, and also find or create pictures of the ideas mentioned, since I like pictures.  Most of the links to ready-made products on her site are out of date, but I will create an entry for any products that are still being sold.

The SPI Belt

Who wouldn't want a SPI gadget? We haven't used these belts ourselves, but I have read lots of positive recommendations about using them for body worn CI processors.

The belts are sleek, and come in colors and patterns, as well as basic black. The belt can hold the processors in the back, side or front. For a toddler with a Neptune you would need at least the 18" cables,  and longer cables for taller people :)

The pouches on the belts have reinforced holes for cables to pass through, so they don't have to be modified to hold processors. SPIBelts are sized for kids, with a waist size from 18"- 26" (and there are adult sizes, too), and they are proudly made in Austin, Texas.

If you have used these, do you have any recommendations or advice?

SPI Belts for kids

Fit-Belt

This is a product that was mentioned on the Listen-up website.

Fit Pouch

This was written up as a product that would securely hold a rambunctious 4-year-old's processor securely at his waist, though this could work for anyone older that that as well. This is a neoprene waist pack designed to hold an iPod for fitness instructors, so it should keep things secure through a lot of movement (and sweat) Have you used this to hold body-worn processors?

The FitPouch is similar in concept to another product that has gotten lots of rave reviews from parents of CI kids, and that I will post about next, the SPI Belt.

Why?

Why am I writing another blog? I don't have time to take a shower every day, so what makes me think I can fit this in? I don't know, but I feel like I should do it anyway.

When I first started researching CI's for my little guy I found various sources of ideas for keeping Cochlear Implants on a toddler, but there wasn't a good central listing of ideas and links. I found a couple lists of links to products, but most of the links no longer worked and it was frustrating.

I am hoping to gather information of current products, wearing ideas, crafts and sewing patterns to help make wearing CI's easier, cuter, and more fashionable, especially for toddlers.

My plan is to create an entry for each idea or product so it would be easily searchable, and if anyone chooses to leave comments about the pros & cons it would make the blog an even better resource for others.

I think every kid with a CI deserves to look adorable, and my hope is that this helps parents find some ideas that work for them!

This blog is meant as a resource. I don't have any agreement with any companies, and will not get anything from anyone I link to. If there is a product you make, or use, for CI's I would be happy to include it if you leave me a comment about it.