Baby hearing

[waitingforthesun101]

I know I'm bu to post here but posting for traffic as posted on baby development yesterday and didn't even see post on feed.

Wondering if anyone has had similar experiences please as I am worried about dc's hearing.

DC is 10 weeks. Had 2 hearing tests at the screening centre which he failed as they could not get the appropriate responses from the ear bud placed in his ear. They thought this was because each time he had
Just got over a cold and may have had fluid in the ear. Was referred to audiology.

Audiology appointment also could not pick up what was required. They need repetitive samples and baby needs to be asleep.
Dc was settled for the most part but not asleep, then began stirring and sucking dummy which wasn't helping. They then checked ears for congestion and showed there is congestion in the ears. Dc has a cold currently so not a surprise. Needing to go for further testing next week:

I am now worried however as previously I thought they couldn't get the results needed due to the cold issue but audiologist said today even with the congestion the noise levels they were putting through the ear plug was higher than she expected to be needed. I've been told to go back for further testing but not told what this could mean.

Has anyone been in this position before and what was the outcome? I do have health anxiety and have gone straight to worst case scenario. I wasn't worried previously as dc appeaRed to jump at loud noises, turn head when I'm speaking, smile at clicking sounds but now I am second guessing it.

I OP. Sorry you have been left waiting for results. It does sound like they’re suggesting that youR DC may have a permanent hearing loss but this is not yet confirmed. It’s hard to know what level of hearing loss without seeing the results.
Have they done bone conduction testing?
Feel free to PM me as I work in this area.

Thank you! @WhatHaveYouBecome I will drop you a message as I am a bit worried any any advice you may have would be greatly appreciated.

The worst case scenario really is a child with hearing problems that aren't identified until they are causing speech delay.

So, scary as it is and worrying to have to wait for repeated tests, remember that if there is a problem it is going to be able to be managed with appropriate early interventions.

Best wishes.

Thank you @Pythonesque I am trying to think of it that way. Obviously if there is an issue it's good to know to have the support and help dc as much and as early on as we can.

I have a silly question but not knowing much about this at all, what would be worst case scenario? I think profound deafness may be the worst? I am unsure if that is aided with hearing aids but not treatable?

To answer your question, the worse case scenario would likely be profound deafness, but if your baby is reacting to some noises then that's less likely. But even if your baby is profoundly deaf, the medical options are truly amazing should you choose that route. My neice is profoundly deaf, and the bilateral cochlear implants she had as a baby have been truly life changing. She can hear almost everything, and has near normal speech. She attends mainstream school.

I failed every hearing test going as a baby and child. Had grommets and have no issues now, could be something as minor as that. As your baby reacts to sound I wouldn’t jump to the worst conclusion ☺️

Thank you so much both!

That's great to hear about your niece. That's what I wasn't sure of whether the worst case would be completely untreatable and there would be nothing that could help at all, so no hearing. I have to admit I am not sure what the levels od hearing loss and potential treatments are so has already made me feel better.

Thank you @Catfox1 I am hoping the same for dc ofc. I think because i was not giving any information about what it could be so from the most minor up to the very worst case and I know very little myself I have just come away really worried.

It sounds very similar to my experience. My now 3.5 year old DS2 failed his newborn hearing screening twice, so we were referred to the Children's hearing clinic, where we went every 3 months and where they never got a clear result. He always had a cold or something else happened, as it does with babies.
Anyway covid hit and he didn't have an in person appointment for 2 years. He finally got seen again in Feb this year and diagnosed with glue ear and moderate hearing impairment.
We were then referred to ENT, who refused to do anything, so luckily our lovely in laws have paid for him to get grommets done privately and he is booked in for next month. (Just got to combat the VERY long NHS waiting list for speech and language therapy now)
Sorry for the long post, TLDR it is likely to be something like glue ear which can be treated so try not to worry.