Waiting for audiology after sudden hearing changes in my four-year-old

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My 4.5 yo started saying “what” “huh” a lot a bout a month ago. I wondered if it was just habit at first as he loves talking/ us talking to him. But I quickly noticed he was struggling to hear. He was watching my lips as I talked. I booked him a GP appointment and Gp said his ears looked “clean as a whistle” but he did some tests eg whispering etc and said he needs a referral to audiology. I’m awaiting the appointment.
im so panicked. Since the Gp app his hearing seems to be getting worse, he’s not hearing people come through the front door, he can’t hear when I whisper etc. someone said it could be glue ear but looking online quickly it said the GP would have been able to see this? Has anyone experienced anything like this before and could advise me what’s possibly going on here. He’s otherwise healthy and his hearing test as a newborn was perfect and this is definitely a “new” problem.

Yes glue ear needs specific test (tympanometry) tests the mobility of the eardrum and can give an indication of whether glue is present.
So no. gp cannot see glue ear by looking you need audiologist to perform tympanometry
Get tested asap

The Art of Hearing | Immittance testing (tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing) | London https://share.google/V4K8MeqaJHOqqZxFi

My ds did these tests and got flat lines showing glue ear....he got grommets . You cannot do this by lookig in ear

Tympanometry | MESHGuides share.google/e639TlxnuZBX7dLrV

No glue ear is the other side of the ear drum - it’s not just wax in the ear canal which can be seen. - a specific test called tympanometry which looks at the flexibility of the ear drum and also a specific hearing test called bone conduction can check if the hearing loss is conductive caused by glue ear or sensory neural which may indicate something more permanent in the inner ear.

Has he had lots of colds recently?

Thanks for the comments guys.

he’s not had colds recently, it’s probably been the best winter for him illness wise, and he’s never had an ear infection. His infections are always in the throat. His development is fine and his speech is clear and good.

Does the fact he hasn’t had a lot of colds recently point more towards another hearing issue rather than glue ear? I’m so scared 😦

Well done on noticing so quickly, that's really good.
Did the GP say how long the referral will take? If slow, you could look at private testing to speed things up.

It's so hard not to worry, but really until a trained person sees him no one can answer. But glue ear is definitely a possibility.

Thank you for your reply. No, he didn’t say a time frame. It’s been a weeek now and I’m really impatient so I may look at adding him onto my work private health care and trying that route as I feel it’s getting worse quite quickly 😪

You can ask the GP practice for average wait times. It's good you have a private option to pursue if needed.

I know it's awful worrying

Thanks I will do this. Thanks for your comment ❤️

Please dont worry. Glue ear is actually so common and presents in this age. It doesnt always present with ear infections. Sometimes it is worse during or after colds.

Often they like a bit of delay before testing as it can be self resolving anyway.

There will be a hearing test. If there is signs suggestive of glue ear, they retest again in a couple months to see if it resolves itself. If the second test shows no improvement then they refer to ENT. Again, they will retest the hearing and make a plan. May need grommets if not resolved. Some kids need tonsils or adenoids sorting as well.

Positives are that you picked up the hearing changes and its not been a long term thing as his speech is fine.

if hes in school, let his teacher know to make instructions clear to him and look at him. Also may need to let him sit at front of class while its going on. All the best. I know loads of kids that have had this in family and friends.