FAILED HEARING TESTS

[charley24]

Hello

I am hoping someone has some advice please, I am unsure whether this is the correct place to post.

My DD2 aged almost 6 failed her first and second school hearing tests. In between the tests after speaking to the nurse I took her to our GP to check whether she had any fluid/wax etc in the ears and he said there was nothing there, completely clear.

She failed the second test on Friday and is being referred (the nurse said urgently, but that will still be around 8 weeks to an audiologist at the hospital).

DD2 was premature at 32 weeks with a birth weight of just over 2lbs. She is a miracle as had necrotising endrocolitis at birth and a very rocky start (apneoas and brady's) and actually failed her baby hearing tests but then was signed off at 2.5years with the paedeatrician.

She is bright as a button however never seems to listen, ie she is well behaved but we had to ask her 5 times to do anything.

At parents evening last year and this the teacher explained she wasn't meeting the national average in reading/writing altho her maths was better.

The teacher said she was a bit of a dreamer...something I agreed with at the time.

She has the TV loud, her game console also and frequently asked 'what'.

I feel like things are starting to make sense ! My DH and I have tested ourselves and spoke without looking at her in a voice we would generally use and she cannot hear us, and noticed she watches our lips very closely.

The nurse said that she failed the test in both ears and that in her opinion it appeared severe but that the Audiologist would have a more detailed evaluation of her hearing.

Her speech is good, although she does mispronouce words and sometimes not finish them off, for example she would say I want to Sin !!! And not Sing.

She also uses the wrong first letter of words, but we can understand what she is saying. She doesn't have 'an indoor voice', she shrieks at times and speaks quite loudly to us.

I was wondering if anyone else had been through anything similar and can offer any words of wisdom?

I may seem blase, about this, but the fact she is here is wonderful after her start and her chances at birth and I am hoping if this does turn out to be that she is deaf/going deaf it is something that we can all cope with together and work through things.

Also I have read a lot about glue ear, but as the doctor said there was no fluid and her ears were clear I am unsure if this rules this out.

I would say that her problems with hearing, looking back have been there for over 2 years, or perhaps she has always had a problem but as I didn't know, nor she (as she took it as the norm).

I would appreciate any input or thoughts x
Thanks so Much x

Hi I can't really help but just wanted to say I wander if you could ring the hospital and explain how worried you are and ask for a cancellation or to be seen more urgently? 8 weeks seems a long time to wait. Or see if your gp can give it some clout. My neice is partially deaf, about 10 percent reduction in both ears. She had grommits when little (she's 14 now). It does sound like your dd has some probs but my ds says 'what' all the time too and speaks incredibly loud. He failed first scho test but passed the second one. Sorry can't help but wanted to answer

Thanks Charlie Boo, I am fine with the waiting, because as all local schools have just had these tests, there are going to be other Mum's in my position.

Obviously I would prefer sooner, but only children who fail both tests are referred so lots of anxious parents.

I am so glad your DS passed the second test, unfortunately as DD failed this is next step, The nurse who took the test was lovely and explained that in her opinion the problem was severe and that she hadn't scored well and that she had been happy to have test and as well as the fact the Dr had checked ears for fluid she would ask for urgent.

The teacher is being very nice and even said that it explained many things as she is a bright girl and isn't disruptive, she tends to just sit a while and then looks to see what other children are doing.

She is going to keep an eye until the appointment comes through.

Thanks so Much x