3.3yo keeps saying what? As if she can't hear me

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I'm pretty sure she doesn't have hearing problems. She had the usual tests as a baby which came back fine and I've never had cause to think anything was amiss. But the last couple of weeks any time we say anything we get "what?'. She's managing to watch cbeebies ok and no one else (gps, nursery etc) has mentioned anything.

I've just counted, it took 7 attempts to get her to fetch a plate. 7 rounds of "get yourself a plate dd" "what?"

On the one hand I don't want to be mean if she is having problems and she doesn't appear to be winding me up but it is driving me insane. I have said that I'm going to take her to the doctor to see if her ears are working but she looks at me all innocence and says that they are working.

Wax maybe? Might have to look at ear drops or whatever. If it isn't that, what would they do if I took her to the gp?

passing the new born hearing screening doesn't rule out hearing problems at 3.

my DD struggles for a long while with glue ear and it affected her hearing very much.

does she turn up the volume when watching telly? have you tried to say things to her in a low voice from behind / or while keeping your mouth covered (to make sure she is not lip reading)?

I would take her to the GP and ask for a hearing test. thats the best way to make sure hear hearing is ok.

is she a bit of dreamer? dd1 (4) is, and so i have to call her name, and pause to check i've got her attention before i give any instructions. she's not ignoring me as such, more lost in her own little world.

I'd agree with advice to take her to GP - glue ear is very common. A GP could check her ear for wax and refer for a proper hearing test. Also give you some indicators to look for.

Thanks, that's interesting. She does ask for the tv to be turned up but only to a normal level I think. I will make an appointment with the gp then, sounds like it could be something. In the meantime I'll try offering a packet of buttons in a low voice....

I'm having very similar problems with my DD1 (3.10yo). We took her to the Dr & he's referred her to a specialist for some hearing tests. Problem is, that was about 2 months ago & we've not heard anything since (other than a confirmation letter that she had been referred & that we will be contacted with an appointment at a later date). If you are at all worried, therefore, I'd take her to the Dr now cos it might be a while before anything is done about it.

As a previous poster said, glue ear is pretty common at this age & I had it quite badly as a child myself so that is why we thought we'd better get it checked out. I'll be pretty embarassed if it turns out her hearing is fine & she's just been ignoring us but I'd rather risk embarassment than put her at risk of permanent hearing loss (which can sometimes happen if serious glue ear is left untreated).