DD 'failed' her hearing test today.

[Jenkeywoo]

A few weeks ago playgroup told that they think that dd (3.3) has hearing problems so I booked her in for a test with my HV. So she had the test today - it was a bit unscientific. Basically the HV gave dd a little tray of toys and then went to the other side of the room put her hand over her mouth and said the name of a toy which dd then had to pick up. I was really shocked to see loads of times when I could hear the HV easily and dd just sat there looking blank. Dh and I tried again at home and she was just sat there saying 'what you saying mum' - dh and I had to talk quite loudly for her to be able to hear, I think she must rely on lip-reading a lot normally. Also I'm not exactly a quiet person myself and having been a teacher kind of project my voice all the time anyway! (always being told by friends not to talk so loudly).

We are now being referred to the Community paediatrician for further tests. I'm hoping it will some sort of glue ear type thing but dd is not at all prone to coughs and colds and has only had one ear infection at about 18 months. Does anyone have any experience of toddler hearing problems? Any information would be appreciated. I don't want to get ahead of myself but I have been completely shocked by how little dd seems to be able to hear.

No point worrying at this stage. dd2 had bad glue ear, never had ear infections but was and still is a blocked up kid.

Your dd is in the system now, they will continue to test her and at som epoint soon she will end up an an audiology dept where the test will be a little more rigorous (although it can always be a bit variable with a 3 yr old .

DD has glue ear.

I tend to think along the lines that if DD is comfortable, in no pain, and happy, then her hearing problems arent much of an issue.

That said, she's got a pre-op assessment tomorrow for her glue ear operation next week. This should hopefully help her to hear, making loud/bustling/crowded situations less confusing, and improving her speech.

HTH

VVVQV it's interesting that you mention speech, as my dd has problems with pronounciation of certain consonants and it's almost as if she can't hear that she's not saying it well. Do they still do gromits these days? My Dh had them when he was little so ear problems are not uncommon in this family.

Thanks pointydog for the reassurance too - I can imagine any testing with a 3 year old must be a bit unscientific!

my dd was partially deaf - i can remember the shock vividly - it sounds to other people like it isn;t that serious. but its jsut different when it happens to you.

she was much older when she was diagnosed - due to living in an area with incompetant NHS. so if she is partially deaf its a good thing it has been diagnosed so early.

if you ever have any more questions do not hesitate to ask.

a mumsnetter called coppertop is herself deaf and was very helpful to me - it might be worth giving her a shout too xx

yes, often unclear speech goes with hearing loss.

Depemnds on local authority whether they recommend grommits or not

grommets still commonplace for glue ear. They help drain the sticky fluid away from inside the ear (which the also do during the op as well). After 4-6 months they usually drop out naturally.

I think it's pretty common to have systems in place for this kind of thing in schools etc. Glue ear is quite common.

I've found that speaking through blown up ballons pressed against her head was fun and helped with some sounds. Also, making sure you have good eye contact when you speak helps - or standing in front of a mirror and making sound-shapes with your mouths.

I have to admit here and now that this stuff all comes fairly naturally to me anyway because my mum has always been partially deaf and lip-reads. My mum has always refused to have a hearing aid. (My mums hearing was damaged through medication for meningitis so its not a congenital problem that DD has).

If you need support, the National Deaf Childrens Society is fab and their parent place forum is wonderful www.ndcs.org.uk (sorry, can't do links!), they have proved invaluable to us. Dd3 had mixed deafness, so glue ear on top of nerve damage, they removed the glue with grommets last month but unfortunately that didn't improve her hearing at all, but that we thought would happen because of the nerve damage.

Unfortunately not many of the hearing tests are scientific, the most accurate tests are done by measuring reaction to sound so you have to have a child who wants to cooperate! Good audiology clinics will tailor the tests to your childs age and ability, but speech discrimination tests are used a lot.

They will test for glue ear using tympanometry which involves putting a small probe in the ear which will see if her ear drum moves, it doesn't hurt and only takes a couple of seconds to do. Again the NDCS site has all the fact sheets on what they are likely to do.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

oo my mum's deaf in one ear too, vvv, not congenital

Hi,

My DS2 is developmentally delayed, and we found out that his hearing is very comprised. He initially had the timpanogram tests, which were a flat-line. They initially thought he "just" had glue ear, but more detailed tests have revealed profound loss in his left ear, which they think is likely to be sensori-neural (no response at 90 dbls), and even in his right he had moderate loss (possibly just down to glue ear).

He had grommets put in last week after having the "glue" sucked out, and the audiologist thought they should improve his right ear. Incidentally, it is very common, minor procedure done under GA. DS2 was admitted at noon, he had the op at 2.30, and we were discharged at 5.30pm. Did not seem to be in too much pain at all.

He is having another ABR (auditory brainstem reponse) test next Wednesday (bone conduction) which should confirm that it is sensori-neural.

Bigcar, I am interested to read about your DD3. If the damage is nerve-based, can they do anything about it? DS2 also has vision problems, which we are trying to improve through lots of visual stimulation (flashing lights etc), but can anything be done for the auditory nerve?

Has your DD's hearing delayed her development at all? DS2 saw the neurologist on Monday, and he thinks that once we "sort out" his hearing that he should develop some more.

Jenkeywoo, hope you are able to some answers, hopefully your DD "just" has glue ear, and if she needs grommets, it really is not a big deal at all.

All the best,

Arse.

DD's tests didnt go too well today. The sensory-neuro test was done due to her results from the response test. Seems her hearing loss may not be down to "just" glue ear. We'll have to wait and see after the op next week.

Sorry to hijack your thread jenkeywoo.

The paediatric audiology test is much more rigorous. My Dc were both given a 'proper' test as I have sensory neural deafness myself.

Wait and see what that the next test brings but it's great that if a problem it's been detected early.

I hate to wish to appear trite but it really isn't the end of the world and with help and support nothing should hold your DD back.

All the best!

mm22bys your ds2 sounds very similar to my dd3! She has a profound loss in her left ear and a moderate loss in her right ear, she is also very short sighted and has a partial cataract and as a result has put her behind developmentally. She had her repeat ABR whilst under the anaesthetic for the grommets so we had the results straight away.

Do you have a Teacher of the Deaf, ours is great and does lots of speech and language work with us as well as a weekly trip to a sensory room which is absolutley fab. Dd3 has hearing aids although they don't think the left one is helping at all, they test up to 95dbs at our clinic and she does not respond at that level in that ear. They won't do anything else unless her right ear deteriorates to profound, then she may be able to have a cochlear implant.

At the moment we don't know what caused her deafness and are still waiting for tests, but we will be pushing hard for these as we should have been offered further testing as soon as she was diagnosed.

If you haven't already, get on to the NDCS, I can't sing their praises high enough, their parent place is soooo supportive, whether its glue ear or sensori neural deafness. Also if it turns out not to be down solely to glue the NDCS do newly diagnosed weekends which are great. Also the Elizbeth Foundation do a home course for deaf children from birth up to 5 that encourages good speaking and listening skills that is definitley worth a go.

At the moment we are doing basic signing with dd3 which is definitely helping especially as the prescription for her glasses has recently increased again, although still not full strength.

How old is your ds2? Keep in touch!

Try not to worry too much, glue ear can be present without any infections or colds - dd has had it. Also, like you say the tests are very unscientific. ds1 convinced the medical team he was deaf, but I knew full well he could hear. He has only jsut passed a test at the age of 5!

HV hearing tests are notorously awful. Before neonatal hearing tests which are now done in hospital just after birth, a large number of children (later found to be severely and profoundly deaf) passed hv hearing tests.
mm2bys- If damage is nerve based (sensorineural) and the child has a hearing threshold of 60db WITH hearing aids on they may be considered for a cochlear implant. Having said that hearing aid technology is amazing these days and most kids are offered digital aids.
Even profoundly deaf kids can get alot of help from very little residual hearing with digi aids.
If a hearing loss is conductive and grommets and surgery do not help a bone conduction aid can be fantastic.

Thanks for your responses (although I know this is Jenkeywoos' thread!).

DS2 actually passed his newborn hearing test. We didn't "know" he had a hearing problem - he wasn't babbling at 10 months, but DS1 was also "late" babbling (8 months) and now at 3.5 his speech and hearing are "normal" - we just thought that as DS2 is late with everything, that the babbling would come in its own good time.

Bigcar, DS2 is one (just , this week). We were told that the hospital he had the grommet op at couldn't also do the ABR, and we didn't really want to wait for the grommets if they could at least partially help him. It's a pity he has to be asleep, but he slept well last time so hopefully he will sleep OK this time and they can finish the investigations. He did actually have a mould taken for a right hearing aid, but it hasn't been fitted yet as the grommet op came up quickly. Who knows, it would be fantastic if his right ear has improved just with the removal of the gunk, and that he does have some residual hearing in his left ear after all, but given all that's been "dumped" on DS2 this year I doubt he will be that lucky!

The hearing impaired service is coming for the first time next week, after the ABR. I have heard good things about them. Haven't had a chance yet to look at deaf-specific stuff with all that's going on with DS2, but will get round to it one day!

How old is your DD3?

It would be great to keep in touch!

All the best,

Hi Jenkey,Haven't read replies to thread but dd recently diagnosed with glue ear by proper consultant audiolgist doing paed audiology test which is a little more scientific than the hv one.

At the mo they are not intervening (dd has other probs as well as hearing and I am signing with her)but the audiologist suggested things like making sure I was facing dd so she could see what I was saying,and logical sensible things like that.

I think they would intervene if it was serious ie causing pain or discomfort,and this involves inserting grommets.DD is being reassesd in 4 months.

Good luck with your dc

dd2 had grommits but in at Easter when she was nearly 5. Her first hearing test (done the way you describe plus they measure the ear for build up of fluid by inserting a device and it traces a line???) it was compromised, next one much better, next one pretty much failed she really couldn't hear a thing, next one better, next one really not great again.

Having her grommits done was the best thing ever, her understanding of what's going on is so much better, her behaviour improved (not that it was particularly bad), she is thriving at school, so much more chatty - think it improved her confidence etc.

I know those tests don't look scientific but they are very experienced so know what they are looking for etc. Also if it is glue ear the other issue is that it when the glue ear clears up there is then a time delay for the brain to "catch up" and relearn how to hear properly again so bearing this in mind glue ear really can be problematic for child. AFter all they finally get to hear again then lo and behold it starts off again!

mm22bys if you want to email me off board, I'd love to chat [email protected]

DD's hearing loss was picked up in school when they did their health checks. Think she was Reception. She has had regular checks ever since. I too was amazed at how much she was lip reading. She has glue ear so it comes and goes. But she doesn't have an abnormal amount of colds or ear infections so it may just be glue ear.