Has anyone done hearing aids for glue ear?

[WhichWayWound]

Just that. Dd is 2.5, almost no speech nor understanding of it. Uses jargon and few words, blank without sign support for understanding. Her hearing loss is moderate 50-60 and flat, though probably worse in one ear (sound field, won't wear headphones, hard to test as no understanding of instructions )

I was offered hearing aids or trying grommets. I've gone for aids, my logic is
-watch and wait hasn't changed results in seven months and her speech is so bad it seems very long ter, she even failed three newborn tests for fluid. Aids are quicker, so less time lost waiting. Also grommets will fall out, if it's repeated there's a limit
-she's never had an ear infection, I think it's structural personally, unchanging and she almost never gets colds.
-I feel sick at the idea of a general on a tiny child I can't talk it through with
-with aids there's better monitoring/speech therapy at nursery
-she's the size of a 9-12 month old, a possible further problem with grommets.
-I'm worried about complications(as a SENCO im probably exposed to this more than normal)
-I think she'll be happy to wear them, likes bands and clips and general accessories. Somehow I've had a very girly girl!

Am I being logical in my choices? Has anyone else done this. It's a bloody hard decision

Missed a reason, if grommets fail I lose even more time for her learning to speak before nursery and make friends. Hearing aids can't fail in the same way

Might not be what you want to hear, but here's my experience. DS sounds very similar to your DD- possibly a bit worse as he had no hearing at all in one ear. He was almost entirely non verbal at 2 years. My consultant was quite anti hearing aids- he said they still didn't deliver the quality of sound that would help a child as non verbal as DS. They don't amplify all sounds equally so a lot of upper/ lower registers will still be missed. A friend had a hearing aid for her DD due to her phobia about hospitals, and honestly it seemed a lot of faff. Her DD then had to have grommets a year later having not improved significantly. Some glue ear just doesn't get better on its own.

Grommets were revolutionary for us- DS's speech improved immeasurably in a remarkably short period of time, and he's now described by nursery as a "chatterbox"! He was a small for his age 2 yo with the first lot, and has just had them repeated at 4.5. No problems with the anaesthetic- the operation only lasts about 15 mins and he barely noticed both times. He had a mask and gas at age 2 and an injection at age 4.

This age is critical in terms of them learning language and speech- the older they get the harder it is to make up. I've never heard of grommets failing- and both my children (and both my nieces!) have now had 2 sets (damn inherited narrow tubes!) However surely if they fall out you could have them reinserted? We initially had a consultant who was very well known and specialised in younger/ smaller children so it can be done.

Good luck- pm me if you want to chat.

Thanks, I must be unlucky

I've taught one child who has had them fall out in weeks a few times, another with a scarred eardrum and permanent loss in one ear and another who had a complicated problem with the ear canal that needed correcting years after.

I don't get how dd even has it with no signs of congestion or infection ever. She's unusally healthy and snot free compared to my others. She does though have a strangely high palate.

The audiologist I spoke to was very positive about aids, I guess a surgeon may be different. He said they were digital and programable on a full range of frequency so should amplify well.

We had grommets 2 years ago , one is still in the other fell out at Christmas it's like having a different child, she's talks to me does well at school and doesn't get so frustrated with things anymore. It's 7 now but was 5 when she had them x

My DD has had grommets in twice now, once at three, once just before her fifth birthday. Similarly she is very small and she didn't have infections or many colds, we were quite lucky though and despite fairly severe loss she'd managed to learn to speak ok.

Grommets were amazing for us and I am so glad we made that decision - I was really nervous and toyed with aids for a while. We walked out with a different child and having subsequently tried aids whilst waiting for second op I am sure the progress wouldn't have been as rapid.

If you decide to go for aids that is a perfectly valid decision, just make sure you're making it for the right reasons and not fear. Maybe speak to an ENT?

I will talk to ENT, but they don't accept referrals for glue ear with no other problems until the child is three. I presume the waiting list will then be around three months, with the timing of audiology it will likely be a year away.

Hi my DS had grommets & had / has hearing aids. Personally the grommets were a nightmare & have permanently damaged his eardrum. He had numerous sets & I wish we had declined them after the second set. many ENT doctors are waiting longer before recommending grommets now.

You do hear differently with hearing aids that is true, although the advances they have made are massive. At 2 DS had bone anchored aids on a headband, we could pick the colour of the band & it's probably the only time I wished he was s girl!

If nothing else OP I'd get hearing aids in the interim period & take it from there.

I will say, however, that don't let a fear of the GA put you off. It really is a quick operation.

my nearly 7 yr old ds has glue ear and we were advised down the hearing aid route at the start of reception. his language and speech were all developing fine but real issue was the continuous "whats/pardons" I was bothered about him missing out learning his letters and sounds. Hearing aids have been exactly that not revolutionary like I would have liked but they aided his hearing. Two years on and things seem to be improving naturally unless he has a streaming cold then its poor again. I was against grommets only because he had surgery as a tiny baby and I didn't want another anesthetic if possible. Good luck with whichever route you follow x

Perhaps see a cranial osteopath, the high palate sounds like something that should also be looked at. Osteopathy can help the ears to drain (not always).

My DS's story is very similar to your DDs he has two sets of grommets, which like the child you teach both sets only lasted a few weeks :( 1st set at 2 second set aged 3.

Like your DD he has never has any ear infections, no pain, but initially he had a severe hearing (now moderate), he was totally non verbal and very frustrated!

He was given aids after the second set fell out and the change in him was remarkable!! he is now 6 and still has glue ear, but now only needs one hearing aid. His hearing in his left ear is still down but only very slightly, its still flat tho, so we need frequent hearing tests.

In your shoes i would push to see ENT ASAP they can and will do grommets in children under 3, the fact it is effecting her development is reason enough.

Good Luck.

My dd was the same as your dd at that age, we went for grommets and as pp said it was incredible difference, she literally went in unable to hear and came out with pretty much perfect hearing!!

The op itself was very quick, she went down and was back up within 30mins, needed minimal recovery time and was bouncing about by teatime, the grommets lasted a year and everything improved, speech, behaviour etc.

However unfortunately once they fell out we were back to square 1 but dd also had enlarged tonsils and adenoids as well, she did also suffer with chronic ear infections. She had a further op when she was 4yo and also had the tonsils and adenoids out which was a much bigger op with longer recovery. However I would still say well well worth it as hearing and breathing so much better.

Op in your situation I would be pushing for grommets.

Google otovent. We have just been recommended it for glue ear. Verwood reviews.

Very good not Verwood !

www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B00308F9O6

We have had 2 x sets of grommets and are looking at another if the otovent does not work.

My ds did not say a single word until his first set of grommets at 15 months. ( he has medical problems so got veto early hearing tests)

Hi, yes and for similar reasons, but with the added complication that my DD has a repaired cleft palate so she was less likely to grow out of glue as ear tubes got bigger (maybe similar with high palate situation??). I had heard similar horror stories about grommets causing big issues and didn't want to introduce ear infection problems when they didn't exist. Her ears have almost always been infection free. We got as far as meeting ENT consultant to arrange op, and I think that he was quite surprised when we turned it down and went with hearing aids. They have been great though - very pleased with them and no problems at. The added advantage is that the teacher for the deaf visits school when aids are involved (later down the line for you). They don't with grommets. NCDS charity is very good for advice for all levels of hearing loss. I recommend giving them a call to discuss your DD's particular situation and your own concerns.
If you do go with grommets, the GA involved is really very minor. I've been in the ward when children come back from getting them and from what I see they leap back up and scoot off home in no time. Also, FYI, I have a friend whos DD is very tiny and too small for grommets, but they have a micro suction technique that they can use.
All the best with whatever you decide....