5mo hearing referral

[NoobieDoobie11]

Hi,

yesterday after a visit from the HV, we are being referred to audiology for my 5mo DS.

I asked when to I should see him turn to sound and used a rattle to show her the he didn’t move- at this we was concerned but not overly. Then she made a really loud clap and he didn’t startle. Obviously at this she decided we needed to see someone.

I've tried again to see if he will turn to a rattle or startle at a loud sound. He will sometime move towards a some but doesn’t startle. Last night when he was semi asleep I said his name and his eyes half opened so I do think he can hear but maybe not 100% or maybe it’s something cognitive. I just keep worrying that the fact he doesn’t startle is something serious.

has anyone had similar? I know the turning to sound might just be slow development but the startle worries me and I’m not sure what to expect. I think it’ll be a few weeks before we get an appointment too 😩

Hello my daughter had a hearing referral made at 17 weeks when she still wasn't responding to sounds and also didn't smile. She also scored poorly across the board in her 4 month assessment.
She was a highly unsettled baby who cried continuously. At 17 weeks we had a review with the paediatrician for something else and he diagnosed her with severe silent reflux and suggested it might be worth looking at food allergies. A week later she was doing much better and turning to sounds. I cannot describe the joy the day she woke from her nap in my arms because I bit into a crisp! Her hearing test came through 3 months later and it was completely fine and by her 5 months assessment she was completely average.

They now think that her delay was because she was in so much pain she couldn't interact with the world. There can be things completely up unrelated to hearing that can impact hearing. My dad is hearing impaired and he struggles to hear when unwell. He had a stroke and the Dr was concerned by his lack of comprehension but was a hearing problem as it takes him more effort to hear, at the time he couldn't use hearing aids.