Can my baby hear? Advice please.

[Hogiabach]

DS2 is 4 months - when he was born he had one rather deformed "cabbage ear" - took ages to look 'normal'. DH and I both worried as we felt that he couldn't hear, partly because he would sleep all through the day and screamed all night as if he was trying to let us know he was there and couldn't hear anything. Our house is very noisy but DS2 never woke up. Had hearing test at 11 days old good response in 1 ear, no response in the other. Health visitor looked slightly alarmed when she tried to put the probe in. She came back two weeks later with a smaller probe and this time had a good response (whatever that means). Anatomically he has a very small opening to the ear canal.

Anyway DH and I are still not convinced that he can hear - how definitive are hearing test for newborn? How can we test whether he can hear? Anybody got any advice/experience?

We're constantly trying to use different sounds next to the affected ear but he doesn't respond. He responds well when he looks at me talking to him but not sure he actually hears

All advice welcome.

[Shitemum]

I would ask for him to be re-tested. The results sound rather vague, although a good result in one ear is promising.
At 4 months it can be difficult to know what stimulus a baby is responding to, I mean he may not respond just because the sound doesnt interest him or because something visual interests him more at that moment. Try him with an electronic toy, hold it behind him or to one side where he can't see it. Or one of you hold him facing your body and the other one creep into the room and stand behind him and go 'sshhhh', see if he tries to turn round to see where the noise is coming from.
Good luck.

[Shitemum]

bumping for you - but you might get a better response if you start a new thread with a different title - maybe 'Is my baby deaf?' some people might think you are asking if an as yet unborn baby can hear iyswim

There are a couple of hearing experts on MN so keep bumping!

[Hogiabach]

Thanks Shitemum - love the name!

[Hogiabach]

Bumping - still need some more advice....

[smartiejake]

Not a great expert on baby deafness but no question. Ask for another hearing test even if it's just to put your mind at rest.

If a test does show up a problem with hearing, the earlier it is picked up, the better for language development.

Having said that lots of little ones at this age could sleep through an atomic bomb! And babies of this age are always very resposive to visual stimuli.

See if you can bump for Audiologist mummy- she might know more about the neonatal screening than I do ( the kids I work with are older)

[Hogiabach]

Ok, thanks smartiejake. He is very responsive to visual stimuli that's for sure. He seems to be much more into touch and seems more vocal and than DS1 ever was at that age.

[2point4kids]

does he jump if you shut a door hard near him (but out of his sight?)
How about if you talk to him but slightly to one side of him.. will he turn towards your voice at all?

I am having the opposite problem at the moment. My DS responds very well to noises but not visually so am worrying about his sight.

Def get another hearing test done. MY ds got referred to hospital for further tests straight away when I took him to GP about his sight...

Good luck!

[Hogiabach]

Has jumped when door shuts etc. but I think it's the vibrations rather than noise per se iykwim.