Newborn failed ABR test

[elorana]

Hi all,

Hoping for a bit of support as DD2 has failed her newborn hearing tests (both the AOAE and the AABR) and this has sent me in a worry spiral 😟

She was born at 36 weeks and both tests were carried out in hospital at day 4, we've now been referred to a specialist Audiology department in Brighton around the time of her original due date. That means 2 whole weeks of me stressing about what the outcome might be.

I've seen topics about potential fluid in ear but she wasn't born via c-section and one of the ears actually passed both tests so I'm not holding out much hope on that front. She definitely isn't reactive to loud sounds near her left ear.

Has anyone experienced anything similar and could share how their journey went? Thank you so much 💓

I know it’s easier said than done but try not to worry too much for now.

My son had his hearing test at the hospital just after he was born and failed in one of his ears. He had another hearing test around a week later and passed the tests in both ears. I’ve recently had another baby and she didn’t react to any sound. My dog could bark right next to her and she wouldn’t flinch! She passed her hearing tests in both ears.

I also didn’t have a c-section with either or mine.

I remember being sent for further tests with my now 17 year old coz she failed hers with the midwife back then . We were sent to hospital where they took us into an enclosed padded room , where they performed more tests and she passed those and there wasn’t anything wrong with her hearing after all .

Try not to worry , hopefully it’s just one of those things at the moment .

We went through this, and lots of well meaning people did try and reassure us that they had been through similar and it was just fluid. So when we did find out our dd had permanent hearing loss we were shocked and unprepared. What I would say is that we managed to get into audiology earlier due to a cancellation so do ask if you can get in earlier, and if they don’t get a clear answer don’t wait to get another appointment rescheduled (they squeezed us in the next day). If your child does have hearing loss please know there is lots of support (a teacher of the deaf should contact you within a week) and please reach out to the deaf community and the national deaf children society who have regular online sessions. Our journey with our dd is not what we expected when she was born but different doesn’t mean bad. I wouldn’t change or ‘fix’ her for anything