Hearing aids for glue ear?

[2Siobhan]

Has anyone here got any experience of using hearing aids for glue ear? Ds1 (4.8) has had glue ear show up on all but one of many hearing test he has had over the last 4.8 years but they don't want to do anything other than 'watch and wait'. I said I was a bit concerned about continuing with this method we had been doing for so long (which they wanted to repeat) so they offered ds hearing aids which he gets in just over a week.

Thanks

2Siobhan....My ds (4yrs) has bilateral hearing aids for chronic glue ear, they won't give him grommets as they only like to give them twice and this wouldn't help my ds, as it would just keep coming back.

He had one to begin with (in Jan) then got another in March, tbh my ds has many other issues (GDD, SPD, Autistic traits) so I haven't noticed much of a difference. His speech hasn't improved, the only thing I have noticed is that when there is alot of background noise he does hear you better if you call him. He has tolerated them quite well, but does get fed up after wearing them for a few hours and will pull them out.

There have been a few occasions where my ds has pulled them apart, cue horror from me of "oh my god, has the dog eaten them!" but they are pretty sturdy and have survived so far haha...

Thanks for the quick response. Ds sons speech is very unclear and have been wondering is they will help. Pretty sure it is a speech and language disorder though so expect a similar experience to you.

Thanks again

2Siobhan...I was being told that my ds's other issues and his behaviour was down to frustration because of his hearing loss (40-50Db) so i sat back for a while and expected a miracle....it didn't happen and then a audiologist told me in simple terms that my ds speech problems were not caused by the hearing, even though he had a loss it was not enough to cause it to be so bad.

I think I am still waiting for a miracle :-(. Ds hear loss isn't so much (35-40db). Ds starts school this year and a little worried. He has a assessment on his speech next week anxious to hear what they say.

My daughter has GDD and had 3 sets of grommets for glue ear. I wish she had been offered a hearing aid instead she has always been borderline for one and at 12 she is now starting to 'grow out' of the glue ear.

She is always much better behaved when her hearing is ok. Her speech can be unclear and is immature for her age but I think she learnt some sounds incorrectly and a hearing aid earlier would have really helped.

IMHO I think it will really help your son and you've made the right choice. It will probably be very temporary as most kids are over it by 7 or 8.