Grommets - when will we see an improvement?

[Susiejo77]

Hi there, I’m hoping there might be some experienced mums that have been through what we are at the moment.

So, my baby boy is 17months tomorrow and he had grommets fitted two days ago. I am yet to see an improvement in his responsiveness, he rarely responds to his name, although did for a short time before the grommet operation but only to my voice. I presumed he’d got used to the sound of my voice muffled as he rarely responds to any of the nursery staff. He had persistent glue ear ( I think for sometime) failed 3hearing tests - it wasn’t clearing up on its own.

You read about parents noticing a real difference after grommets, sadly that hasn’t been the reality for me and I’m slightly devastated as I’d so hoped he’d turn when I called his name after he’d calmed down after surgery. If anything he seems less responsive - could it be all the other sounds he’s hearing distracting him maybe?

Just wondering if any other mums had the same as this and whether they saw gradual improvements or does it sound like my boys grommets aren’t the source of the problem?

90sBrows he ears are just showing dried blood, although he is constantly fiddling with them - it’s definitely halitosis from his mouth, I looked on the nhs website and it said minor conditions after surgery and said it can go on for two weeks. Bestbefore im so pleased you mention your 18months old was still falling over as my DS balance is still off, I just expected a miracle cure for him after surgery. Fingers crossed like your son we see the improvements in a week or two

I think I will make an appointment at my gp tomorrow am as I’m getting nowhere with the ward nurse at the hospital, just to get him checked over

My son has had grommets and adenoids removed separately. He was sent home with antibiotic drops after grommets. I think his hearing did improve straight away although it took a while for us to notice a difference. I can also distinctly remember the terrible smell from his mouth after the adenoid removal which we were warned about, I can't remember how long it lasted but it was horrible and filled a room!
However I would visit gp if you are worried as he is only young.

Ds had his first set of grommets at 20 months and his temperature came up within a couple of hours of the operation and he had antibiotics.
He started ear infections at about 10 weeks old and had them until he had the first set of grommets.

He doesn't seem to react particularly well to general anaesthetic-he's now had grommets 3 times and he's still lying in bed occasionally vomiting while children who went in after him for more major operations are running round playing, and floppy and clingy for a few days afterwards.

I never noticed a major improvement in hearing, the main improvement was the lack of infection. However I do remember one autumn him saying "the leaves didn't crunch last year" and realising that was the difference in his hearing with grommets.

The reasons we had the hearing tests was his lack of responsiveness, I never noticed any ear infections, but then he had severe reflux as a young baby and a milk allergy so we often put screaming and high temperatures to him accidentally eating something he shouldn’t have. I’m so concerned his responsiveness hasn’t improved - I’m now thinking more and more we might be looking at Autism. Last night I was up every hour with him, he seems fine during the day but at night he seems in pain

The surgeon did say his adenoids were grade 2 and there was lots of thick glue in both ears. I’m just so confused with his lack of response. I’m trying to remain positive - that he needs to learn from scratch

Yes the post adenoid smell...
But if has 'tem.perature get him checked.

Are you using signing and photos and pictures with him ? Use all means of communication. Watch something special copy the signs.

Does he show joint attention with you when you sit and look at a book with him ? Ie checking to see you looking at what he is looking at ?

Did he pass newborn hearing screen ?

Oh yes to signing. If he's not yet really listening or using words I'd go for signing big time. Just make sure you use words alongside the signs.

Poor you! Don't panic. One DC of mine had grommets for glue ear and the other does have a form of ASD so I understand a little of each set of concerns you have.

Sounds like your DS is still recovering from the op and he is not going to be making any progress with hearing until he is feeling more himself again, no-one performs well when they are ill. He may also be feeling frightened of the louder noises.

My DS had grommets alone without the adenoids, but was older (4) and already had some speech, albeit delayed due to the glue ear. He recovered pretty much instantly from the op and his hearing was immediately noticeably better (e.g. he was terrified of the hoover as it was much louder than he expected). I noticed an immediate improvement in his attentiveness and listening but it took about 2-3 months before his speech delay started to improve.

My other DS didn't respond to his name at 18 months and had no speech at all. We have a form of ASD diagnosis. This was the thing I was most worried about when DS1 was being assessed for his speech delay but took us completely by surprise when we were told that DS was on the spectrum. However actually its not the terrible thing I'd feared. Yes, he is different and has some challenges but he is still our gorgeous DS2. He's also made huge progress in the last 3 years and is now playful and initiates interaction with us.

If you are still concerned I think many areas won't refer to the paediatrician for an autism assessment till at least age 2, so maybe give it time and see where you are at his 2 year assessment

It may also be interesting to note that there is one theory of autism that says that initial brain differences (i.e. the extent to which the baby is attracted to interacting with the human face/voice) then get amplified by the fact the baby isn't interested in the human face/voice and therefore misses out on all sorts of experiences that typically developing children get. It is possible that if your son had severe glue ear and has not had any practice with listening that he has missed all sorts of normal cues, so give it time and be patient- whilst ensuring any medical concerns are checked.

He did pass his new born hearing test yes. He’s never really copied signs in nursery rhymes, we might get a random clap but not when we are meant to be clapping in a baby class, I have to guide his hands always. Initially I just thought he wasn’t interested so it never worried me, he does high five us occasionally and brings me toys to show me, brings me books to read, but he wouldn’t understand if I said where is the elephant, he wouldn’t understand what I was saying I don’t think. I did put that down to hearing but I am getting concerned now. Is that joint attention, he doesn’t point to things - another concern I’ve just realised, he will use his index finger in books and if I show him two treats he points to the one he wants but he won’t point to a plane in the sky or a dog in the park. We hear muttering of words, I have written a list but they are very mispronounced and I can only really understand them. Occasionally we will get a word with such clarity like ‘frog’ and ‘apple’ and then never hear it again. I’ve never signed to him no, apart from in baby classes - I will try to do learn that and start doing it. I wish I could relax, I feel bad as a young baby he was trying to communicate with me from a young age, I feel bad as when we realised he was allergic to dairy I spent a lot of time cooking food for him and did sit him in front of the TV. I’m wishing I’d spent more time playing and teaching him now

Biscuitrules, can I ask what age your DS was diagnosed on the spectrum? I’m presuming they did all the hearing tests your ds1 had but he didn’t have glue ear? Off course I’m realising now the is the possibility of have both glue ear and autism now

Try removing all dairy & gluten for. couple of weeks
He sounds like the experience of sugery freaked him out and he is scared he will be wheeled away on a trolley again for anaesthetic! Perhaps he will settle back to his old self in time, especially if you can see a Dr as soon as possible to treat his possible ear infection. Not good he has temperature- not ok for ward nurse to ignore signs of infection See a Dr, he may need antibiotic ear drops. If so he will feel so much better

Could the fluid build up in his middle ear be as a result of his allergies or sensitivities, causing constant sinus problems, runny nose, etc Allergy triggers could be dust mites, dairy, mould, etc

Sorry just read you have been diligently cooking dairy free for his allergy to dairy. My mistake.

Do not feel bad about having less time in the past. You did the very best you could with the.knowledge you had You sound a lovely Mum. Enjoy spending some quality time each day, with no regrets about the past. Your son is lucky to have such a thoughtful kind mum, and now he gets to play with you more as a bonus!

Your son sounds as if he has all three signs of infection , fever, crying from pain, and discharge. If infection is present, it needs to be treated so your baby son can feel better

If he's effectively been deaf for most of his life it's probably really disorientating if he can suddenly hear. Maybe minimise noise for a few days and build up to more sound as he gets used ti being able to hear? My DD was older when she had grommets put in so we could communicate better- she was asking what the sound in her head was when she was drinking etc- so many sounds that we take for granted and she hadn't heard them for so long it was unsettling when she could.

Give him time to recover and get used to sound before you start seriously pondering other diagnoses. (And give him time to develop language skills now he can hear too...)

If not already get him referred to a speech therapist for assessment and also they often run speech and language groups for under fives you can go to ..to boost communication learn makaton and so on.
you have nothing to lose as it can only help.if he turns out not to need it no harm is done!
Also ask about advice from teacher for hearing impaired so just about techniques and strategies if or when he not hearing well.
(Ds has asd and lots of glue ear and had gromnets/adenoid op)

Bringing book for you to read is communication ...and also kids with ASD often do this.. lead you to what they want.

Offer choices he can see with objects or photos.

Joint attention is hard to explain but with a child with ASD it might be that you point and say look at that red car over there!. Non ASD child will follow where you looking and see the red car.
Child with ASD might just look at your finger.

Simplifying...but if you looking at a book with a non ASD child and close your eyes they will notice as they constantly flit eyes to you and will say or point "mummy open your eyes" ...with ASD child they won't notice.. they don't keep checking .

But of course if not hearing the words then can complicate.so hearing specialist can help or look at websites for deaf or hearing impaired toddlers for ideas.

Finally look at the autism CHAT checklist.

Thanks for all this advice midsummabreak,canyousewcushions and cestlavielife! I really appreciate your comments. I did actually take him to a speech and language drop in clinic, we waited 3hrs to be told if he’s reaching for things - that’s what we expect at this age and he’s getting what he wants and to come back in six months time. I guess at that time the glue ear hadn’t been treated and no other process would start without sorting his hearing out. Cestlavielife he does look at what I point at not justmy finger, si if I was to say look at the red car, he’d look, but then if I said go and get the red car he wouldn’t follow that instruction. I can see there could be autistic traits here. Can I ask what age your son was diagnosed with asd? I’m wondering maybe if once he’s recovered I need to take him to a private behavioural paedatrician? Or whether they will say it’s too young to determine what’s going on yet.

Often SALT won't get involved with such young children.
It's very worrying I'm sure but you do need to give him a little more time and try some of the suggestions above to see if they male a difference.

Many thanks, I will try and help as best as I can. I wish I wasn’t a working mother, I just want to spend all the time in the world with him now

Have you seen Dr , to rule out infection causing no improvement/ set back after grommets surgery?

I hope you don't feel bad sad about being a working Mum as your 17 month old will be fine, with such a caring Mum! Just get out the pots and pans and wooden spoon sit on floor together for a few moments after work and crack out a few amazing songs 😋

So long as he has you on his side he will be a happy chappy I am sure!

There are a range of standardised assemments for infants like bayley test and griffiths assessment which for my dc turned out to be accurate ..even if it was not what I wanted to hear at the time....ds cognitive issues and some motor. (Diagnosed with delays at 12 months then asd age 5) Dd motor but no cognitive issues.

Being proactive and getting an assessment early is no bad thing....given the hearing may be a speech therapist ? Or a developmental paediatrician. Or push hv to refer on nhs.

You can buy from wilmslow press (much cheaper than other sites) a brilliant book to help parents improve speech - more than words is supposed to be very good and we used it takes two to talk and our dds language really benefitted

It took2-3 weeks for us to see an improvement after grommets and then that improvement was really significant

How's it going OP?