Poor hearing, waititng for grommets, what can I do in the meantime?

[Goodwordguide]

DS's (5) glue ear has returned and his hearing loss is moderate to poor - he's on the waiting list for grommets op (he's had them before when he was 3) but, given there's an 18-week wait, is there anything I can do in the meantime? He doesn't get many ear infections but I'm concerned it's affecting his social skills esp at school - he's doing well academically but is very very quiet. I am considering:

-cranial osteopath
-removing milk

Is there anythng else? are these worth trying? I'm reluctant to remove milk as he's a very poor eater anyway. Is it worth taking him back to the GPs? Also, does anyone know if he should stop swimming?

We first took him back to the doctors this time last year so I feel he's already had a year of poor hearing and now there's another four month wait so want to get things moving while we wait for the grommets. Thanks for any help, I have read some of the glue ear threads but I wondering what else has worked for people.

[Summerdaydreams]

Watching with interest. We have only just been given our date for ENT at end of June - so grommets will be even further off.

[redandyellowbits]

Watching too, I'm waiting for DDs ENT appt due in around 6 weeks time. Her hearing is poor but doing ok academically.

School seems to think there is not much we can do to help her just wait till the grommet appt comes through.

[girliefriend]

Hello well have been where you are now with my dd who has had two sets of grommets and recurrent glue ear, she is now 8yo so I am an ENT veteran as it were

Would the ENT people refer your son for an hearing aid? This is something I wish I had requested much sooner for my dd, she has one now as unfortunately they think her hearing loss os likely to be permanent

Also if you haven't already the deaf association do some really good hand outs on glue ear for teachers, they generally have some good advice such as lip reading and ensuring face to face communication where possible.

I did stop my dds swimming lessons in the end as she was getting recurrent infections, these have got better now so she has restarted them but always wears esp fitted ear plugs (had them moulded and fitted in the same dept that her hearing aid was made) and a tight headband.

Hope that helps

[incywincyspideragain]

School can help by seating position, checking understanding, not assuming child is ingoring or has understood - 5 is still big phonics learning in School - he might need you to do extra at home where its quiet
They can also help with the social skills - make them aware of his hearing difficulties - do you know what his current hearing level is? just a drop to 20db is the equivilent of having your fingers in your ears.

NCDS has lots of good info www.ndcs.org.uk/family_support/glue_ear/

Swimming with glue ear is fine if you don't get infections. After grommets you avoid it for 2 weeks and then we've used putty buddies and head band.

My boys are dairy, wheat free and soya (reduced ds2s adenoids to not need them out) - all 3s appetites have improved once these foods have been removed - just make sure enough carbs and calcium rich foods are added in

Other ideas are cranial osteopathy, otovent nasal ballon, both worth a try whilst you wait.

[Goodwordguide]

Thank you, that's very helpful, I will speak with his teacher and look at his diet - he refuses fruit and veg (always has done) so cutting wheat and dairy will be tricky but I will try with cow's milk I think. Just can't think what he will have on his cereal - almond milk? Or does lactose-free milk count as non-dairy?

He seems increasingly quiet and daydreamy over the past year plus he now speaks in a 'baby' voice most of the time that drives us bananas but I'm sure it's linked to his hearing. Presumably the grommets will provide an immediate solution, I just want to check there's no more we could be doing, if only to prevent it reoccurring, thanks for all your help.

[incywincyspideragain]

lactose free doesn't count as dairy free but almond or coconut are good subsitutes for cows milk, avoid soya.

not sure what else you can try - most do grow out of glue ear by 7 yrs, we've gone for grommets (several sets) x

[CheckpointCharlie]

What incywincy said! make sure he can hear his teacher at school! he might need to be moved to the front. Talk to TAs and all school staff to let them know in case they call him and it looks like he is ignoring them.

Mention the worries you have re confidence, they may be able to run a social skills group or just buddy him up with some other children so he isn't left out of anything.

[incywincyspideragain]

good point Charlie - my ds has done SULP (social use of language) programme with SN TA at school and Forest School to help with his social skills - I'd really encourage to speak to your SENCO at School, if this was his eye sight they'd be demanding he had glasses

[member]

Have you tried an Otovent?

[Goodwordguide]

He also has very poor sight so is already getting used to jamjar glasses, poor thing!

I've never heard of an Otovent before, will definitely look into it - why don't doctors recommend it?