Ear issues linked with temperament

[Wednesdayafternoon]

Just after experience really. Ds is 5 and had double grommets fitted in 2019. He was never followed up due to Covid until about 3 months ago where we learnt 1 grommet has caused a blockage as it hadn't come away pro. Ds boardline pass/failed his hearing test. I feel his hearing has deteriorated a lot recently. Not sure whether it's because he can't hear at all or the quality of sound is off. I've pushed for a repeat hearing test on Friday.
I've been told that hearing/ear issues can effect behaviour in children? Ds has always been a handful (bless him) but very much so these past few months! I wonder if there's a link?
Just after experience from any parents or caters who have been through this?

I love my son while heartedly! He is my shining star ♥️

My son had grommets twice and an eardrum repair .he was an adorable, lively, noisy handful unlike his siblings. I often wondered if it was just his personality or the hearing loss.

Ds had grommets three times. I did ask about ASD when he was smaller and was told that symptoms of glue ear can mimic the symptoms of ASD.

However he was recently (9 years after I first raised concerns) diagnosed with ASD.

@MargaretThursday

Ds had grommets three times. I did ask about ASD when he was smaller and was told that symptoms of glue ear can mimic the symptoms of ASD.

However he was recently (9 years after I first raised concerns) diagnosed with ASD.

Same here! DD had grommets at 5 after constant infections and glue ear from about 9 months and then eardrum repair at 8. Much later diagnosed with ASD - partly as a girl and also because a lot of the behaviour could be explained by hearing problems.

Ahhh thank you for sharing!
Do you mind me asking what things you noticed that lead to asd?

@Wednesdayafternoon I actually asked about ADHD first and the ASD came out from the assessment.

What I noticed was things like in form assemblies he was the one who was wriggling more than any of the others. However when I expressed concern at school I always got the response "he's a summer boy, he'll grow out of it."
The actual trigger for me pushing for it was at secondary. He was going on a trip with a group of about 12 children. We arrived at 5am, and 11 children stood listening nicely to the teacher, and ds bounced round the edge of the circle-he said because he was cold.
I went to the GP rather than school and it was put in motion.

I do think that "they're a summer boy" works against them. I saw children who were similar to ds get diagnoses because they were not a summer boy. My theory is this partially explains the winter/summer difference, because if you get help then it helps the child. Ds had another 9 years of school above some who were diagnosed-that's 9 years less help.
By the time he was diagnosed he was coping with school okay. I wanted the diagnoses to help him understand about himself as much as anything else.

if you're worried then push. I wish I hadn't been fobbed off, and was surprised how straightforward it was in the end. It's also opened other opportunities for support.

Interesting my dd has also had frequent ear trouble, she had grommets twice and has always been umm challenging.

I also suspect ASD but at her assessment they said her issues were more likely linked to her hearing loss....

Tha k you for sharing! How is your son now he's getting extra support? Has he stayed in a main stream school?

I do think at this point a lot of his issues are hearing related because he's had SO many issues and his behaviour improved so much with the grommets but has deteriorated now he's having reoccurring issues.
I definitely do feel he has some autistic "traits" and is probably more on the spectrum then say what I am, but at this point I am not sure what way to turn. He has his hearing test on Friday so that's a good start!

@Girliefriendlikespuppies
@Wednesdayafternoon

I would advise pushing if possible. I was fobbed off with "hearing issues" for so long. I went to the GP and requested a referral. The school does have to cooperate, but it got the ball moving.