Hearing aids v 2nd set of grommets

[hennipenni]

Can anybody list the pros and cons of both of these treatments for glue ear.

Already have had experience of grommets but are now looking at aids and need more info to help with the decision (sp)TIA

[pointydog]

I can't help you as the hospital near us just opts for one set of grommets after the other. Dd2 had four or five lots, I can't even remember.

Have you been given the choice?

[hennipenni]

Seeing the consultant tomorrow, the auiologist said that we'd be given three choices, 1. Wait and see....not prepared to do as having a detrimental affect on her education and most certainly on her behaviour, 2. Another set of grommets...lst ones did work untill they fell out-just not sure about GA as she suffers from asthma and 3. Hearing aids.

[hennipenni]

Were offered a choice of all three last time too.

[pointydog]

That's interesting. We got a bit worried because repeated grommets can possibly affect the drum (and hearing permaenently) due to build up of scar tissue. We found this out, doctors never mentioned it.

dd2 also asthmatic.

If I'd had your choices, would have liked to use hearing aid due to rubbishness of grommets in our case.

[hennipenni]

Thanks pointydog, I think that we are leaning towards aids but need to ask a few more questions tomorrow.

The hospital that she attends is a very large teaching hospital so I wonder if thats why they can offer so many choices?

[pointydog]

no, mine is a very large teaching hospital too. Just large variation in treatments according to local authority areas I think.

Good luck with it

[hennipenni]

Could also just be down to consultants preferences too, thankyou.

[custy]

howe old is your kid?

my dd had hearing aids for a couple of yers in junior school - where she was somewhat revered for having purple aids

however in senior school - she just wouldnt wear them


i would also say that the audiology dept comes with much more than just 'aids' it comes withs trategies to cope with deafness, with a senco at school to talk to teachers and time given to your kid in tests, teachers need to learn that they cant wander round the class and give isntructions
they cant face away and talk and write on the white board.

your childs position in class is important and the increased support you might gain from getting aids is not to be sneered at but i think could somewhat depend on where int he country you are as to how effective the audiology dept are.

the phychological effect of having aids - re confidence etc on the child must aslo be taken into consideration

and you may want to consider that she wear the aids in class - but not in the playground - or come to some such comprimise??

lots to consider

[hennipenni]

Custy she is 6, we have a very good teacher and senco who are fully aware of her needs in school.

She wouldn't be the only child with aids, there's at least one other in her class and one other in the juniors too, however she isn't the most confident child but maybe that's down to her hearing although she will ask for help if she doesn't hear properly.

I'm just concerned that she won't tolerate the aids for some reason.

[custy]

i think it muchly depends on her friends and her and the school aura - IYKWIM.

my dd got to choose colour or aids and colour and texural look of moulds and she could also have stickers to put on them - like football logos and stuff.

all v. attractive for a 6 yo - the doctors even said they had some kids pretending to be deaf becuase tey wanted groovy aids.

??

glad your getting the support anyway - thats a major help i hink

[KathG]

We went for a second set of grommets, were offered aids, but she was only 3 and would never have kept them on...

She is a completely different child when she can't hear, very low concentration levels!

[hennipenni]

Kath, I can fully understand your decision, that's why we went for grommets last time.

Thanks custy, your posts have been a great help.