DS2 has been referred to the hearing impairment centre,anybody have and experience with hearing loss.

[tellmewhy]

To be honest this has threw me i didn't think have would found a problem.
Abit of back ground.DS has speech delay which is not affecting his schooling.He has been under ENT for about 2 years he did have glue ear.But he past his last 2/3 hearing test.He was referred to the hearing impairment centre anyway even thought the consultant said his hearing was fine.Fast forwards afew weeks and i get a phone call saying they had done an assessment and will need to see DS.
So what does this mean?Has he got hearing loss?What will happen now?
Sorry i know that you lot can't really tell me but i'm feeling out of my depth.
I know in the grand scale of things hearing loss isn't that bad but i feel so sorry for how much DS is having to struggle.

which is now affecting his schooling

Could it be auditory processing that they want to test for?

Ds had glue ear, speech delay, failed hearing tests, but now passes them. I am sure his problem is due to auditory processing, but apparently they cannot test for this until 7 years old.

How old is your ds?

DS will be 5 at the end of july.He has been in reception class since sept and hasn't really made any progress in his speech.
I'm not really sure any more what anyone thinks.I feel very confused, and have to wait at least 2 weeks, for someone from the hearing impairment centre to visit DS at school.

It is worrying and confusing isnt it, when they dont communicate with you. Could you phone and ask for a copy of the assessment they did or ask for someone to explain the results of the assessment they did?

They will probably say wait for the appointment and someone will explain then, but tell them you are worried and nothing has been explained to you.

Thanks for your replies claw3.I think i'll ring them and see if they can explain anything.
I have just been reading about auditory processing,every interesting.

Get to see them as soon as you can and try and find out what test results you have had so far so that you can start to build a picture yourself. Is the person coming to school an audiologist ? I've not heard of a hearing impairment centre (and my daughter's deaf) !

I would have expected to recieve a letter at the very least but I'm not surprised you haven't. I would call and see what they are thinking. If you know what they are thinking then you are less likely to be confussed and worried.

hatcy: I haven't heard of a hearing impairment centre either - and my dd2 is (partial) deaf too.
tellme: I wonder if they're sending someone from the sensory team of local LEA who deals with hearing impairment, or a teacher of the deaf (ToD), to assess.
My dd2 (also in reception) is fine with speech but has language difficulties.
I won't go into all the assessments my dd has had over the last year - lets just say that differing forms of hearing impairments and their effect on speech/lang etc is one of those fields which needs a lot more research. Like me, you may not find any answers. I too felt out of my depth at first, but now 1 yr on I have realised that my child's best assessor/teacher/supporter is myself and I no longer worry about dds condition or progress in school. I know she'll be fine because she has a mother who loves her. Same for your child too.
Big hugs xxxxxxxx

Someone from the Hearing Impairment Service(Physical & Sensory) is going to visit DS at school.DS's consultant from ENT referred him to them.Sorry for confusing everyone i confuse myself.
They sent some forms to the school for his teacher to fill in and from these they have decided they need to see DS.They will go into the school but don't know when yet.Hopefully i will get a letter but i'm not sure i'm even invited to be there or not.School break up on friday for a week so it will be after the holiday now.
SALT did say to me that the problems DS is having with his speech is what they have when they have some form of hearing loss.But its not just his speech that is delayed he has other delays i.e. he can't count and he doesn't know colours.He still needs alot of help getting dressed.I'm just worried that something is being over looked because SALT and his teachers think he has a problem with his hearing.
Sorry for long post.Not sure if i'm making any sense i just feel so confused and sad for DS.

Aha PSS (Physical and sensory support) so essentially a TOD (teacher of the deaf - a teacher with specialist qualifications in working with children with hearing problems). I think it is pretty strange to not be telling you what they are looking for... also TOD's are good (some) but aren't medical specialist. If its a hearing problem you need an audiologist (ENT's are surgeons at the end of the day - fine if you need grommets but not so good if you need a hearing aid)

Has you DS had an audiogram (a chart that shows what he can hear). Are there certain bits missing from his language (eg sss as in snake ?) Then there are the technical tests (OAEs - essentially a device that pushes a sound into your ear - its what you have done in your newborn screening, tympanometry - tests whether or not your ear drum is working - usually highlights glue ear and ABRs - essentially a test with electrodes to see if the nerves are working properly)

We found out about my daughter when she was 18 months, due to lack of language development, despite the fob offs from her health visitor etc, so its worth pushing. As an aside she's 3 now, catching up with her peers (language age around 2.5) as she has a cochlear implant, in a mainstream nursery.

Speech delay was picked up by the HV at his 2.5 check.At this point i wasn't too worried.His was referred to SALT and did group sessions.We then moved house and DS went to a new pre school and got lost in the system,and SALT stopped.This was just over a year ago.While in pre school last june his teacher said she was worried about him so while trying to sort SALT out i took him to have an hearing test at the Audiology Department.Just to rule any problems out.This showed he had glue hear and some hearing loss so was then referred to ENT.Consaltant gave us a choice between hearing aids or grommits,we choose aids.So back to the Audiology Department who then did another hearing test and decided his hearing wasn't too bad and no need for aids.Back to the ENT 3 times who did hearing test each time and they said he past them each time,and the glue ear had cleared.They then referred him to Hearing Impairment Service.Now we are just waiting again.I don't know what they are looking for.
DS seems to miss part of words when talking i.e.shop will be sho or sometimes miss the start of words.He doesn't follow intructions very well he seems to forget part of what he is asked to do.

I feel like he is falling further behind.And has he gets older it is becoming more noticable by his peers.
A boy from year 3 which is about 8yrs old told DS he was an idiot and couldn't talk the other day.

They are probably just trying to see how he is in a classroom setting (acoustics are a problem to good hearing) and to see how delayed his speech / language is / isn't. You'll know more when you meet with them and they have to send you fairly detailed reports on their findings. It can only be a good thing if you're getting into a support system. 5 is still young enough for it to be solved easily.

i think you are right to be concerned that this is not just a hearing problem. glue ear that comes and goes can cause problems with language development, and the visiting teacher might be able to monitor this. but i think there are some other things that should be investigated here too.

is your ds still seeing a salt? has the salt ever mentioned oral/verbal dyspraxia? you said that your ds has difficulty getting dressed, and it is possible that he has dyspraxic difficulties with motor control as well as with forming words and sentences.

i'm a teacher of deaf pupils but i have also worked with pupils who i feel have had oral/verbal dyspraxia overlooked because language difficulties have been blamed solely on the deafness. not saying this is definitely the case with your ds, but should perhaps be investigated.

has he ever been referred to occupational therapy? they might be able to help with any motor/organisational difficulties that he might have. i got a referral for o.t. for my own ds from a paediatrician, and the o.t. has been very helpful.

good luck!

DS will recieve SALT in the next school term,so september when he goes into year one.I haven't been told yet how often this will be.When he has seen SALT in the past nothing was really decided.Everything was put down to hearing loss.But i'm not so sure.
Even when he does hear what is being said he doesn't all ways understand.If he is asked to do 2-3 things at once he will stand there looking round saying 'what'.
DS has never been referred to occupational therapy.When i saw my GP afew weeks ago with DS i told her i was worried about him and explained everything.She held a pencil up and asked DS what it was.Then she said she thinks DS is just abit shy.
I really don't know what to think any more.He can't dress himself without help,he does try but gets into a right mess and takes him along time.He can't do buttons or zips.
But on the other hand he loves cars and knows nearly all makes of cars.When we are walking ti school he will say there a escort mark2 or whatever.He only ever needs to be told the make of a car once and he remembers it,weather it a newer make car or an old one.

part of the work o.t. does with my ds is getting dressed and undressed and helping him to plan his movements better. i did have to ask for the referral, but i'm really glad i did.

Thank you RaggedRobin for your posts.
I have a meeting set up with DS teacher monday morning.Im going to write a list of questions because i all ways forget what i wanted to ask.
DS came home today with a list of things they are doing this term.There is no way he can do most things on the list.

DS has got another hearing test today.Not sure if it will be very successful because he is moaning with earache again.

I took DS for his hearing test and it was showing some hearing loss again.(Even though the test at the hospital was clear).They said his one ear drum was very red and to take him to his GP.They said they would pass the results on to the ENT and gave me a copy for the GP.
I took DS tp the GP's and saw another doctor.She took one look at his ears and the test results and asked if he was having any problem with his speech.So i told her everything down to the fact the consultant wasn't concerned with his hearing.The consultant even wanted to discharge him.GP now wants him seen as soon as possible.So i feel like i'm at the begining again.But you never know something might get done one day.
I would just like to say, i know i am very lucky that the problems DS is having, are mild compaired to some of your children.I'm sorry if any one feels i shouldn't be posting here.Nobody's said that to me by the way.