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Original poster

daughter measured up for hearing aids

19 replies

Tortington · 28/03/2003 19:40

not asking for advice really, maybe a little sympathy if i am honest, think am posting this 'cos its like telling friends some news. took my partially deaf 10yr old daughter for another hearing test today and the test progressed into her being measured up for hearing aids although i was kinda expecting it i wasnt expecting it then. it was a complete shock, she was fine with it, but i was gutted.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 28/03/2003 20:48

It will make the world of difference for her though won't it? I think I know what you mean about being gutted about it yourself though.

Hugs.

lou33 · 28/03/2003 20:50

Sorry about your news custardo. I think that even if you are well prepared , the reality of actually hearing news like that is very different to the theory, because it's confirming something you don't want to hear/accept/happen etc. No real advice, just that I am thinking of you and your daughter. It's good that she seems fine with the idea of a hearing aid though, one less hurdle to cross.

Twink · 28/03/2003 22:09

Big symphs from here, you're the second friend this week with the same news. Is it a permanent thing for her ? The other friends ds has been diagnosed with glue ear but the doctors don't want to try grommets with him.

It's good she seems to be accepting the idea. Are her school very into clamping down on any derogatory comments about anyone being 'different'? Mum works in a school and says it can make a huge difference to a child's confidence in this type of situation.

Ar*e, cyber hugs for you both.

ScummyMummy · 28/03/2003 23:04

Big hugs, Custardo. Glad she's not too bothered but think it's entirely understandable that you're feeling upset about it. She's your baby and obviously you want things to go perfectly smoothly for her. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

(BTW, there are some FANTASTIC colourful hearing aids- as opposed to the "flesh" coloured ones of old- about these days, though, and tiny ones as well- want me to have a dig around and send you some info?)

judetheobscure · 29/03/2003 00:07

I wore hearing aids for all of my childhood (from age 5). If she's happy about them that's great. Wish there had been colourful ones when I was a kid. I always had my hair cover my ears. And I hated them. I have 40% + hearing loss and don't wear them any more. Does she have behind-the-ear types? You may find her ears get quite sore early on because they're not used to "carrying" that weight. Do let her take them off when she gets home from school. But if they still feel sore after a little while get them adjusted - it's not just the mould that needs to fit properly but the bit over the ear as well. I also found that by taking them off sometimes, it helped me to carry on hearing as well as I could without the aids, rather than relying on them all the time. Also need to alert eg.swimming teachers to remind her to take them off and to make sure she can hear in these lessons where she can't wear them (assuming technology has not moved on yet.)

Original poster
Tortington · 29/03/2003 07:05

oh thank you everyone, you lot brought tears to my eyes - am not being soppy anymore!

thanks scums for the offer, when we were there the doctor showed us somelovely coloured ones and she got to pick the colour and the colour and type of "thingybit" that goes in her ears - she was given a catalogue and could pick marble efect ones and glitter ones, they said she cold have ones with football teams and even custom design one. the hospital and doctor was fantastic. but she is my baby girl and i dont want her to be teased, she has just got over a bout of this at school.

its permanent in that the doctor recommended she use them whilst she is still in the education system to help her - she is very bright and this was my main concern.
when she is older i suppose she will be able to use them ti siut her and her situations.

again thanks

OP posts:
CAM · 29/03/2003 16:56

Custardo you are not being soppy, you just love your dd!!! If she is anything like her mum, she will have a brilliant sense of humour to help her cope. I know what you're feeling, it's like you wish it was you rather than them.Love and hugs xxxxx

tigermoth · 29/03/2003 17:29

Custardo, I know how shocked I'd feel if this had happened to me. For me it would be the realisation that the doctors think the problem is more permanent that temporary, and stop trying to find ways to reverse the problem.

My son has had hearing problems for ages and is now going to have a grommit in one ear. If that doesn't work I fear we may be going through the same thing as you. As he's nearly 9 years my hopes that he will grow out of it are beginning to fade. I really feel for you.

It is so good that your daughter is OK about the hearing aid. I remember when I got my first pair of glasses age 11, (I am very short sighted) how wonderful it was to see things properly again. It made me feel more connected with things. I didn't realise what I had been missing.

As for as teasing goes, if there is any, I imagine your daughter is well armed against that, having grown up with your wit and strength in adversity.

Also, it might be that in years to come technology will make hearing aids redundant anyway. I have progressed from thick glasses to contact lenses and might even go for lazer treatment. If this happens with eyes, why not ears?

Jimjams · 29/03/2003 19:20

cyberhugs custardo- we may be joining you with this one. I may be on asking loads of advice in the not too distant future.

Maybe they'll be like braces- apparently they're really cool these days....

MABS · 29/03/2003 19:32

oh Custie - course you're upset , but you are doing the best thing for her, Thinking of you.xxx

WideWebWitch · 29/03/2003 22:34

custardo, big sympathy from me too m'dear. I hope she found one she liked and, like Tigermoth says, that it makes a big difference to her day to day life.

robinw · 30/03/2003 09:51

message withdrawn

tigermoth · 30/03/2003 10:49

thanks for the xylitol reminder, robinw. I have thought about using this, having read your other messages.

I did put my son's hearing loss down to growth spurts and his ear tube growth not quite catching up. He hasn't complained of ear ache for a good year or two. But, but as you say, if he's going to have a grommit fitted, then it sounds like there could be an infection. We'll try xylitol, but how long will it take for the effects show themselves? I think we'll have a few months to wait before the grommit operation, the NHS being what it is.

robinw · 30/03/2003 13:13

message withdrawn

Marina · 30/03/2003 19:36

custardo, sorry to hear your news. As Tigermoth said, it must have sounded rather final and a shock when you got the news. I am sure they will help her a lot and it does sound like things have improved a lot for children since I was fitted for hideous orthopaedic booties at eight. I hope she chose the spangliest in the shop!

Frieda · 30/03/2003 21:46

Hi, custardo ? sorry to hear about your daughter, but it's heartening to hear that she was fine about it, and it's important to focus on the thought that it WILL improve the quality of her life.
I'm a hearing-aid wearer myself, although I must say, I don't use it all the time, partly because it gets uncomfortable, partly, like Jude, I don't want to have to rely on it, but mainly, I have to admit, because I'm self-conscious about it. Having said that, I'm pretty sure that most of the people I come into contact with, work-wise and socially, do seem to be completely unaware of it.
I have to say, I do find it a bit sad that so many people are so negative about the idea of hearing aids. I have up to about 70% hearing loss at higher frequencies, and using an aid improves the quality of my life no end in certain situations. I'm sure it will make a huge difference to your daughter at school, where so much emphasis is often on listening and it's horrible to feel you're constantly missing out on what's going on because you can't hear properly.
Also, there have been huge improvements in technology over the last few years. I think a lot of health authorities are now prescribe digital aids, which don't have that awful whistling and feedback you can get with conventional ones. And there are smaller ones available, too, including in-the-ear and in-the-canal ones, though I'm not sure they'd be suitable for a child. I think it's important to keep asking the audiologists about what's available each time you go for a follow-up ? the government's supposed to have put a lot of money into a hearing aid programme over the last couple of years, and things are getting better all the time. You don't have to put up with anything less than the very best available.
Good luck with it all ? I'm sure you'll be positive about it for her sake, and really, really, it isn't all bad

Tinker · 30/03/2003 21:53

Sorry, to hear about this custardo but at least your daughter is ok about it. I can well understand that pang that you feel though. Remember that feeling on being told that my daughter needed glasses at 3. Worrying that she would be the odd one in her class etc. She's completely ok about it, most of the time, but does soemtimes take them off and pretends she can see without them (she can't). But agree with tigermoth, technological advances will make these things tiny soon.

Batters · 31/03/2003 09:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Tortington · 31/03/2003 18:44

thank you all so much

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