Baby with hearing loss

[DazedandConfused135]

Hi,

Is there anybody here that's LO has hearing loss.
My LO failed his newborn hearing screening three times and we were then referred to the audiology department at the hospital to have a more indepth test, which was a fail again.
I was told that it could be a number of things that may be short term and may correct itself by 9 months (next appointment).

LO is 7 months now and whilst he is blabbling A LOT! and has even said a couple of words, there are some really loud sounds that he just doesn't respond to. He can't hear from a certain distance too.

I was just wondering what to expect if it turns out he fails his next hearing screening?

Any advice on what to expect would be fab.
Thank you

Contact the National Deaf Children's Society. They can give advice and support on what to expect. www.ndcs.org.uk/

Please contact www.avuk.org.

@umberellaonesie
Thank you both for the links @DaneMum

I haven't got experience of having a child with hearing loss but was going to recommend the NDCS society as well. I know they have meet ups in our county. In the next city to us there's also a Deaf Centre who do things like baby group, youth club, BSL courses and social events.

My son is profoundly deaf in both ears and had bilateral cochlear implants fitted in both ears at age 1. He also failed all his screening tests.

Audiology will have done an ABR test, this will tell them what sound frequency and volumes your LO can/can't hear. Sometimes the cause of the hearing loss is progressive which is why they continue to do tests over time.

If your little one has conductive hearing loss, they may look into grommets/options which would solve the issue.
However, if it's a sensorineural hearing loss (like my son), then they would look to deal with the hearing loss using hearing aids or cochlear implants.

You should find out from your audiologist what your LO thresholds are in both ears. This tells you how severe the hearing loss is and whether hearing aids are a suitable option for your child or if they're 'deaf enough' for cochlear implants.

As a bit of background, children do have a 'gabble' reflex where it sounds like they're talking/learning to baby speak. This tends to disappear by 8-10 months ish and then children with hearing loss don't develop certain sounds like oooo and ahhh. Definitely contact/reach out to your local hearing support service and also the NDCS.

Good luck xxx

Another vote for contacting NDCS call the helpline and they’ll be able to connect you with an audiology nurse who can explain things well. My 5 year old was born profoundly deaf (although she passed the newborn screen, and wasn’t diagnosed until she was 1, after we’d figured out she was deaf already!) She’s got bilateral cochlear implants now and doing very well, although there are challenges.

Was the more in depth hearing test an ABR test (baby is asleep, electrodes on head, they play noises through little earphones?) Did you get any idea of levels of hearing loss? If a loss has been detected I’m surprised they haven’t fitted your little one with hearing aids… (unless I’ve missed that in your OP?) You need to push for aids/amplification. Also ask to be referred to your local sensory support service. They will provide your LO with a teacher of the deaf who can help guide you.

Good luck, and please DM me if I can help with any questions.

Hi, this happened with my little one too. His hearing is now normal at little over seven weeks! I was concerned when he failed numerous hearing tests before succeeding. The woman who performed the test told me that it's typical for them to fail at first owing to fluid in the ears, and that this is especially true for c-section babies. They just retest the baby when he or she is a little older, and the baby usually passes the tests.

Hi @DazedandConfused135

My LO has hearing loss in both ears and failed her tests too. Our experience was to have hearing aids fitted when she was 7 weeks old and we had regular visits from the Hearing Impaired service during term times where they'd check her hearing aids were working and do some activities with her/us. The audiology dept in the local hospital were also involved with regular hearing tests and meetings to discuss her progress, and we had someone we could directly contact there if needed too.

I know things can differ from region to region but hopefully they had good reason to delay the further assessment which they haven't mentioned to you. Fingers crossed it will be one of those things. But hugs to you, especially when you see signs of something not quite right but with no answers - it's horrible when things are up in the air with your LO 💐 post again if we can help in any way x

Hi,my 4week old daughter has just been for her hearing test , she had one whilst in hospital and another one week after, she failed both, she was c section so they said this may be the reason, this last one was with audiology and they have said she has severe hearing loss in one ear, they told me they would test her again around 8 month and i would probably get an appt with an ent specialist at St Marys hospital Manchester, didnt get much chance to ask any questions really as a fire drill went off and we had to evacuate the building , im so worried,

Hi @Jessy2021

There's some good advice on previous posts if you haven't already seen those. I was allocated a teacher of the deaf for my LO who was a massive support. Have you been given any contact details for anyone like an audiology dept that you could talk to in more depth? If they've given a definite diagnosis they need to be providing support along with it. Hugs to you, it's a difficult time for you and I hope it gets smoothed out soon one way or another xx

No I havent been offered any support or given any information at all,it was all very hurried , they just said they would test her again around 8month, I have read up about it on google and there seems to a link with being born with a skin tag on her ear, its very tiny and there is one on her cheek to which is a lot bigger and i am waiting for an appt for her to have it removed , this is my first baby and i feel really worried by all this, I feel we have just been left to get on with it without any understanding x

@Jessy2021

It's so hard not to worry I know, especially when it's your first baby. 4 weeks old is so tiny and you just want everything to be ok. Not knowing for definite is harder than knowing in my experience. The NDCS can help if you want to talk things over with someone. If it's any consolation, I have severe hearing loss in both ears and with hearing aids I get through life pretty well..! xx

Thank you thats very positive to know

Just seen other comments, thank you again everyone for your responses.

Just to update, we have unfortunately been forgotten about. I've spent the last few weeks chasing it up. Awful attitude by the staff until they realised they were indeed in the wrong and he has now been bumped up the waiting list and an appointment has been sent out. Also on a cancellation list if anything comes up sooner.

Hopefully we will have clear answers soon.

@Jessy2021
Hope you get some answers soon.

@Ess1981
Thank you for your kind words. We hopefully will get some clarification soon.

O that's good you're back on the radar, kudos to you for chasing them up 😊 fingers crossed 🤞