Newborn audiology hearing test

[Nic91]

Hello,

Been to audiology appointment today with my 3 week old after 2 failed hospital newborn hearing screenings at few hours old and 5 days old.

They got no response from tests and said they will retest to make sure but are diagnosing hearing loss. I have been crying and anxious since the 1st failed screening.

Can anyone give me advice on what next? Audiology are repeating test but said about looking at fitting hearing aids as next step. She startles to loud noises.

I know of others who have 'failed' many tests even at audiology.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Trying to make sense of it all!

Worried mum.

Oh giving you a hug. I can understand why you are so worried. When are they going to re test? If she startles to loud noises she must be able to hear something. Have you explained that to them?

There's not really too much to be worried about. Contact NDCS as they can support newly diagnosed families. Technology is fantastic nowadays.

Having a deaf child is a wonderful thing, they'll have a wonderful life if you can be supportive and positive about their hearing loss and advocate for them.

Start looking into sign language right away and start learning together as a family. This will give them an amazing language that they can use forever. Research has proven that language deprivation is what causes deaf children to slip far behind hearing peers. But giving them the gift of sign will close the gap and give them a voice!

Try to stay positive. There are plenty of very happy, very successful people about who happen to have hearing loss.

My son failed all his hearing tests because his ears were full of muconeoum (I've no idea of the spelling). He would startle to loud noises. Once it finally cleared his hearing was fine.

However as sausage said, your child will still be fabulous. It is difficult when you realise your child might not be the same as everyone else or how you imagined but they are still fabulous. It just takes a bit of time for get the support you need and adjust how you think.

Kxx

Hi Caz,

Yes I mentioned she startles to loud noises and they said that's positive and she may be able to hear some sounds but they can only check for certain frequency as they said they could further damage babies ears if too high. Therefore, I'm still worried but not sure to what degree she has hearing loss? Didn't say when retesting but soon they said.
Very upset but confused. Either way, I know she'll be ok and she has lots of support around her. Just feeling anxious as appointment was only this morning.
Thanks.

It is all very scary at the start, I've been there. Now they have done the first test, they will check again to get a clearer idea of the level of loss to get HAs fitted. There will be further tests along the line. Support varies by area but the NDCS is helpful and hopefully you will have local Teacher of the Deaf support. Try not to worry, and try not to 'test' her, I know it's hard, I was the same!

Hi

Amazing hearing technology and highly specialized rehabilitation (Audio Verbal Therapy) mean that even Children born completely deaf are able to learn to listen and talk on par with their hearing peers and that your child can learn your family's language (=spoken language). Please look at AVUK (www.avuk.org).

Congrats on your new arrival!

Thank you DaneMum.

That has given me positivity and hope.
I haven't been told what level of hearing loss so feel in limbo still and worried. They also said they are going to repeat the test once more to double check.

Could my little one just need hearing aids?

Ask about getting a Teacher of the Dead - they are great at answering questions. And there may be groups for babies at your local Sensory Support Service that are great for meeting other families in the same position.

Check out NDCS and its forums online and the Unofficial NDCS group on Facebook.

(D'oh. Teacher of the Deaf , obviously)

Unfortunate auto correct...

😁👍

It is definitely possible that your child is able to hear some sounds and that the hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids. There are many kinds of hearing loss, some fluctuate and some get more profound over time.

Good luck with further tests and I hope you get all the support needed.

@Nic91 just seen your new thread.
Noone can tell you the possible outcome and other people's stories aren't helpful as they will only give false hope or worry you. You need to get the results of the next appointment and then see what is being suggested. I know it's scary, I think I could have become an audiologist by the time dd's second appointment happened, I'd done that much research. Once you get the results of the next appointment, it will be clearer what needs to happen next. I know it's scary

Hi, OP. As per my username, I'm a Teacher of the Deaf. Your child should be added to the caseload of a local ToD who will support you lots!

It is obviously difficult for Audiology to get an accurate level of hearing loss at this stage - your DD can't give any signals as to what she can hear beyond a simple reaction and they won't be testing the full range of frequencies that they test on older children. What's important is that your child will get early aiding, if appropriate, and support, including British Sign Language for her and you and other family, again if appropriate. There'll probably be a local group for others in your situation too, so do ask about that.

It may be that your DD will "grow out" of what's causing the hearing loss. A child's eustachian tubes, that drain fluid away from the ears, are at a flatter angle and sometimes don't drain properly - this is what's known as glue ear and is something that tends to rectify itself as the child grows and the tubes angle downwards more (sometimes pressure is relieved with the help of grommets). So that's just one reason a child may have a hearing loss when younger that no longer presents when they're older. They may wear hearing aids just to help them while they cannot hear as well.

However, it may be some more permanent level of hearing loss and the sooner your baby is aided and has access to sign and/or strategies to help them use their residual hearing, the better. I work with children with every kind of hearing loss, from moderate hearing aid users to profound with cochlear implants to profound with no hearing. Lots of them are in mainstream schools but some require more support from a Teacher of the Deaf than others.

Please feel free to message me if you like. I appreciate it can be a very uncertain and worrying time.

Hi Everyone,

Feeling quite down today. Got 7 days to go until next audiology appointment. They are going to retest my 4 week old and also mentioned something about moulds for hearing aids.
I feel very anxious and stressed and it's really affecting me.
All I've been told so far is that my daughter has hearing loss but they don't know what type/level.
Is there any chance that hearing could improve or change with age?
I know they can only test a range of frequencies at her age.

Worried, stressed mum.

Based on what you know at this point, yes, the hearing loss could change with age -- could go away entirely or improve or get worse or become total. That's why there's very little of use that anyone can tell you about the future right now. As you find out more some of those scenarios will be ruled out or become more or less likely.

Right now, before you get more answers, engage with where your baby is right now - which is likely to involve a LOT of appointments for earmoulds (they grow so quickly at this age that no sooner have you got one set made than your baby needs fitting for another).

Talk to your Teacher of the Deaf who will probably be great at answering questions and providing emotional support. Go to your local Sensory Support Service groups and events for parents and babies where you'll make invaluable social links (my daughter has deaf friends she's known for a decade or more who she first met at those groups).

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I love my daughter so much just feel like I'm drowning at the minute. Finding things tough.

Hope it gets better. 🙏🏼

Hi OP, look, I know it’s hard but try not to waste these precious baby days worrying about something that may or not happen. You can’t change the outcome of the tests but if you are anxious and stressed then your baby will pick up on this and it’s not good for either of you. If there is an issue then she’s in the system and she will receive any help that she needs.

Hi.

I'm trying to stay positive. My daughter is a dream and so placid.

Thanks.

Hi OP
I’m so sorry you are going through this.
i havent experienced it but know what it’s like to feel totally consumed by concern and worry.
is she your first child? What else can you tell us about her? She is calm, and placid.
what sense of her personality do you get? I think it’s too early for the first real smile but that should be not too far away. That will soothe you, I imagine.