Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

DS (5) failed hearing test again - what next?

18 replies

Grockle · 05/04/2011 20:06

Not sure why I am posting really - I think I just want some reassurance or something...

DS has had his hearing tested at school twice now. He's in Reception and has failed both tests. This doesn't surprise me at all since he often doesn't hear me or mishears. His language is very good so I know he hears enough to manage but I don't know what the problem is. He's being referred to an Audiologist but I don't know what they'll do.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

thisisyesterday · 05/04/2011 20:09

they'll do another, more thorough, hearing test including sticking thing into his ears to check for fluid, and games where he has to put a brick in a box/peg in a hole whenever he hears a sound

what happens after that is really dependent on WHY he isn't hearing well

Original poster

Grockle · 05/04/2011 20:16

Thank you, yesterday. DS knows he has to see a different doctor to find out how we can help him hear better and keeps asking what they'll do but I have no idea!

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 05/04/2011 20:20

it's generally very laid back. he might have to wear headphones for some of it but they don't always use them

Curlygirly · 05/04/2011 20:48

When my ds was first tested it was at the audiology department at the local hospital. It was noises through the headphones then the audiologist had a metal tuning fork thing that he put behind ds ears and could tell straight away there was nerve damage.
From there we were refered to a childrens hearing and speech hospital and they are great there. They use a mix of headphones and wires to test him. He hears a noise and like thisisyesterday said, he puts pegs in holes and things in boxes etc.
The check for fluid is quick and painless for him.

Original poster

Grockle · 05/04/2011 20:56

Thank you for reassuring me. I am feeling very guilty that I suspected there was a problem over a year ago and didn't do anything about it . Everyone said his language is so good that he couldn't possibly have a problem but I knew he wasn't quite as he should be.

OP posts:

Curlygirly · 05/04/2011 21:04

Don't feel guilty Grockle. The good thing is that your ds has now been referred and something can be done to help him.

I always had a feeling there was a problem with my ds, also 5. My G.P told me there was nothing wrong with him and only referred him "for your own piece of mind!"

Original poster

Grockle · 05/04/2011 21:12

Oh, that's not good curlygirly. You're right - at least it's been picked up now (both your DS and mine)

I'm lucky that I sign as a matter of course, which helps DS know what I said, and he happens to be in a classroom designed for children with hearing difficulties.

OP posts:

Curlygirly · 05/04/2011 21:19

Do you mind if I ask, what does the classroom have that helps the children with hearing difficulties?

Original poster

Grockle · 05/04/2011 21:25

Um, it has some sort of acoustic sound panels (like polystyrene tiles) on the walls and ceiling which absorb some of the noise. Lots of schools have had them fitted recently but not all classrooms in all schools

OP posts:

Original poster

Grockle · 05/04/2011 21:26

And also the teacher signs and uses symbols

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 05/04/2011 21:28

no don't feel bad!
it's really hard i think when there is no glaringly obvious problem to really convince yourself that something is wrong.

we felt for a long, long, long time that something was different about ds1 and it's really only with input from school and a lot of bolstering from people on here that i finally made the appt with the GP and he is being assessed now for Asperger's

I think parents are so often made to feel like they're neurotic or wasting time when they see a doctor about their children that it really puts you off going unless there is a very visible problem iyswim?

and like curly says, the most important thing is that he is treated now!

peeriebear · 05/04/2011 21:29

DD2 is 4 and is having a repeat hearing test on Thursday after a month of Piriton (which has done nothing, and having looked online doesn't seem to work in any case!) They tried her with the bricks in a bucket test and she just couldn't get it at all! She would not drop the brick until the doctor told her to, whether she'd heard the sound or not. The ear fluid test showed reduced hearing in any case.
Her enunciation is really suffering though her use of language is fine, she misses beginnings and ends of words off as a matter of course, regularly gets her plosives all mixed up- "Tatch me", "swimming tostume", "dart" instead of "start", "girt" for "skirt" etc. So we are in the same boat, hoping for some concrete answers on Thurs!

Curlygirly · 05/04/2011 21:38

peeriebear - ds also had good use of language but had trouble with the blended consonants so train track was shrain shrack, children was shrildren etc.

Original poster

Grockle · 05/04/2011 21:45

Thank you all - I feel much better now. I know he's doing really well and it's not a big deal, I just felt like I'd let him down.

Yesterday, you're right - it does make you feel like a neurotic mother (of a PFB in my case) when there is nothing obvious wrong. Asperger's is tricky, like that too. (I work with children with ASD) - good luck with the assessment(s)

What is piriton for? DS has it for eczema...

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 05/04/2011 21:50

yes mine is my PFB too!

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 05/04/2011 22:09

Grockle I was sent for hearing tests when I was 5 (maaaany years ago) - it turned out I didn't have a hearing problem just an attention span one - seriously I'm sure most 5 year olds are day dreamers, plus I didn't like my teacher. Don't know if that's helpful but just my experience/another angle to look at it.

Hope this gets resolved for you both soon.

Original poster

Grockle · 05/04/2011 22:36

Thanks, thatwouldbe... I am fairly sure that at least some of the problem is 'selective'. We'll see what the audiologist says!

OP posts:

peeriebear · 05/04/2011 22:42

Yes Curly, DD2 says children like shroodren!

Flip