Newborn Hearing Loss

[RiaG91]

Yesterday we had an appointment with the audiologist and he confirmed that our sweet LO (3weeks) has a moderate hearing loss and needs hearing aids.

I'm still unclear on a lot of things and I'm doing some research into newborn hearing loss which is raising questions.

A bit of background - I myself suffer from hearing loss. This was diagnosed when I was around the age of 14, but I didn't obtain a hearing aid until I was in my mid 20's (mainly due to stubbornness and cost). I started with one hearing aid (right ear) and then two months ago I purchased one for my left ear.

So I have some understanding of how he may be affected and the struggles he might face, but it's very different being diagnosed as a teenager compared to being brought up with it from birth.

I've been in tears and getting myself so worked up since the appointment. I knew there was a risk that my own hearing loss made it more likely for my baby to be affected, so this is entirely my fault and I can't forgive myself for what he will have to endure throughout his life.

I suppose I'm reaching out to see if anyone has any experience of this themselves? Any helpful suggestions / links or information that could help us all?

Thank you - from a very upset new mum.

www.ndcs.org.uk/information-and-support/first-diagnosis/my-baby-has-a-hearing-loss/

It's bound to be an emotional time for you. This might be helpful.
Did they say whether your baby's hearing loss was a permanent one?

what he will have to endure throughout his life

He’s unlikely to need to endure what you went through because it’s been picked up now and he’ll have hearing aids as soon as practicable. Please don’t be hard on yourself, especially not now.

Please don’t worry. No hearing problems in my family and youngest sailed through newborn hearing tests. But youngest Dc did not talk and made ‘grunts’ their understanding was good and hand gestures good they developed their own sign language. It was the massive speech delay that caused my suspicions and the facts they did not respond to loud noises or bangs or even the doorbell.

Test aged 4 revealed deafness in one ear and moderate hearing loss in the other. By then a lot of problems had been flagged up in terms of speech delay. We are still on catch up 4 years later. You shouldn’t have that issue.

Believe me this is a good thing - to have it diagnosed this early. With mine the hearing problem did change positively as it did improve. I can’t fault the audiology department bloody fab and D.C. has hearing checks every 6 months.

Apart from speech my DC is on track for English maths and ahead in maths and reading. Spelling and phonics were a nightmare for 2 years but then it clicked.

Please please don’t worry - I know it sounds glib but I have the most wonderful child and I know any problems for a concerned mum have you panicking at the worse as we went to protect our children but this is very common - glue ear etc mine plays piano (!) and loves it and does football and drama despite loud noises - coaches and teachers are fab (!)

My daughter (9 yr old) was born with profound hearing loss in her right ear. She wears hearing aids and is doing well but, there are difficulties of course.
I still feel a drop in my stomach when my daughter tells me she was unable to hear her friend in the dinner hall because it was so loud. Life is harder for her to navigate but she will overcome it, as will your son.
Go easy on yourself.

You are in shock. Time to read and digest. Step away from social media and American sites if in the UK. Stick to nhs and NCDS. Write down questions. You don’t say where you are but if in England your local council should have some kind of support network - ask the hospital to confirm - this is where you meet teachers for the deaf with us it’s called sensory support. This is your gateway to support. He will not be newborn forever. They can help access a fair education, speech therapy if required etc. Just a reminder deafness is a physical disability not a learning disability with the right support he can do anything and be anything he wants. I won’t lie I have had some fights with regards to educational support with the council but I got there with sensory supports help. My ds is now a healthy happy 12 year old occasionally stroppy with good speech at mainstream with a specialist deaf centre. English is tricky - language issues but maths top set. I convinced them to let he try modern language- he is doing really well in German!

Find a local support group, ours has been invaluable. We also have a teacher of the deaf and she visits DD once a week and has been a great support too.

It’s not your fault at all, your LO won’t have to endure anything, hearing loss and hearing aids will just be a normal part of their life. It’s important you are always positive about them and set a good example, you can do this OP!!