to ask if anyone has experience of a child not responding to sound

[LittleSausageFingers]

I'm posting here for traffic, hope that's ok. DD (9 mo) doesn't respond to noise, be it voices, doorbell, dropping cutlery on a tiled floor, etc etc etc. Newborn hearing test was fine. I took her for an audiology assessment (visual reinforcement audiometry) today but they couldn't do the test because she didn't respond to any of the test sounds. They tried a couple of other things, including shouting behind her ears(!) and no response. Tried to repeat the test they do to newborns but she wouldn't tolerate something in her ear.

We're going back for an auditory brainstem response test next month, we're hoping she'll sleep through it (otherwise she'll have to be sedated for it at a later date).

Otherwise a happy, gorgeous little thing. She's really communicative non-verbally, copies gestures etc, but she doesn't babble (no mama, dada, baba). She gurgles, blows raspberries and laughs/cackles.

If anyone has any experience of this sort of thing, advice etc, I would really appreciate hearing about it. Thanks!

[lostinthedarkplayground]

Post on the sn board? Better than AIBU for these sorts of things, probably.

[EveOnline2016]

Ds didn't and later found out it was a symptom of autism.

[clare2307]

Yes! My youngest (now 14 months) was/is exactly as described... She has other developmental issues but with regards to the hearing our audiology consultant is fairly certain it's glue ear, although can't be 100% due to being unable to see fully in her ear thanks to narrow ear canals but her eardrum readings were completely flat at all 3 appts over about the last 4/5 months. She has now been referred to ENT for grommets and while under GA they will do the brainstream test.

He told us that as she passed the hearing screening at birth, while not impossible, it's highly unlikely (unless genetic) that she has any actual hearing loss other than the loss caused by the glue hear.

We have started some baby signing with her to help her communicate. Just very basic ones to being with, like eating, drinking & sleep

[HeyRoly]

What a worry for you.

What have they said about passing the newborn hearing test? Is it possible for a baby with a hearing impairment to be missed as a newborn, and get a false "pass" as it were?

[HRarehoundingme]

Could it be glue ear? We found out dc2 was moderately deaf at 9 months due to glue ear. We had thought maybe the house was just too noisy but tests led us to glue ear.

[BadKnee]

Yes DS had this - it was glue ear. Had grommets. OK now.

I am sorry though - it could be a number of things and all you can do is wait at the moment. Good luck OP

[HRarehoundingme]

With dc2 it treated itself we had to go to 3 month check ups bit luckily his hearing was getting better by the 3rd so no invasive surgery/grommets etc

[LittleSausageFingers]

Thanks very much for the replies. My DBro and I had glue ear as children, both had gromits. Apparently it doesn't run in families (that's what the audiologist said anyway) but I know it's very common.

It's extremely rare but possible to get a false pass on the newborn screening test, but something could happen since birth to affect the hearing.

I would bet my house that DD won't let someone stick electrodes on her head and put earphones on her when she's having a snooze, so i think she'll end up having to be sedated for the next test. We'll be waiting a while for the answer i think.

Appreciate the replies

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Yes DS - exactly same - was glue ear - grommets sorted it out. Try not worry too much at this stage.

[Sulis87]

A friend's daughter had this. Also glue ear, caused by a dairy allergy.

[TheSoapyFrog]

My two year old son doesn't respond to sound and it is because he is autistic. He's had all the hearing tests and he's fine. The only way I can get his attention is by singing the wheels on the bus.