Any experience of hearing aids v grommets in young children?

[Ledkr]

Dd is 2.8 and was born with a cleft palate which was successfully repaired.
She has glue ear and some hearing loss from this.
Her speech is delayed and a bit difficult to understand.
She is about to start speech therapy but the audiologist has now said that she needs to hear better to improve her speech.
She said that grommets are not always the best choice especially for a child with a cleft as they tend to experience more problems from them.
The other option is hearing aids which was a bit of a shock to be honest.
This is a child who will rarely even keep a hat on!
I got such good advice from here when she originally had the cleft, I wondered what your thoughts were on this.
Thanks for reading.

My DS2 had severe glue ear with moderate loss (60dB in both ears) from about 2 to 7. He was refused grommets because he wasn't ill with repeat ear infections and the specialist said that grommets can fall out, need redoing, and leave a scarred eardrum whereas hearing aids, if tolerated, leave a perfect ear. He is now 9 and hasn't had the aids for about 2 years and his hearing is fine. However he still uses subtitles on the TV and I do wonder whether there has been some impact on auditory processing...anyway he did very well with the aids, wore them well, they give you clips so the don't get lost and they can choose what colour to wear and what sticker to have on them. There was another kid in the class with them (similar problem) and I guess as he never tried to hide them (He chose bright blue!) or acted embarrassed he never got teased. So aids worked well for us and yes, he now has a perfect unscarred eardrum...

Talk to your audiologist about Bone Conduction Hearing Aids. They can be worn on a headband called a Softband. They work by vibrating the sound to the inner ear through the skull. Very useful for children who have either Microtia or have narrow ear canals with congestion. Clefts do cause hearing issues in some children and I'd rather go with an aid than a grommet. You will be monitored more closely. You will also get input from a teacher for the deaf in school. Lots of benefits.

Aw thank you so much. It's so reassuring to hear from you.
Yes that's what I was told about the grommets damaging the eardrum.
I will ask about those different aids for sure, are they available on NHs.
I feel a bit sad, us that normal?

Hi Ledkr, we chatted when your dd was born as ds was born with a cleft as well (i was different name then, boo or dreams or something) ds has had glue ear a number of times. He had grommets first off, but they fell out and we didnt want to go through it again (yet again he had a bit of difficulty coming out of the anesthetic) so we opted for Hearing Aids. Yet another bloody cry from me as he was at nursery and I worried he may get bullied etc, and yes, I felt sad, its been one thing after another with the cleft really, glue ear, and then the knock on effect of speech and his behaviour at the time wasnt great understatement of the year

Its been really successful, he only wears them when needed now, between us, him, snot and his teachers (and a great GP) we know when glue ear is building, usually his behaviour wobbles. They are very small and none of the other children even notice, and we know its not long term. His speech is actually really good now as well, because at the start he needed some SALT as he was mixing sounds up, but not now, hes very articulate and everyone is suprised that he needs aids sometimes. (becuase his speech is so good)

I have met, through the Cleft Clinic, loads of children who had grommets and it was fine for them.

If you want information on alternatives to traditional BTE hearing aids, then please check out these links.

Oticon Ponto Pro (my current preference as they don't have feedback issues)
can benefit/Children.aspx

Cochlear BAHA which is what a lot of hospitals use as they invented the technology.
www.cochlear.com/wps/wcm/connect/uk/home/discover/baha-bone-conduction-implants/is-it-right-for-me-/solutions-for-children/baha-solutions-for-children

Some Audiologists will use adapted hearing aids which have a bone conductor on a lead from the traditional hearing aid (instead of a tube into a ear mould) which is worn on a band.

This when I get cross with MNand their crappy link thing.
can benefit/Children.aspx

www.oticonmedical.com/Medical/YourTreatment/Who can benefit/Children.aspx

Thanks so much, it means so much to hear for others.
I will check out those links too, good to know there are options.

We do the grommets thing in the Star house. It's about what I know I can manage and hearing aides I cannot (if course I would if no other alternative) Ds and DD have sensory issues that mean they are unlikely to be tolerated.

I understand the pros and cons of grommets as I went into hospital 6 times as a kid for them (OTT immune system chucked them out even the ones that need to be surgically removed).

On balance I have found that hospitals prefer the wait and see approach, then grommets, then hearing aides as this reflects costs, of course.

But I like grommets for ease of use and though the advice is no water in ear whilst they are in, the kids consultant confirmed that there isn't much research to support that after the wound has healed.