DS suddenly seems quite deaf - any ideas why?

[Bozza]

DS is 4.1. He has had a history of glue ear starting from when he failed his 7 month hearing test. Although he has had very few ear infections that we have been aware of at least. He first had grommets in May 03 (aged 2.3) and we immediately noticed an improvement in his hearing (things like the birds singing etc). But the glue ear recurred and he had grommets again last September (3.7) and also because of repeat grommets he had an adenoidectomy which we were told would mean that the glue ear would not come back and he would need no more grommets.

However over the last 2-3 weeks he has become very deaf so that DH and I are quite concerned. We're very often having to repeat ourselves (and it's not just selective deafness, we're positive) and he's not hearing other noises. The other night he was stood in the living room window watching for a quad bike that was going up and down the street. I was sat at the far end of the room playing with DD and I could hear it quite clearly and he couldn't hear it at all (and my hearing is slightly suspect).

Is it possible that the grommets have come out (not seen them)? Or could he have had an ear infection? Also is it worth taking him to see the GP?

I would take him to GP just to make sure.

My brothers grommets fell out without anyone knowing. I'd take your ds to the gp to have him checked.

The first lot of grommets - one came out and I found it in his outer ear in a lump of wax (sorry TMI) and the other just disappeared. He's due to see the specialist in a few weeks but I'm concerned that this deafness has come on so suddenly.

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My dd1 had an adenoidectomy with her first set of grommets and had a second set a year and a half later. The consultant told us that about 30% of grommets need to be replaced later and an adenoidectomy reduced this slightly but not totally. We were told that grommets last up to a year, but could come out almost immediately.Dd's first came out of position but stayed in the ear canel, One of the second set came out within 3 months accompayned by some blood. They tend to grow out of the need of these things about the age of 7 we were told, so we are hoping that we don't need to repeat the exercise this winter.

Has your DS had a cold recently? I would definitely get the Drs to check him out. When they tested DDs hearing they tested her underlying hearing and said although she was 40% deaf underneath everything was OK.

Interesting experiences. When it was decided that DS needed more grommets they said that it was routine to also remove the adenoids at repeat grommet operations. But this might obviously vary between consultants. DS did have a cold about 3 weeks ago which probably coincides with the onset of the deafness and it has crossed my mind that this could definitely be more than coincidence. Would you agree weatherwax?

Anyway will ring docs in morning but expect appt to be towards the end of the week because its not exactly urgent. Thanks all.

Do see the Dr with him PLEASE.

We have discvovered my ds has a cholesteatoma in his left ear, a sort of thickening of the skin in his middle ear which attaches itself to the eardrum, and stops it working. He has lost about 70% of the hearing on that side permanently, and will have to have surgery to stop the cholesteatoma from continuing to grow. This apparently developed over a number of months (even years) without symptoms, until we realised he couldn't hear my watch on that side.

So it's worth getting it checked.

Sorry only just loged on. I would say that a cold 3 weeks ago sounds like a very familiar pattern with my dd. But do get it checked and don't let the GP fob you off with a come back in a few weeks. Get him to refer you to a specialist. I had a locum GP try that on me at one point because she had too much wax in her ear!

Oops think I may have omitted to mention he does have an appt with the specialist in a few weeks anyway. Will ring up later when I can get out of the office to do it in private (need privacy because want to also arrange myself a coil fitting at the end of my next period).

Took him to GP. Apparently his left grommet is now in the ear canal. His right ear is very bunged up with wax so now have olive oil ear drops.