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Original poster

Opinions - Hearing aid for DD or not? My mother is casting doubt over things....(again)

44 replies

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/04/2008 19:04

We've discovered that (amongst other things) DD has moderate hearing loss.

After grommets being put in for Glue Ear didnt improve her hearing, she was referred to the local audiology clinic for further hearing tests, and on Monday morning we went along.

The tests came back with pretty much the same results as 3 months ago, and 6 months ago (pre grommets).

She has a slight loss in the lower pitch tones so nothing to worry about, but, moderate hearing loss in the higher end of the scale, which is worse in her right ear.

The Dr asked if I thought a hearing aid would help her. I think yes. She's in a busy environment at school, her teachers are female as is the headmistress (higher pitch voices - she doesnt hear me well but does hear DH okay). All her classmates have voices at the higher pitch end of the range etc. I think she'd benefit - particularly in a classroom environment.

It was also discovered on Monday that she appears to be compensating somewhat because when he asked her (in a soft voice) about what the pictures on cars showed, she was able to answer and understand. However, when I pointed out that I felt she was lip-reading, he came and sat beside us and instantly she started to not answer or respond, or, couldnt understand the request, or got the answer wrong.

Now, As I said, I feel she can only benefit from having a hearing aid.

My mum (who also has moderate to severe hearing loss and is reluctant to use a hearing aid although she has just got one for the 4th time in her life), thinks it's too early, and, that giving DD a hearing aid could make her too 'accustomed' to hearing various things and that if it broke, or she took it off it'd be like being shut in a soundproof room for her (my mothers experience).

What do you all think?

(and thank you if you have managed to read through my ramblings thus far!).

OP posts:

CarGirl · 16/04/2008 19:06

I think I would get one and let your dd try and and see what your dd thinks of using it. I would also find out if she can get help to improve her lip reading skills.

Original poster

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/04/2008 19:25

Good idea CG.

I'm wondering whether I should have posted this in SN instead....?

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 16/04/2008 19:29

I think that if you feel she needs one, you should at least give it a try. Your mother's experience has coloured her feelings, but your daughter's will be different.

Hearing is too important not to at least give it a try - it will probably make all the difference to her, particularly at school.

pointydog · 16/04/2008 19:30

What does the consultant suggest?

IN my area, ENT consultants recommend repeated grommet ops over hearing aid. Do you have the choice of another grommet op or don't you want that?

sarah293 · 16/04/2008 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

gagarin · 16/04/2008 19:32

She doesn't have to wear it at home and out and about if she doesn'y want does she?

Perhaps for school only? Whatever she feels comfortable with.

Tell her it's bionic....

Original poster

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/04/2008 20:40

Yes, true. No harm in getting it and seeing I suppose.

Pointy - the ENT consultant, having done the grommet op and found zero change in her hearing (in fact it was marginally worse!) 3 months later, has said that her glue ear has gone as far as he is concerned, and whilst they'll follow up things with her every 6 months or so, the problem still remains that her speech isnt as good as it should/could be, and her hearing is clearly lacking.

Because she wasnt suffering recurrent infections or snoring etc, the ENT have effectively discharged her (barring regular checks).

She's been passed over to the local audiology clinic, who have now passed her over to another (cottage style?) hospital who specialise in fitting hearing aids.

On the bright side, the audiologist is going to write to the SENCO at DD's school who thus far, has remained pretty elusive despite me trying to track her down, leave messages etc.

OP posts:

geogteach · 16/04/2008 20:48

I'd get it. DS has them and when we first got it he was borderline, he has since gone on to loose more hearing and could not cope without. Your mums experience may not be that useful as the aids now are so different to what was available in the past. With hearing aids she would probably also get access to a teacher of the deaf who will be able to advise you and more importantly the teachers in the best way to help your DD.

littlelapin · 16/04/2008 20:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shitemum · 16/04/2008 21:00

I would get her a hearing aid because she is going to miss out on too much at an important stage of her life otherwise.
I, and 2 of my 3 siblings, have hearing loss which requires hearing aids although we haven't always chosen to wear them.
We are all self-conscious about wearing them and it has definately affected my confidence and self-image. The sooner she gets used to wearing one the better and it's very important that your mother does not send out negative messages to your DD about it.

lizzythemonkey · 16/04/2008 21:12

I would go for it. My dd wears hearing aids for a moderate-ish loss and they definitely help at school and in busy environments, esp. the ones she has now which are digital and can be very precisely mapped on to her levels of hearing. She does take them out at home unless she wants to listen to muisc/watch tv and I figure that's OK. I think it is much easier to get used to ha's the younger you are so see no benefit in delaying. My own experience with dd has been that it has improved dd's hearing even without them as it has imporved her listening skills by making her realise there is something to hear iyswim. She's 11 now and has had them since she was 1 so we have never had any issues about being sel-conscious (she has other SEN too which maybe make her less "aware") but in any case as others have said your/family's attitude v important in that area! You sound pretty positive which is great. Finally - in this rambly post - they have some really funky aids now, dd's are purple with purple glitter earmoulds and she loves them!!

AitchTwoOh · 16/04/2008 21:26

and your mum got her degree in audiology when exactly? of course you should go for it, your mum's objections are interesting and may say more about her attitude to hearing loss than your dd's.

tissy · 16/04/2008 21:33

I have (what I call) a moderate hearing loss in my left ear, due to a diving injury. I would love a hearing aid for busy situations, as I really struggle to hear. Consultant says it's not bad enough.

Go for it, if she notices an improvement and her speech therefore improves, then you have your answer.

I think your Mum's experience is sad, but needn't be your dd's.

littlelapin · 16/04/2008 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AitchTwoOh · 16/04/2008 21:36

oh yes, good point lapin. (i am very Against Mothers at the moment, i am actually too furious to tell you what mine has just done to me).

thisisyesterday · 16/04/2008 21:39

VVV are there other options for her aside from the hearing aids? does she have glue ear, or is the hearing loss something else entirely?

My brother had grommets, and then also something called t-tubes which worked a treat. obviously only of use if it is actually glue ear though and not somethinge lse causing the hearing probs.
this was some years ago too, and I don't know if they still use them, but worth asking if anything like it is used now

pointydog · 16/04/2008 22:07

ok. I'd for go a hearing aid. Your mum is letting lots of very personal emotions and skewed opinions cloud the issue, I reckon.

ReallyTired · 16/04/2008 22:17

My little boy has hearing aids. Modern hearing aids are very different to what hearing aids were in the past. My son has two digital hearing aids and they are tuned for his hearing loss.

The hearing aids are bright blue and you can see the workings inside the hearing aids. My son also has a picture of Jake from the Tweenies in his ear moulds. (He thought that Jake from the Tweenies was cool at the age of four. Unfortunately he has outgrown the tweenies and is stuck with tweenie ear moulds until he outgrows them)

Children's hearing aids come in a range of colours. Your daughter can have glitterly pink ones if she wanted to in our area.

We found that my son's reading really improved when he got the aid. He jumped from struggling with stage 2 ORT books to reading stage 4 ORT books within a space of weeks after getting the hearing aids. There were also other negative side affects, he learnt some very rude swear words with perfect pronounciation.

Hearing aids are getting more common in schools. Its unlikely that your child will be the only chid in the school with hearing aids.

You might find it a bit of a battle getting your daughter to wear the aids. A lot of people who are used to being deaf find them very loud. You will have to build up the hearing aids use gradually.

milou2 · 16/04/2008 22:18

I have 2 hearing aids now, also with moderate hearing loss. It has made such a difference to be able to hear without having to look at people's faces the whole time. I was forever saying sorry, what did you say, or just waiting for the next loud and clear bit of conversation.

Sometimes hearing everything gets too much and I want to take mine out. With children around to be responsible for I can't, but it is lovely to know I can just take them out if I want to.

The other thing I have noticed is that since wearing them my voice is much louder than it was. People used to be forever saying I had such a soft voice. Now no one ever comments. So I can hear the world and they can hear me too.

So I'd say go for it and see how it goes. It did take me 6 months to get used to the first and then a little while to get used to the second one. I went privately so I have an incentive to take care of them!

ReallyTired · 16/04/2008 22:20

Thats strange milou, my son had a really loud voice before his hearing aids. He used to be forever getting into trouble at school for shouting.

DoodleToYou · 16/04/2008 22:32

Message withdrawn

CarGirl · 16/04/2008 22:43

Also just thought about it surely using hearing aids would improve the brains development of the processing bits that link the ears to the brain IYSWIM? As in the problem with glue ear is that the ears don't work properly for a while so the brain forgets how to hear therefore once the glue ear has gone the brain then has to relearn how to hear - would this mean that the hearing aids would improve her natural hearing because her brain would learn to hear better? Also the sooner she starts hearing clearly the sooner she will improve her speech before her poor speech is so ingrained it becomes more difficult to change?????

This are just the ramblings of a mad mum feel free to ignore.......

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 16/04/2008 22:46

Good manners prevent me from posting what I am thinking.

littlelapin · 16/04/2008 22:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 16/04/2008 22:57

Sorry that was a bit harsh, but if you need to come and talk to DH you are more than welcome.

He may even cook, if you are lucky.

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