Product review: Bright Ears Dolls

Available from Bright Ears
Ages: 0 to 10

Heidi (9) has unilateral hearing loss and uses a Roger Focus hearing aid at school.

Heidi

Mum Ceri says: “Over the years, Heidi’s become more aware of her hearing loss and what it means for her in terms of socialising, education and her day-to-day activities. At school, she uses the Roger Focus hearing aid which helps her to hear her teachers and classmates more easily. This has made a difference to her learning and interaction with her friends, but she still felt different.

Heidi was researching books and other things that could help her understand about being deaf. She saw an American girl on YouTube get a doll with a hearing aid and asked for one for her birthday. I researched where we could buy a doll like this in the UK and found Bright Ears.”

Heidi says: “I wanted a doll with a hearing aid like me. My doll is called Heidi, because she is me! I now have two dolls. I named the other doll Summer. They help me if I feel lonely or left out and need a friend to talk to. They might not be real but saying my feelings to them can really help. Everyone is different and I like how the dolls celebrate this. Before I got my dolls, I hated wearing my hearing aid because people ask about it. Now I really don’t mind as I know it helps me and it’s OK to look different.

“The dolls are really fun to play with. I love dressing them up and playing ‘families’. I would definitely recommend the dolls to other deaf children. I know I will keep them forever. They are very special to me and remind me of the struggles I’ve had. I want to raise awareness that deaf people – and anyone with disabilities – can do anything. Please don’t judge people based on their disability.”