DD, 2.5 - glue ear/speech...

[littleElif]

hi there,

I am a bit worried about DD's speech. at 2.5 she has about 200 words but can't really link them together (we only have a handful of 2-word-combinations).

also, she has had trouble with ear infections since being a baby. had hearing test recently: hearing threshold 30 db.audiology told us that this is normal but ENT consultant says it isn't though the hearing loss is not dramatic. her tympanogram was pretty flat, there is apparently some underpressure in her ear. now on waiting list for grommets (but we might have to wait up to 6 month).

just wonder if somebody has been in similiar situation and if the grommets made a difference. it is worth pushing for a SALT referrral now or better to wait until after OP?

thanks,
Elif

My DS (now 3) had glue ear, repeated ear infections and very large adenoids (he snored a lot was the sign), flat tympanogram etc etc at 2.5. He had lots of words but pronunciation was awful and he sounded nasally when he spoke. He didn;t link that many words together at that age (but does now) so I think that comes with time. He had his adenoids out and grommets in a couple of months ago and the difference is staggering (not immediate took a few weeks) but his hearing is wonderful, he is more confident talking with other children , and pronunciation and linking words together is so much better, he is still 'behind' many of his peers but he is improving every day.

For us the operation was the main thing that made the difference to his speech, his snoring and his ear infections. I don;t think SALT either before or afterwards would have been useful given his problems was hearing related. Given we can work on his speech at home quite well, I think in my DS's case there are many more needy children who would benefit more from SALT.

My DS (4.5) had them a few months ago. He never had ear infections so it took ages, and many positive tests, before he got the op. DS did have difficulty understanding things sometimes as he simply couldn't hear. I assumed he had selected hearing!

After his grommets his behaviour improved, his toilet training improved and overall he is more happy and contented. So well worth it IMO.

DS was referred through the SALT, we had to go for numerous tests over a period of time as glue ear can clear up by itself.

thanks for your answers. hopefully it will help us as well and the appointment for the OP will come through soon. we do not only struggle speech-wise but we have really bad tantrums as well :-( but maybe not surprising - this ear thing must be doing her head in.