4 yo hearing loss after an ear infection?

[mogkat]

My 4 yo had an ear infection about 6 weeks ago. He was treated with antibiotics.
Whilst it's now cleared up he seems to have hearing loss since having the infection.

The tv has to be up really loud and if I'm talking to him he keeps saying he can't hear me speak. His preschool have also mentioned it to me as he keeps asking them to repeat themselves etc.

I took him back to the doctors but they said his ears were clear. No wax etc. He has another minor cold/snotty nose at the moment so the GP dismissed the hearing problem as a consequence of the cold.

Is it normal to have hearing loss this many weeks post ear infection?
I'm starting to get a little worried.

Thanks in advance

He may have wax in the inner ear.

But as a veteran of ear infections with ds, I'd say it isn't normal. Even with a burst ear drum his hearing was coming back.
I'd go back and say preschool has asked you to query it. They tend to listen a bit more if it's effecting schooling.

Go back to the GP and get them to check again. Hearing loss is not normal and can cause all sorts of issues. Believe me, my son had multiple ear infections which turned out to be inner ear infections that noone could see until I essentially had a breakdown on the audiologist at the hospital. DS still has perforated ear drums and his hearing loss is permanent.

Keep fighting - get them to refer to an audiologist too.

100% agree with also telling the GP it's affecting him at school!!

There could also be a build up of fluid (otherwise known as glue ear) that can be caused by the infection which in turn also effects hearing. DS constantly snotty and the consultant has told us this is a result of he not "aspirating" fluid properly. Most kids are able to do this normally, but some kids don't and have grommets fitted to help.

Thank you for the replies.

I will take him back to the GP again as it doesn't seem right to me that he's still hard of hearing this many weeks on from an infection.