hearing in 4 month old

[blondiep14]

DS2 had his hearing test as a newborn and passed with no question marks.
DP announces yesterday in front of Mother, SIL and PILs he thinks DS2 can't hear very well. Mother then pipes up she thinks he's deaf in his right ear.
SIL jumps in with 'the rattle test' which she shook behind DS's head. He did seem to respnd more quickly when it was behind his left ear than his right.
He has been quite snotty for a few weeks (but not bothered by it) so I wonder if it is this. Mum mentioned glue ear?
Should I call HV and get her to have a look/refer him?
I don't want to panic about it but also don't want to leave unchecked a potential problem.
Is it likely he's gone deaf in one ear?

[castleonthehill]

Sounds like there was a lot going on in the room. He might have found something interesting to look at. I would not worry to much. They use to do the distraction test at 9mths to a year and it was never very reliable in the summer babies passed in the winter babies had to keep coming back. I would keep an eye on it and see what he responds to when its just you and him and it quiet. It you are still worried take him to the drs or see the hv Passing a test at birth just means he wasn't born deaf. So if you are still worried don't be fobbed off because he passed at birth. If he does have some hearing loss the sooner you know the more you can do to help.

[FabIsGoingToGetFit]

Take him to be checked.

My baby also passed the newborn hearing test at a few weeks old but I knew he wasn't hearing anything.

[blondiep14]

I will get him checked then. I know he does hear, but I think possibly he hears less in one ear than the other.

[Stripycat23]

Castle has a good point, that's a lot of family and noise for a 4 month old to concentrate on!

If you're worried speak to your health visitor. They can send you to get his hearing checked or the dr can check for an infection.

He's very little to hard to say but getting him checked by someone who knows what they're doing will put your mind at rest.

[blondiep14]

Thanks everyone.
I've spoken to HV and she's going to get him another hearing test.
I think it's more likely (if anything) to do with him being bunged up (has been for weeks) am half tempted to take him to the docs to check he's not got gunk in his ear but then think I'm over-reacting!

[hatchypom]

It sounds like glue ear may be the problem.

I would however point out that you can pass the newborn screening and still be born deaf. Deafness happens in degrees and also the newborn test doesn't cover all types of deafness, my daughter wasn't picked up at screening, despite being deaf from birth.

[blondiep14]

Just chased HV and been to docs. Doctor assured us no infection or too much wax or sign of anything abnormal. Said DS passing screening test was good sign and basically not to worry.
I am still a little worried!
As i said i am chasing a 2nd test but I worry now, if he can hear and doesn't respond what does this mean??
He definitely hears dog barking, bangs and follows my voice, when you have his attention he's as bright as a button and coos and smiles but you can't always get his attention...

[hatchypom]

Sorry to be the harbinger of doom, but the newborn screening misses 1 in 10 deaf children (I know my DD was the 1 in 10). If you are really worried and the results of behavoural testing (ie reacting to normal sounds) are inconsistent then ask for an ABR test (will be done when your 4 mth old is asleep). Don't be fobbed off.

[blondiep14]

OK hatchypom, thanks.
I'm not sure how worried I should be really.
Perhaps I will ask HV to pop round and she can tell me whether his reactions etc are normal or need further investigating?

[hatchypom]

i would add 4 months is really little, they go through all sorts of phases and strange behaviours when they are small. Really really unlikely that its any significant. 1 / 1000 children have hearing problems ....