Not listening or geniune hearing issues due to adenoid enlargement?

[puffylovett]

My 4 year old is becoming increasingly frustrating, as he doesn't seem to listen, or will often ignore requests. I'm not sure if this is due to hearing problems as a result of chronically enlarged adenoids. We do sometimes get 'a look' after a request and then a blatant ignore ! I know it's partly his age.

He's been seen by the ENT a year ago who felt his problem didn't warrant removal. He has chronic longterm (2 yrs plus) mouth breathing, thrashing sleep, some mild sleep apnoea, huge tonsils, often coughing due to mucous dripping down his throat. He will only eat certain foods (carbs mainly) so I'm getting increasingly worried about his growth and development, especially about his dental palate as he's getting that pinched nostril look. Do you think it's worth going back to the GP and asking for another referral? and if so what do I say !

and I should add, I felt when he was weaning that he had problems with lots of foods (eczema). He was blood tested for coeliac but wasn't RAST tested. It turns out my youngest is very allergic to all sorts and I'm wondering if its worth requesting allergy testing for DS1 as a possible cause of his adenoid enlargement....does anyone have any experience?

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goodness, he sounds identical to how my now 5 year old ds1 was a year ago. only difference was that my ds also suffered from the most awful tonsillitis at least once a month (involving fevers of over 40 and antibiotics every time)

the ent surgeon we saw told us that they don't routinely remove tonsils for recurring tonsillitis but they do remove tonsils and adenoids for sleep apnoea. sleep apnoea affects quality of life quite dramatically. my ds was always lethargic, pale, lacking in energy and super skinny. i have heard stories of almost overnight improvement and that didn't happen with my ds possibly because he had his operation in the autumn just as he started reception so had a winter of bugs which kept on knocking him back. however, touching every available bit of wood, he is finally staryting to fill out and his energy levels are incomparable. he happilly lasts a day at school and can then go for a run around in the park without getting tired. amazing!

three months after the operation they tested his hearing (which was perfect) so clearly he is just blatantly ignoring me these days

i would definitely take him back for a second opinion. sleep apnoea needs to be taken seriously.

Def go back, he needs a hearing test if nothing else and having an ENT child myself I find persistance def pays off!!!

My dd bless her had adenotonsellectomy and gromits last sept aged 4. The op itself was traumatic but very worth it, her sleep is much better, less tired in the day and less throat/chest infections. However her hearing already seems to be tailing off again I would def take it seriously, has anyone else commented about his hearing? Does he talk in a loud voice?

Many areas allow parents of young children to self- refer for hearing tests if they are worried about hearing/speech development, your GP should also refer you for it if you have any concerns - phone your local surgery to get the audiometry clinic number, or else speak to/visit your GP.

My 7 year old had toncils and adenoids out and grommits in for recurrent toncilitus and severe hearing loss. There was absolutely no problem with speech so don't use that as part of the judgement. Hearing loss was intermittent.

You can't actually know if your child is not hearing or ignoring you. I used to make sure my child was looking at me when I spoke. It's the only way to avoid frustration.

I agree you should get another opinion. It certainly sounds as if your son fits the category of child who should have tonsils and adenoids removed. You might be recommended a 3-month intermittend dose of antibiotics prior to surgery to see if the tonsil size diminishes but seems unlikely.

My son also has very large (massively large) tonsils and I assume he has large adenoids, too. He is scheduled for surgery this Thursday. I am terrified, but just hope he will be able to breathe better and swallow more easily afterward.

Girliefriend I'm hesitant to ask, but why was your daughter's surgery "traumatic" because of usual parental worries or because something went wrong with the procedure and/or the recovery?

posadas - it is horrible, but keep focusing on life after recovery. It's very much worth it.

sorry to take over the original post with my own concerns (hopefully relevant to OP, too) but I'd be grateful for more information about how "horrible" or "traumatic" a tonsillectomy is what i'm dreading most is the anaesthesia (seeing my son be anaesthetised and worrying about the effects). I've heard different stories about pain afterward. Some people tell me their children have been just fine; others say they've had to use lots of pain medicine. What was your experience, KatharineClifton?

There was a lot of pain. I kept my DD dosed up with Calpol and Brufen in alternative doses. In the end she started going yellow and I stopped all meds. The only food she would tolerate was sugar puffs, which was a desperate buy from me as she was eating nothing.

Make sure you get your DS to eat early on before the full effects of the anaesthesia wear off, because they won't let you go home if no food has been swallowed.

Despite all this, it's still worth it for quality of life afterwards.

Obviously every child (and surgeon) is different so you can't know.

My 9 year old has had fluctuating hearing for years. We've never prooved it despite support from school/GP/ school nurse. She had similar symptoms when younger. Adenoids etc fit now she has had the 7/8 year old facial growth and much of the symptoms have gone. She is still working on the speech problems caused back then though.

So my advice is keep insisting & get support from school etc

Thank you, KatharineClifton. It sounds dreadful -- but must be done as my son is having great difficulty breathing. Was the operation in London? Who was your daughter's surgeon?

The op was traumatic in the sense that my dd came round from the anaesthetic very distressed (I was told by the recovery nurses that this is normal for some kids ) She calmed down after a big dose of morphine but it was several weeks before she was anywhere near bk to normal

She sould only eat skips and marshmellows after the op and its horrible as you are under pressure from the drs to make sure they eat to prevent complications and infections when you know that eating is causing them pain.

Its a difficult one as my dd did need the op and her breathing, sleeping and energy levels are all better since. Her hearing unfort is still not perfect and Ive recently requested she go bk to the ent lot again! Bless her it feels never ending.

Puffy - I'd def take your ds back and ask for a referral. Sounds serious enough to warrant removal to me. Good luck.