think ds's hearing isn't what it should be. What's the next step?

[fryalot]

Have done the squonk-patented chocolate test (stand behind him and ask if he wants some chocolate) and he genuinely doesn't seem to be able to hear anything quieter than a fairly loud voice.

He often ignores us, but he's 3 so that's normal, he always turns the telly up to ridiculous volumes, and his favourite word appears to be "pardon?"

Do I take him to the docs? or the HV? or do I try to make an appt with the hospital direct?

Any advice from anyone?

Ask your HV to refer him for a hearing test. I did this at the start of December for DS and an appointment came through within a couple of weeks (of course, his hearing turned out to be fine and I felt foolishly paranoid ).

You need to take him to the GP and ask for a referral to a paediatatic audiologist. It is quite a challenge doing a hearing test on a small child and it requires specialist skills. (Getting a young child to sit still for long enough is quite a feat)

There is little point in an ENT department attempting a hearing test without proper paediatric toys equipment. My son had an adult hearing test at 3 years old and and it was a total utter farst.

The GP will examine his ears to see if there is anything obvious like glue ear or excessive wax causing his hearing loss. What is your lo speech like?

You should be able to just phone the HV and ask for a referral to the local audiology service.

Ask them to send you a copy of the referral as with so many calls and requests for referrals sometimes these things just slip through the net. If you don't get a response then keep phoning....

In some PCTs the GP can't refer to a paediatric audiologist and the referral needs to come from the HV (I remember this because there was a MNer who had fallen foul of this rule a couple of years back).

thanks everyone.

I shall take him to the doc first, and presumably he/she can check for wax or whatever.

Then I shall speak to HV if doc not forthcoming with a referral.

His speech is fine. Advanced if anything. He can deffo hear but he can't hear quieter things. Not sure whether this is a recent thing or not. I think it is fairly recent but I'm doubting myself now!

ds's ears are clear.

Doc said that it could be connected to the cold that he had a couple of weeks ago and to leave it a month. If we still think he has problems, we can just ring up and she will refer us straight away.

Don't feel I've been fobbed off, she did say that she could refer him for a hearing test straight away, but if it were her child she would wait a little while just in case it clears up on its own.

And as we can't pinpoint an exact time that it started, we thought we'd go with her advice and if he does need to be referred, it will just take one phone call.

Thanks again everyone for all the advice

Our audiologist has a waiting list of typically 6 to 9 months for a first referal. It is a two months wait for a re referal.

If you are seriously concerned I would push for a referal even if the doc says the ears are clear.

Our audiologist has a waiting list of typically 6 to 9 months for a first referal. It is a two months wait for a re referal.

If you are seriously concerned I would push for a referal even if the doc says the ears are clear.

I did this with DD who is 4 and doctor checked ears. Doctor suggested drops for the ears until colds and virus's had cleared up. Then take it from there.

It's always worth getting a different doctor (new) to give you their opinion.

The vagaries of the NHS! It took 18 months to get a hearing test for my ds. Turned out he had 30% hearing loss in one ear, couldn't hear in the higher ranges which explained his speech development delay.

Looking back I should have been pushier, as SAL still delayed a bit.

I love GP's, but there are some things that just need proper testing, if only for your peace of mind. There is no harm in booking it, and cancelling nearer the time if you think it is all resolved, but I would still go for it.

BTW, nothing wrong with ds, just had extremely narrow tubes. Grew out of it and has perfect hearing now.