How to get referral to excellent specialist for infant hearing loss

[IncompetentHousewife]

I am foster mother (hoping to be adoptive mother) to a 9-month-old boy. He has been diagnosed as having hearing loss in mid- to high ranges in one ear. This was his fourth hearing test, done by a master's level audiologist with our county's early intervention program. She is referring me back to our pediatrician so I can ask her for a medical referral to an audiologist. My question is, how do I make sure I'm getting a good referral to someone who can accurately diagnose and treat my baby the first time? I mean, what if the audiologist I'm sent to is no more qualified than the Early On audiologist we just saw? I think it would help if I go in with a request of someone I'd like to see, but how do I know who that is?

Our pediatrician isn't very aggressive, which to be honest is why I chose her for my bio children who do not have special needs. In this case our baby has multiple delays and special needs and I want more aggressive care, especially since he is at a critical point in needing to hear so he can learn speech.

I know of too many people who have had to go through the chain of less specialized medical professionals before they finally got to a more highly qualified one who could take care of their needs. Since it can take weeks to get into an appointment, they have wasted months going from one appointment to another before they got to the right place. Help!

[IncompetentHousewife]

Oh, and I'm in Michigan if that helps.

[KCMichigan]

http://www.michdhh.org/parents/index.html

I would start with the above website. It is the MI Deaf and Heard of Hearing website---Parents Section.

It has all sorts of good links.

This website is also MI based and also has good resources:

http://www.deafcan.org/

Lastly,

http://www.1800earlyon.org/

I would get involved w/ Early On (MI's early intervention program). You can do a self-referral for your foster son. They can provide testing, therapy, and support---as well as access and advocacy. They would have a list of places you could go for evaluation, testing, and parent 'preferred' Dr that treat and care for children with hearing loss. 

[Thandiwe]

I hope you guys get the answers you need soon!  Kudos to you for being on the ball to get him the help he needs right away.

We requested a referral to Early On in March 2010, when dfd began exhibiting major stress in response to my baby being born.  We knew she was delayed in language, but she was just over 1.5, so we figured it would clear.  In the back of my head, I had a feeling something wasn't right.  I couldn't adequately get her help through Early On, despite multiple requests, until fall 2010.  It was a battle.  I hate to say this, but the woman we dealt with was incompetent and unprepared.  She really failed to get us the help we needed.  We finally got set up with a spec ed evaluator....right before she left.  It had to go on hold until her mom could pick it back up (heaven knows if she will).  There's no excuse for the battle we went through from Mar until Nov.  As she was preparing to leave, I started, on my own, pulling together the pieces and realizing she may have FASD, which was too late to help her.  I really wish I had had the help I needed to assist her sooner.  But the beaurocratic red-tape of foster care and medicaid really hindered us.  I truly hope things go better for you.

[KCMichigan]

Originally Posted by Thandiwe 

I hope you guys get the answers you need soon!  Kudos to you for being on the ball to get him the help he needs right away.

We requested a referral to Early On in March 2010, when dfd began exhibiting major stress in response to my baby being born.  We knew she was delayed in language, but she was just over 1.5, so we figured it would clear.  In the back of my head, I had a feeling something wasn't right.  I couldn't adequately get her help through Early On, despite multiple requests, until fall 2010.  It was a battle.  I hate to say this, but the woman we dealt with was incompetent and unprepared.  She really failed to get us the help we needed.  We finally got set up with a spec ed evaluator....right before she left.  It had to go on hold until her mom could pick it back up (heaven knows if she will).  There's no excuse for the battle we went through from Mar until Nov.  As she was preparing to leave, I started, on my own, pulling together the pieces and realizing she may have FASD, which was too late to help her.  I really wish I had had the help I needed to assist her sooner.  But the beaurocratic red-tape of foster care and medicaid really hindered us.  I truly hope things go better for you.

UGH! I am so sorry you had such a bad experience! We worked with Early On from age 9 months to 3 years (tehy aged out). Not only did we have the same OT & caseworker the whole time- they helped us navigate getting private insurance coverage for PT & OT (we had OT through Early On, but it was once every two weeks--she needed more), but also helped us get involved in the local schools at age 3 (one DD got an IEP). Our caseworker was fantastic and we saw her in the community every once in a while and she was so sweet. I can t say enough good things.

We were completely evaluated/paperwork done on initial forms within 6 weeks of our referral from Parents as Teachers(at age 9 months) and started therapies shortly thereafter.

[Thandiwe]

How awesome KC!!  Sounds like your experience went really smoothly!!  Wishing the same for OP. 

[IncompetentHousewife]

forgot to subscribe the first time!

[fairejour]

I would recommend joining http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Listen-Up/ It is an internet group for parents of children with hearing loss. The group has thousands of members and they will definitely be people from your area that will be able to help you find a great audiologist.