Katherine Roth.

(AP Illustration / Peter Hamlin)

Moving to a new home or school can stress kids out. How to make it more manageable

Summer can be a time of big transition for kids. It might be the season for moving homes or preparing for a new school. That brings stress. Parents and families can help make things feel more manageable. With the right support, children can even look forward to some of the changes and gain confidence. Experts’ advice includes listening to kids’ feelings and giving them details about the place they’re moving to. Keep some routines — like bedtime and mealtime — the same as they were. And give kids a sense of control by involving them in packing their own stuff and decorating their new room. If their worries persist, consider getting counseling.

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From frustration to joy: What I learned about getting a hearing aid

It might start when you realize you can’t hear the doorbell, or certain ringtones. Conversation sounds garbled. For Katherine Roth, those signs sent her to a doctor where she discovered she needed a hearing aid. She worried about how to find one, and whether it would be clunky and too expensive. Everyone’s experience is different. But Roth found that hearing aids now can be tiny, easy to use, nearly invisible or even a glitzy accessory. They can also be affordable. Experts say hearing is crucial to cognitive health. You might find an audiologist through your doctor or with the American Academy of Audiologists.

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