Hearing loss

[Anonymous]

We just got back from the ent and audiologist and the audiologist says that Aidan has mild hearing loss from the standing fluid in his ears from the ear infections. THIS IS SO UNFAIR. It’s not temporary because he does not have any fluid in his ears now, and he still could not hear past a certain level. We got done with the hearing test after the ENT had closed so I jst slipped the report under their door (per the doc’s instructions) and hope to hear back from him on WED (he only goes to that office on mon/wed) The audiologist said that they will either recomend tubes or surgery. I know it’s just “mild” but my child should have NO hearing loss. He should be able to hear perfectly, and he can’t and it’s not fair. and now I don’t know what to do to make sure that it doesn’t get worse.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t take her report at face value. They did the bone conduction test (bypassing the fluid) on Carter and he still scored as if he had hearing loss and he also had no fluid (according to them) at the time of the test. We requested the brain-stem (I don’t know if there is a different name for it) test that they did while Carter was under anesthesia to find out how bad the loss was after the tubes and he passed with flying colors.

It is very difficult to do a test on a child that is almost a year old. Unless they are sleeping or completely silent and not moving, there is definitely some margin of error for the test.

I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I think I would definitely ask for the tubes and ask them for the test while he is under. It is the most accurate way to test his hearing and know for sure. Hopefully your outcome will be as positive as ours but I do remember when we were feeling the same way.

[Anonymous]

Jill, I don’t know much about hearing tests or hearing loss in children, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that the test isn’t completely accurate. Myles failed his newborn hearing screening 3 times and I was in a panic, but he passed the fourth time. If it’s the same test they give newborns, where they have to be still and quiet, I could see where there might be a large margin of error. Hopefully they will suggest further testing like the brain stem test Anne Marie mentioned.

Keep us posted. Hugs and best wishes.

[Anonymous]

ahhh ok ty ty ty you guys just made me feel so much better. I think tubes are in order, loss or no loss, but I was almost going to ? the test because he was tired, hungry, is cutting a tooth, and was pissed off that he had been at the dr’s office (well 2 of them) from 2:20-4:30. Not sure how accurate a test on a kid like that is!! The guy did this test where he had me hold Aidan on my lap and told me not to say anything to him, then he went out and behind the window (the room had a huge pane of glass in the front. He then talked to Aidan at different levels or octives (through a speaker) (whatever-lol) and turned things on that were in various parts of the room (a bunny clapping symbols, a bird, etc) I guess to see if he turned his head. Then he had a static sound come from various parts of the room and, (and I’ll give him this) Aidan didn’t turn his head or react at all when it was played relatively loudly behind his left side…VERY weird test thing, I will deff. ask them to do the brain stem test if he gets tubes…which he will because I will become a VERY VERY annoying presence at their office if they decide not to.

Thank you guys so much, knowing that others had this happen and there may be some margin for error really does make me feel better.Even though I DO like his ped. I really want to bitch-slap her for not listening to me when I asked about getting his hearing tested after the fluid stayed so long after the first infection!!!

[Anonymous]

No advice… just wanted to pass along a hug…

[Anonymous]

Jill, I also would try not to worry too much, especially until you see the ENT. Also, was it the ENT that said that he didn’t have any fluid left in his ears, or the ped? I know of several people who have had their peds say that the ears are clear, but then the ENT can see that there’s deeper residual fluid.

Hailey also failed her newborn hearing test multiple times, but passed the kind where they look for the conduction signal from the brain (not sure if that’s the brainstem test or not). We’re taking her to the audiologist at the end of the month for her hearing test.

My friend’s daughter had SEVERE hearing loss as rated on the kind of testing you described from multiple ear infections. The ped told her that her daughter didn’t have any fluid left in the ear, but when she went to the audiologist, he did see a bit of residual fluid. Either way, she had the tubes placed, and when they retested her hearing after using the same type of test, she showed NO hearing loss. So know that even if there is a bit of hearing loss, that doesn’t mean it’s permanent.

HUGS!

[Anonymous]

The ped referred us to an ent, who said his ears looked good, no fluid, but he sent us across the street to the audiologist anyway and that’s where they did the (very weird) hearing test!

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to pass on some hugs.

[Anonymous]

ookk, so I took him to his Ped just to talk about the loss, and they said that he still had fluid in his ears, and put him on omnicef as a preventitave til he can get tubes-interesting because we haven’t even talked to the ent about tubes yet, hopefully that means his ped will push for the tubes if the ENT starts being obnoxious about it. Anyway, it’s the annoying medicine that you can’t give within 2 hours before or after an antacid.. But hopefully it will keep any more infections at bay and he won’t get any MORE fluid buildup

[Anonymous]

Well, that’s probably good news…that he’s got fluid in his ears because that may account for the hearing loss which hopefully will be taken care of with tubes.

Oh, the Omnicef won’t be fun…timing it around the prevacid all day long, but like you said it will be worth it if prevents another infection.

Good luck. I hope he can get tubes placed soon. Keep us posted.

[Author]

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