Personalised book about a hearing test for child

What happens in your child and the Hearing Test

1. Your child arrives at the appointment with a chosen comfort item.
2. A friendly tester shows your child the quiet room and the headphones.
3. Your child practises listening for a soft beep and giving a simple signal.
4. The sounds arrive slowly: some easy to hear, some very quiet.
5. Your child finishes the listening game and heads home feeling proud of trying.

How the first page could read

Today, your child is going somewhere quiet. In a small bag is a favourite comfort item, and beside your child is a grown-up who knows the way. At the appointment, there will be headphones, a cosy chair and a special listening game. Your child takes a slow breath and walks in.

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

A hearing test can involve unfamiliar equipment, quiet instructions and waiting for sounds that may be very soft. This story keeps the focus on the practical sequence a child may notice: arriving, seeing the room, wearing headphones, listening and responding in their own simple way. The calm pace gives parents space to talk through what their child might see without making promises about the appointment. Made from a photo of your child, the 32-page book places them at the centre of each illustrated spread. It is especially suited to children aged four to eight, with language that makes room for questions, pauses and a familiar comfort item.

Reading it together

• Read it a few days before the appointment, then let your child point out the parts they would like to ask about.
• Pause at the headphone page and practise putting on ordinary headphones or holding hands over ears if that feels comfortable.
• Bring the book or a familiar comfort item along as a quiet waiting-room activity.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Soft watercolour keeps the appointment setting gentle, clear and reassuring without making it feel busy. A sidekick idea: a small mouse who listens with oversized headphones. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.