So, what can be done to help my DD at school. She has ongoing glue ear, doesn't hear the teacher or the other chilren. She is just drifting off in class, and at playtime children are starting not to play with her as she can't interect with them properly

[ListersSister]

We have an ENT referral and one for Sensory Needs. However, what can be done while we wait for these things? Her glue ear has been on and off for years (she is now 7 - Yr 2), but has been really bad the last couple of months. It is noticeable that she is playing with fewer and fewer children now and I think it is because she doesn't respond to them half the time as she can't hear. Sometimes she says that no-one wants to play with her, which is such a change as she was always a 'friend to anyone' kind of a child, and played with everybody.

She is also not concentrating in class - she sits at the front, but it is hard for anyone to hear in a busy classroom, and she certainly can't hear when the other children are answering questions. Because she can't hear things she is just drifting off into her own world . Teacher is aware, but not sure what can be done.

Anyone been here and can offer advice? I feel so sorry for her .

can also recommend flixonase steroid nasal spray, worked wonders for ds2. your gp could prescribe it while you wait for referral perhaps?

Ta again. Really useful advice .

I will definitely consider the initial private consultation...

It is worrying how apparent it is already that to get things done you have to push and push .

How does the nasal spray work morroco - is it for glue ear of something else?

You could get your child to try this

www.auravita.com/products/aura/kehe10041.asp

My son never got on with it. He found blowing a balloon up with his nose too difficult.

Hi ReallyTired - I willl try that. It isn't expensive so no great shakes if it doesn't work. Fab if it does. Do you know if there are any dodgy consequences of using one? I know dd has negative pressure on one ear, but her worse hearing is in the other ear.

Hi LS, my 4yo dd had grommets in and adenoids out in Jan, which did solve the problem initially, but in recent weeks her hearing seems to have gone down again. I managed to bypass gp and consultant and got the local audiology clinic to book her in for a hearing test to at least see where her hearing is at and if grommets are still in. Although they had officially logged her as discharged, since they had seen her a few times before they were happy to book her in. Appt next week - a wait of 3 weeks, I'm sure I could of got in sooner if pushed for cancellations - is this worth a try for you?

As far as grommets themselves I think funding varies hugely between PCTs. In my case the Consultant agreed it immediately but PCT dragged feet approving it. I got local MP to write a letter and as if by magic they happened to approve it 3 days later......

Could you speak to the ENT chap about T tubes - they last longer than grommets. Downside is that they need an op to get them out.

Ds has had glue ear for most of his life - hopefully getting past it now - and T tubes were the best option for him.

Good luck.

Thanks ladies - more to think about there...

Anyone heard about trying a homoeopathic remedy - pustilla or something??

We tried a homeopath, it was completely useless. It did wonders for my postnatal depression. I struggled to keep a straight face when I was told that diluting something made it stronger.

I know RT, I am very about it too. Water has memory etc?
I am just looking for any quick fixes and if someone has had some success with it, then I am prepared to suspend disbelief if it costs less than a tenner!

Homeopathy is certainly more than a tenner.

Have you tried piraton. If your daugher has hayfever it might make her glue ear worst.

You could try Karval or oil of olbas to see if that clears her breathing. Maybe give her an extra pillow at night time.

I would be wary of grommets, my son has permament scarring on both his ear drums caused by the grommets going wrong.

If it any consolation a lot of children outgrow glue ear at the age of 7.

I've never heard of that Starlight - ds had grommets fall out but never t tubes.

You could try taking her to a cranial osteopath - it might help open her tubes up a bit. Very successful apparently.

We went to a cranial osteopath which treated DS for glue ear and it didnt do anything other then costing over £200.
Grommits made a lot of difference for DS and agree that phoning up and chasing made it all happen much quicker for us (1st app. 6 weeks, repeat app 6 weeks, 3rd app another 6 weeks then a wait for 3 months for grommits but asked them if it could be done quicker and op was within 3 weeks after 3rd app. )
Hope it all works out befroe she starts year 3!

RT - I was thinking of just gong to Boots to get some pustilla stuff rather than having homeopathic consultations...

DD doesn't get hay fever, nor in fact does she get colds/snot etc. She does snore though, but karvol etc does nothing for that.

I was unconvinced by the idea of grommets due to experiences my friends have had. Hwr, we can't let the current situation carry on. DD is now over 7, and the problem seems to be worsening rather than improving. It feels the risk of her not hearing outweigh the risks of an op (if that is what is suggested for her).

I am sorry to hear your DS was harmed by grommets. Was this an exceptional circustance? Did the surgeon make a mistake?

Re cranial - we have tried that for several months to no effect...

Cat64 - that is really helpful. It is basically all the things we have worked out ourselves for dealing with dd. She also has poor listening as well as hearing (although I believe the latter caused the former). Really useful about getting her to repeat the meaning of what we have said - I often just say 'did you hear me?' but obviously she doesn't know whether she heard it all - doh!

I will definitely get a meeting with dd's teacher soon into term. Hopefully Sensory needs will be saying the same things. She willbe in a class of 32 in a big old victorian-built classroom, which I suspect will be quite a problem...

Pickie - I am going to chase the hospital this pm. I am considering a private appt initially so if necessary, we can get on the list for grommets (or t tubes) asap.

Ta again you lovely lot

"I am sorry to hear your DS was harmed by grommets. Was this an exceptional circustance? Did the surgeon make a mistake?"

I don't think the surgeon made any mistakes. My son was just unlucky. I think its because he has exceptionally bad glue ear and the grommets just couldn't cope with the flow of gunk.

Grommets are successful for 99% of children. There is a risk in any medical proceedure and no parents ever expects their child to be in the 1%. ENT surgeons are reluctant to do grommets because of the risks rather than NHS cost cutting.

My son did well with tempoarary hearing aids.

My dd is having grommets put in next thursday - its all happened really quickly - we didn't even know she had any problems hearing until it was picked up at the school hearing test, (she is in reception). She was quickly referred to auditory clinic locally, and from the results it was suggested grommets would be the best option. This was in March, and as i said, she goes in for the op this thursday. So we must be very lucky that it all happened so easily and smoothly! Good luck and I think you should def get more pushy !

Another one here for going to the consultant privately and then asking to go onto NHS list for any OP - thats what we did and DS was offered an op within 6 weeks of seeing ENT consultant privaetly.

Good luck .

The NHS can move swiftly when there is a major problem. When my son was three he had a hearing test done by audiology at the end of july, he saw an ENT surgeon in the middle of August and then had the op in September.

I think its a good idea to ask for a copy of your child's audiogram when they have a hearing test. It gives you an idea of the extent of the problem.

just plugging the flixonase again. it worked for ds who had quite bad glue ear. I don't know if it's a new treatment as such but I know that there is a move towards using it before trying surgery as risks are less