(Possible) Mild hearing loss to high pitches - 11 month old. So upset.

[VV86]

We had an audiology appointment yesterday with my youngest 11m old. The results came back with a "mild hearing loss (not ear specific) in the highest pitch tested with normal middle ar function".

I'm so shocked that I think its only just sinking in a day later. I didn't ask any of the questions I have at the time and the ones I did ask I feel it was such a blur that I cant remember specifically what she was even saying. I've walked away feeling so dazed and upset that I don't know where to start or who to go to for advice.

She did say that she responded to some of the higher pitched but they couldn't get a repeat response so we would have to go back in 2-3 months time which is why she said possible - although this isn't what is written on the report.

This all came about at out 9-12 month check when the HV said DD should be babbling repetitive sounds which she isn't, she doesn't even really make actual sounds but just shouts and squeals with a few ahhhhhhhh's and mmmm's inbetween.

I know I shouldn't be but I'm so upset that I didn't pick up her speech delay myself, she's so active and already walking so I assumed she would get to the talking when she had mastered the walking she was so determined to do.

We were told it wasn't severe enough to warrant a hearing aid, but what does this mean for her speech? Will she be able to talk? How long does this delay them by? How will this impact her?

I have so many questions and I feel I have been left with no one to talk to and feel like in on the verge of crying all the time.

Any advice, experience or anything would be greatly appreciated

Thank you for reading this far.

Victoria

[GrassW1dow]

I'm sorry I can't give you concrete advice but I just wanted to say that my DS (17 mo) doesn't say anything remotely intelligible yet. And at 11 mo certainly wasn't doing what your HV said your DD should be doing at that age....I've not taken DS to HV for over a year now. So it might just be a case - in your case - of something being picked up that isn't actually anything significant?? I am sure (well hopeful anyway) that they would have given you a lot more information than you got if it was something that might have a noticeable impact on her....
I know its not the same because I was older (and so already had speech) but I have since my late teens shown hearing loss at the high pitch frequency (I had tests because I developed tinnitus) but I still seem to have perfectly good every day hearing.

[Muddlingalongalone]

I know it's a shock & it's hard but try to think positively. It's a million times better that it's picked up now than in a year or 2's time or even later in reception.
It's also positive that they think it's mild enough to not need hearing aids - getting the readings when our babies are so tiny is so difficult - getting them to stay still/asleep/focused for long enough etc, hence the repeat testing.
Once you have got over the initial shock have a look at ndcs website - they have a wealth of information.
Also there's an excellent chart somewhere that shows the letter sounds and the frequency/decibel level they are heard at.

My dd is 19 months now but failed the newborn hearing test and has bilateral mild/moderate hearing loss naturally which has deteriorated further with some glue ear over the winter. She had hearing aids but barely wore them until 12/13 months.
Her speech is starting to develop now but at the moment is quite unclear - quack sounds like cack for example.
I am talking to her teacher of the deaf & we will be referred for salt early when she is around 2.

Don't blame yourself for not noticing. It's mild, that means she responds to sounds etc. I'm convinced if she hadn't failed the test I wouldn't have noticed and despite the initial shock am so thankful she did!

Feel free to PM me. I am by no means an expert but have been in your shoes.

[Witchend]

My dd2 wasn't really babbling at 10 months. By 15 months she was fully in sentences, so it's not necessarily a delay.

Ds has glue ear. It's very common for parents not to notice. We picked it up with him because he had constant ear infections. I wouldn't have picked up the hearing loss without that. In fact ENT pointed out to me (aged 3yo) that he was lip reading at one point.

[therealDH]

As an audiologist may i say - don't fret, your child hasn't responded. This doesn't necessarily mean they haven't heard it or that they have any hearing loss.

Stay cool, go and get the retest done in a few weeks.

if anything the fact they have normal middle ear function is a positive thing as up to 40% of kids have these problems at some point.

If you have any questions pm me. (assuming you can pm on here - only literally just signed up)

DH

[therealDH]

PS as a young child, i had ear problems, I used to wear one of those big brick sized hearing aids. - my hearing now - perfect!

[NotCitrus]

Lots of children just ignore some sounds, but if it's only one or two pitches that in itself shouldn't be a problem for decoding speech. Confirming that she's hearing most sounds is great news. Some babies just make more noise than others and at 11m some will be putting their efforts into crawling and walking and leave communication until a bit later.

In the meantime, baby signing amd singing could help get her interested in making sounds and getting reactions. Should it come to it, hearing aids are much less hassle than glasses, for starters they are free on the NHS no matter what colours you have!

[Amiable]

OP - I feel for you. it is a terrible shock, but do remember it is just "possible" for a reason - the retests in a couple of months will give you a much better idea of what the issue is - if any. The tests are not conclusive at this age for any number of reasons - your DD may have a cold/infection/lot of mucus which can affect the tests, and even if it is none of those things, they will usually not make a final diagnosis based on the readings from just one test. I know it is hard, but (if you are like me!) you can use the next couple of months to read up on possible outcomes so you are ready for all eventualities? don't forget you have no definitive diagnosis yet so don't tear yourself up about it.

I say this having been through it with both possible outcomes - DD (now 10) has been wearing a hearing aid for around 4/5 years now, so when DS was 1 - 2 years old (now 5) they did masses of tests. At first we thought he would also need hearing aid(s) but in fact it took several rounds of testing before they gave him the all clear.

As for feeling guilty you didn't pick up on it, please don't beat yourself up. In our case, when DD first went to school she complained that she found it difficult to hear sometimes, but when we "tested" her at home - talking to her when standing behind her etc, she always responded, so we thought she was just not listening properly. Then she failed the hearing tests at the end of Reception and was officially diagnosed a few months later with unilateral moderate to severe hearing loss in her left ear. I felt like the worst mum in the world

I agree with Muddling - NDCS (National Deaf Children's Society) is a great source of info and support. And, having got over the initial shock we now just take DD's hearing impairment in our stride - it's just part of who she is.

[VV86]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. This was exactly what I needed at a time when I really needed some support. I'm feeling much better and much more positive today. I'll do my research on possible outcomes but try to focus more on the positives of the results. Thanks for the additional info also, I really do feel like I'm winging parenting most the time.

Thanks again.