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Original poster

What a waste of time

25 replies

NotABanana · 02/05/2008 11:35

I took my son to the GP as I am concerned about his hearing. It was frustrating that we went in half an hour after our time as it was before wasting even more time waiting for the HV. The GP was lovely. Took his history, checked his ears (all clear) and said to see the HV for a hearing test, the nurse if no joy and then he would refer us to a peadiatrician specialist. "We won't ofrget about him." So, I go to the HV room and wait a few minutes, all fine with that until she decides she will weigh a baby first, I wouldn't normally mind this but I was in a rush to get home and was worried. She said she doesn't do tests, neither do nurses, and she will have words with the GP as they have been told. They don't do hearing checks at 9-10m anymore, when I asked about them. She did say she could speak to someone but no promising as she normally only does babies. At this point I told her I would speak to my husband and go privately. I was fed up of being told different things all the time. She asked him I was okay with that and I just waved my hand and said, well. Not like I had any choice.

So, we have to pay £180 to have him checked privately. I nearly cried on the way home and feel like crying now. I have had to fight for my last 2 children for check ups and treatment and are fed up with it all.

OP posts:

smartiejake · 02/05/2008 13:04

Sorry have asked you a question on the other thread about this but this answers all the questions I asked.

In answer to this thread...NO NO NO! A doctor can't just look in ears and say there is no problem with hearing! Don't bother with the HV they are not properly trained to test hearing and when they did the 8-10 month checks they were notoriously unreliable..

Go back to doc and demand to be referred to an audiology clinic (Southend where you went before is very good actually)

smartiejake · 02/05/2008 13:20

Sorry also meant to say- how very frustrating for you.

Nothing like delays and mixed messages to add to your worries!

Try not to worry too much. It may well be a gluey ear thing. There is no way a doctor would be able to tell if he has glue ear just by looking in his ears. He would need to do a tympanology test to know that and most docs do not do those.

Original poster

NotABanana · 02/05/2008 13:42

Have answered you on other thread!

Have a private appointment for next Thursday as we didn't feel we would get anywhere with our surgery. Wondering now whether to ring Southend for advice as it is such a lot of money. He is clearly worth it but it is big chunk of my allowance.

OP posts:

smartiejake · 02/05/2008 14:44

At least he will be seen quickly. Doubt if you could get a referral that quickly to an NHS hospital. Only problem is if he needs treatment (i.e. grommets) would you have to have that done privately or could you then have that done on the NHS?

Out of interest wHere are you seeing the private audiologist?

gagarin · 02/05/2008 15:08

Well the thing is the 2 week hearing test tested for one type of hearing loss and your DS passed that so that bit of his hearing is probably fine.

And the GP looked down his ears and although they can't know about hearing just by looking they CAN see changes to the ear drum that can be due to glue ear. The ear drum goes "dull" in appearance and can be pulled out of shape and also occasionally it is possible to see large amounts of glue behind the ear drum as ear drums are transluscent.

So perhaps it sounds unlikely that he has severe glue ear. So hopefully that's another type of hearing problem he probably hasn't got!

Your doc must be very out of date to ask the HV to do a hearing test on a 3 year old (did she bang her head on the wall...)as children should be referred to audiology at this age.

By going privately you will be seen much quicker. Just make sure you go back to the NHS for any follow up if any is required. If the audilogy test shows all is well then your mind will be put at rest and you'll know it's the classic "selective hearing" that so many boys (and men!) get.

Good luck for the appointment

Original poster

NotABanana · 02/05/2008 18:38

I am pretty sure it isn't selective deafness. He also shouts quite a bit which makes me wonder if he can't hear himself as well.

We are going to the Bupa Alexander hospital in Walderslade.

A nurse friend said grommets aren't used anymore but I think that is wrong. DH had grommets at 7 to help with his hearing.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 02/05/2008 21:09

grommets are still the treatment for severe glue ear my dd had them a year ago, her hearing and speech improved dramatically her social confidence soared etc.

There are 2 or 3 different causes of deafness, (I am no expert though) nerve damage, build up of fluid which must reduce the vibrations (glue ear) and auditory processing issues (your brain has to transmit the sounds). My understanding is that if the ears aren't working properly the brain processing part can start to detoriate and then when hearing improves it relearns it all which is why recurrent glue ear can have such a long term impact on hearing.

I said on your other thread your HV needs to refer you for an audiology test at least that is how it works here - one of the surrey PCTs

Original poster

NotABanana · 02/05/2008 21:27

HV wouldn't test him and said there was someone she could ring but she couldn't promise as they only did babies. At this point I left.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 02/05/2008 21:30

but HV don't do the hearing tests but they are the ones to REFER you to audiology (I think)

Ring and speak to your local health visitors if you get no joy try getting your dh to ring????

Original poster

NotABanana · 02/05/2008 22:00

Our HV said she couldn't promise to help. So we have a private appointment on Thursday.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 02/05/2008 22:05

I would speak to your PCT and ask who should be referring him and then ask for an NHS referral from the correct person. I would do this even if you intend to go to the private appointment because if glue ear is the cause then you will probably have to have regular hearing tests before they will treat it.

Original poster

NotABanana · 02/05/2008 22:28

How do I find out my PCT number? Do I just google PCT and our area?

I am not sure he has glue ear as the GP said they were clear. How would I (they) know?

OP posts:

CarGirl · 02/05/2008 22:42

yes try google, the way the audio people detect glue ear is by measuring how the sound resonates I think. They stick something in their ear and it draws a picture on a printer (obv connected by leads!) and the way the line is - flat or peaks or v shape etc tells them if they have glue ear currently or have had it recently.

You cannot see glue ear by looking in ears, you could only see if there were a build up of wax. Glue ear is caused by the build up of fluid behind the ear drum (nearer the brain) rather than the pinner side IYSWIM.

smartiejake · 03/05/2008 14:49

The test they do is called tympanometry. They put a device in the ear which puffs a blast of air to the ear drum. The reading measures how flexible the eardrum is and this can show the presence of glue ear.

They will also probably test his hearing in 2 different ways. The first is by playing sounds at different pitches and loudness in to his ears by way of earphones and seeing how he responds. WIth little ones they usually make a bit of a game of it but the results can sometimes be influenced by how co-operative they are!

If this shows hearing loss then they will do a bone conduction test which is where they put a conductor onto the head somewhere (forehead or just behind the ear) and repeat the test. The sounds are transmitted straight into the cochlear without going through the middle ear. Usually children with glue ear will show better hearing through bone conduction.

Don't worry-these tests are painless but the tympanometry may make him jump a bit.

HTH!

Original poster

NotABanana · 03/05/2008 16:13

Thank you for that. I am going to print out what you have said so DH can see what we are going to have. (As long as you are happy for me to do that.)

OP posts:

Original poster

NotABanana · 03/05/2008 16:13

Thank you for that. I am going to print out what you have said so DH can see what we are going to have. (As long as you are happy for me to do that.)

OP posts:

CarGirl · 03/05/2008 16:17

NaB those are the tests that my dds have all had done and they really enjoy going!!!!! They check that they are not lip reading too by covering their mouths over and asking them to point at certain objects. These are the tests my dds had at my request of a referral due to the fact they often sat too close to the TV, misunderstood what I said etc.

I hope it all goes well.

Original poster

NotABanana · 03/05/2008 16:19

I just feel so upset about it all to be honest.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 03/05/2008 16:24

I'm sure you do, it sounds like they are not listening to what you are saying about your sons hearing, ie that there seems to be a problem at it needs looking into. How is speech - clear/easy to understand, does he have a nasal voice at all?

Original poster

NotABanana · 03/05/2008 16:25

His speech has really come on lately and he is pretty clear. He still says some words wrong but he is only 2 so I expect that. the HV doesn't like me since I argued for care for DD so I am not that surprised but annoyed that they can get personal and involve children's care. Maybe she will pay the £180?

OP posts:

CarGirl · 03/05/2008 16:30

if his speech is good and clear then hopefully that means he doesn't have much of a hearing probem, perhaps at worst glue ear

You know you can ask for a different health visitor? Again it's another thing to have to argue/fight/ask for - more hassle.

Original poster

NotABanana · 03/05/2008 16:37

All the Hv's are a waste of space.

OP posts:

smartiejake · 05/05/2008 20:54

Good luck NAB.

It doesn't sound like the problem is very serious if his speech is quite good (and as you say he is only 2)Hopefully the tests will put your mind at rest. Shame your HV is so bloody awful.

jybay · 07/05/2008 18:43

Why don't you just ring your GP or go back & see him? He has already said he will refer you if necessary. I can understand you being upset but it seems a bit daft to shell out for private tests if money is tight when your GP can refer you on the NHS.

smartiejake · 08/05/2008 11:09

Let us know how he gets on with the tests NAB

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