Unilateral hearing loss in newborn - experiences?

[ChocolateBiscuitCake]

Hi there,

DS3 is 3 weeks old and was told yesterday, after a series of loooong tests that he has unilateral hearing loss in one ear. The consultant is able to see me today to discuss the results.

I am really not too worried or upset (I think!) but want to make sure I ask the right questions...but I don't really know what to ask!

If you have experience of this, is there anything that I should be asking?

I know that the hearing loss is permanent, that he can hear loud sounds in the ear but not moderate or quiet sounds, that his speech should not be affected and that he will struggle to differentiate where sounds are coming from.

What else should I clarify from the test results? Also, from your experiences, are these things ever linked to other conditions such as sight loss etc (I will obviously ask the doctor this!).

Sorry to post here but am hoping that there is more traffic, as such.

Many thanks

congratulations on your newborn

my dd3 is deaf but in both ears so slightly different. I would highly recommend the ndcs if you haven't already found them, a fab site with loads of info and their parent place is pretty good.

some areas will give hearing aids for unilateral loss others aren't so keen so may be worth finding out how things work where you are. I'd also ask for a copy of the audiogram which is always useful to have. All areas have a sensory impairment service (may have a slightly different name) that will include a teacher of the deaf, it'd be worth contacting them (usually found somewhere under education on your council website) to see if you'd fit their criteria for support or ask at audiology, they may be able to tell you.

I believe it's pretty common to refer a child with any deafness for a vision test and sometimes a paediatrician, again depending on your area (that good old chestnut of the postcodes ), it's more of a let's check just in case kind of thing and doesn't mean you have anything to worry about necessarily.

hope all goes well with your appointment