18 month old development delayed due to temporary hearing loss

[mummum2boys]

hey all just woundered if any of you mums have been in this position. I took my son to doctors twice with ear infection in both ears and they left it saying it would go. Then on the 3rd visit when he had actually gone deaf they started treating it, 2 courses of antibiotics and the infection went but he was left with a build up of fluid in both ears which ment he still couldnt hear. He is 18 months and i think he is starting to get his hearing back the only problem is he doesnt answer to his name or if i call him, he also doesnt respond to instructions. he can say some words and will let me know what he wants but other than that doesnt respond. i am abit worried this has delayed him and hoping he will get back on track any mums out there who have bn through this would be nice to hear your views many thanks

Hi - I was born deaf with an ear infection like you describe. It took a long time to be diagnosed (I was 7 weeks prem and had other issues) and when it was, my my mum was told I was congenitally deaf, end of. She didn't believe the doctors as she knew I reacted to her bangles clacking together when she picked me up !

My speech was delayed because I didn't hear until I was 2.5. Apparently I was quite disruptive at nursery school but I started mainstream school fine at 4.10. I struggled a bit with reading,but did miss a lot of school through illness. By the time I was 7 you would never have known I had been any different to other children. Once I started reading and talking I was away, it just took a little while to come.

I don't think I ever had any special support or anything, just left to get on with it.

My sister's little boy has had this problem concurrent ear infections leading to temporary loss of hearing. He had to have grommets at 2 1/2 to clear the fluid. He's now three and my sister has always been slightly worried about his speech, but he's fine and doesn't actually have any issues He caught up very quilky after the grommets.

In fact he talkes better then my little boy who it's 4weeks younger and has been assessed as having a slight speech delay and he's had no hearing problems at all.

thanks for your replies its so hard. my doctor seems to just pass it off all the time even though he has had a few ear infections now. i dont want him to end up been to delayed and find it hard when he cant hear his older brother to play with him.

Nice guidelines

NDCS - good booklet about Glue Ear although you will have to sign up (free) to download their resources. Links on left hand side of page.

I would seek a second opinion if you are worried. DD had ear tubes fitted and the immediate difference in her speech, hearing, concentration and social inclusion at nursery was incredible.

Pre 2 years is a critical language learning time - if you are concerned, go back to the GP for a referral asap.

My ds had ear infections about once every 10 days to 2 weeks from 3 months until his first set of grommets in at 20 months. He's since had repeat grommets at 3.6yo (after 8 ear drum perforations in 8 week) , and is due his third set next month age 6.6yo.

Speech wise, it did delay him, I think, if only because he had a huge language explosion just after his first set of grommets. He still has SALT to help with pronunciation, as there are some sounds he can't distinguish between. Mostly he caught up within a very short time. The main issue is concentration and behavioural at school when he can't hear, but that clears when he can hear.

I would go back to the GP and ask if they can refer you to ENT as he is not appearing to hear. Speech, they may not be worried about if he is in the "normal range" which is around 6-18 "appropriate sounds at 18 months, if I remember correctly.

But it does depend on your GP and your area whether they will refer you on. Some areas don't do grommets for children under 3yo. Some places have the bench mark of 8 ear infections before referral-which you will probably think is quite a lot, from my side, I wish ds had only had 8

Did he appear to hear before the infections? Because there is also a possibility that it is a different issue than just glue ear.

I think it is uncommon for the parent to spot they're not hearing from glue ear, from my understanding. From my point of view, the problems were the infections, I didn't realise how little he could hear, as he adjusted, as a lot of children do, very well. He had this cute little habit of patting my cheek, which ENT pointed out was him turning my face so he could lip read. I thought it was just a cute habit.

So emphasising that he is not hearing, not responding to his name (ie developmentally behind) should increase the likelihood of being referred.

Hearing tests for that age can be very dodgy-I don't think we got an accurate test for ds until he was about 4yo. But they should be able to do an echo test, which, I think is specifically for glue ear. It should produce a graph with a peak in the middle. When there's glue ear, it is flat. But, as I said earlier, even a very poor reading may not result in anything being done at present, as they may prefer to watch and see.

If you want to monitor your DS hearing, to have evidence/information for your GP, you could try and use the Ling Six Sound test. It is a functional hearing test designed to be quick and easy enough for parents to do daily.
here

Or here When it says talk about 3 ft from the microphone it is assuming that the child has a hearing aid. just stand/squat behind them and make sure that your mouth is about 3 ft from their ears.

have you had a hearing test to find out if his hearing is really impaired due to the fluid build up? If the ears don't clear up the get e referral to ENT as he might need grommets.

and get a hearing test - both,.HV and GP can refer.

my DC had loads of ear infections (got grommets at 18.months). speech was delayed, did not respond to name etc. everybody blamed the ear infections. only after things did not improve after getting grommets other things were investigated - we have now a dx of severe autism. not saying your DC is the same but if speech and language are delayed,.not responding to name etc, then I.think. it is important to rule.out other causes than.just blaming ear infections.