Glue ear and language development questions

[robinia]

Hi everyone,
DD, aged 17 months, has probable glue ear on one side and has mild to moderate hearing loss. We will take her back to the specialist in 2 months to see if it has cleared, and if not, we may consider grommets.
My main concern at this point - and the reason we had her hearing tested - is her language development. We think her hearing has been affected for at least the last few months (we haven't been ignoring it - we had her ears checked by two GPs and a developmental paediatrician, but it's taken this long to get proper testing.) The specialist suspects that the glue ear is actually clearing and that her hearing is better at the moment than it has been.
Once her hearing clears, will her language catch up? I have seen articles saying 'most' kids will catch up but they are not very detailed. It seems to me that missing these important months could have a lasting effect.
Any views on whether it's better to go with the grommets or wait until the glue ear clears when she is older? I'm concerned about the anaesthetic and the scarring from the grommets, but I'm also pretty worried about her language development.
Thanks very much.

[34me]

This is just my experience. My ds had horrible infections that continually ruptured and created scars up until he was around 2 and had tubes put in, and his language was definitely delayed. they fell out much quicker than his sisters but we didn't have enough issues for me to pursue another set. His language cleared up but his hearing has not. He has been very functional up to now at 11 and we just found out he has glue ear and may have had it for years. The time he had the tubes in was the best time for him hearing/language wise. Does the scarring impact him, I'm not sure but dd had 2 sets and at 16 hears fine.

[robinia]

Thanks very much 34me, that is really helpful of you.

[kriket]

I have heard signing helps with language skills (verbal included) Maybe something you want to look into? I know my 8 month old doesn't say a darn thing but signs "milk" and knows the signs for cat and cracker when we make them.

[sapphire_chan]

Since kids who have heard practically nothing for YEARS (including your LO's age) are able to catch up when they get implants and such, I'm guessing your LO will be a-okay.

[AllisonR]

If you can't hear sounds, then you can't imitate them. So yea, hearing loss has a huge impact on language development.

DS has had 6 sets of drains. He is 5. As soon as they fall out, thick liquid develops and he is back to poor hearing in about 2 weeks. When he was young and before we knew he had nearly permanent liquid, his speech was way behind. Each time he got drains, he made huge progress. But I don't think these huge jumps can compensate in the same way as normal hearing 100% of the time would. In the last two years though, we have switched to titanium drains, which last longer, and get new drains as soon as the others fall out. Meaning he has been hearing well, consistently over the last two years. And this is what has helped the most, imo. His language is now average for his age.

DD has had only one burst ear drum and some liquid, twice, both for short periods - about 3 months. Her language is way ahead of her age. She is 3.