I'm trying to help my friend - ENT appointment

[sweetteamum]

Hi all, hope you'll be able to advise me as my best friend is currently confused.

Her daughter has ASD and has been for her 3 monthly appointment with the Ear, Nose & Throat clinic.

Apparently her hearing is still down, but hasn't mentioned glue ear. She copes in school as she's in a very small class of less than 10 children anyway. And also lip reads.

Now I hope I get this right, but they were told everything in front of her dd and she's been left devastated since.

Apparently it's her environment that's the cause (??????), and they need to stop her from the following; eating and drinking anything with artificial colourings, flavours, preservatives in. They need to remove the carpets in their home and replace with laminate. If that's not possible they need to deep clean the carpets 2/3 times per week. Her bed covers need a hot wash a couple of times a week, including hoovering the mattress and deep cleaning the wooden slats underneath. The pets will be having a massive impact too.

They also mentioned her hypersensitive nose having a thin layer of something on.

Would these things really cause the hearing problem?

I've just checked and she's been with Ent since her dd was 4 - she is 13 now - she's had grommets twice, adenoids and tonsils out. The comment about her hypersensitive nose on the inside, seems odd to me too.

She (and to be honest, I) just doesn't understand how this has come about after a hearing test.

He also mentioned her dds need for a brace too - why would that be.

She was so amazed, that she didn't get to ask any questions.

I'll pass your comments and suggestions to her.

I can't believe he's suggested those changes either. They seem pretty big to me anyway.

Think the best course of action is her calling and asking them to go over these things with him. Here's hoping he takes calls - I know what these consultants are like fobbing us off.

allergies can cause deafness, but they should do a pinprick test to identify the right allergy

Thank you. I really had no idea. Would a gluten free diet be suitable or even worth trying do you think?

Ok. I'll not suggest she does that. Guess I was thinking out loud.

I believe she is going to call him/secretary on Monday.

I have had ENT issues since being about 4. I was an ignorant child according to my kindergarten teacher (yes kindergarten because we were in Germany at the time!). Had my adenoids out at 5 years. (Grommets didn't exist then). My dad was told that his cigarette smoke would irritate my condition and from that day he smoked outside till giving up. I have been under ENT and still am and will NEVER be discharged as I have ongoing issues and I have NEVER been spoken to like this. I have allergies. DS1 is allergic to cats and the ENT consultant knows we have 2 cats, but he would never give us all that advice.

Glue ear is fairly visible too (to the ENT doctor), but if it persists I would just advise them to change to a different consultant. Grommets, if necessary are an easy fix. I had them (eventually) so did DS1. Never looked back. If we cannot see we go to the opticians and get a pair of glasses so why they resist fixing hearing issues makes my mind boggle!

Look at NHS choices for allergic rhinitis.
Can cause an inflamed inside-of-nose.
There are treatments for it, though, as well as anti-dust suggestions.