[kathywiehl]

I have like 3 seconds to post but I need some insight.

Ben is 14 months, and we did a hearing test for him today. I think they tested 10 frequencies on each ear. He failed 3 on his left ear. He failed 8 on his right ear. The two that did not fail in his right ear, were the same two that his left ear failed. One was failed in both ears.

The ear that mostly failed had fluid. Doc mentioned tubes. He's never had an ear infection so that is not something I'm going to agree to unless it's the last option to help him hear well.

We are on abx and going back in a week for a retest.

Any experience with this? Any advice?

Current plan is to give him abx, and talk to our chiropractor (natural minded, homebirthing, bfing, mother of 4)

 

[lil_stinkyfeet]

Well my son was born deaf in one ear but ended up failing his hearing test in both ears when he was about 2 1/2. He had thick fluid built up in both ears and wasn't hearing well at all, he never had a history of ear infections, but I never really brought him in either.

We tried 3 different antibiotics as well as the Chiro and he still had thick fluid built up so we opted for tubes. Until recently he always tested well in his good ear (with the tube) right now the tube is clogged and has fluid and he is not hearing well.

Overall tubes were a good decision for us given the fact that he only has hearing in one ear it was important for us to make sure he was hearing well out of that ear.

I think you have a good plan in place

 

[2boyzmama]

What kind of a hearing test was it? It sounds like something similar to the newborn hearing screen...did he have to interact at all during the test? What he needs is a booth test where he's in a booth and they use either head phones or a sound field to see if he responds to sounds of different frequencies at different decibels. That will show what level of hearing he has at each frequency.

He has fluid in his ears, but no infection? Why the antibiotics then? Chiropractic will likely help a lot with the fluid, if you want to try medication, an allergy med will be more helpful than an antibiotic. It will help dry up the fluid, as well as could lessen any inflamation in his eustacian tubes and allow the fluid to drain naturally. I don't understand the antibiotics at all...

Is he showing signs of hearing loss? Does he seem to respond to his environment? Is he starting to speak? Can he imitate sounds? Is his balance/coordination normal? Because of a toddler's anatomy, nearly every toddler will have fluid in their ears at some point or another, and it won't necessarily cause problems. Only if there is a true problem should it be treated. And tubes should be the last resort.

My son does have tubes, however his case is extremely complicated, and we waited as long as possible before doing the tubes. If it does come to that for you guys, the surgery itself is extremely simple, but that doesn't mean you should jump to that solution immeidately either. I often think that drs jump to the solution that is easiest and quickest FOR THEM, not necessarily best and/or least invasive for THE CHILD. So frustrating.

So, ask for a formal audiogram in a hearing booth, done by pediatric audiologists. Is he seeing a pediatric ENT or otolaryngoloist? First thing is you need to work on getting the fluid out of there, then work on determining if he has true hearing loss. Then you can work on treating the hearing loss (hearing aids, sign language, speech therapy, etc).

 

[fairejour]

Yeah, he needs a better test (or you need better info!). There is not really a "pass" or "fail" in hearing. You should ask to be seen by a pediatric audiologist YESTERDAY!

 

[kathywiehl]

Well I'm probably not explaining it correctly. This is my first experience with a hearing test. My daughters were tested but they were born in hospitals so the test was in the nursery and I wasn't present.

We sat in a chair and the audiologist took a wire or tube and stuck a little plastic thing on the end of it, then held that in his ear while she conducted the test. I couldn't hear anything. When the test was finished, she showed me a piece of paper with a list of numbers 1500, 2000, 2500 were some of the numbers I saw. Under each number, she had written P or R.

The left ear had more P than R and the right ear was mostly R. She then put something else in his ear, turned on the machine, and checked for fluid. The right ear gave a "flat reading" in her words, so she said there was probably fluid in his ear. Because of the fluid, I was told to take him to an exam room to see the doctor.

The doctor came in, took a look in his ears, and saw fluid. He then gave us a script for abx, said something about tubes and that was it.

I'm not remembering all of this correctly because I was so worried that while all of this was happening, my mind was racing thinking of a million things at once.

Just before the appointment, my mom called to tell me my dad was in surgery. He has cancer and was given a year to live back in August. There was a complication that landed him in the hospital last night. Tonight he's in the ICU. I'm just a little overwhelmed at the moment so forgive me if I seem a little spacy.

 

[fairejour]

First,

for your family issues.

Second, follow up as soon as possible with the fluid. Once he doesn't have fluid, get his hearing checked again.

What does your gut say about his hearing? For our family it clicked when we were told Miss Kat might not have perfect hearing.

 

[2boyzmama]

Okay yeah, the hearing test she had was just like the newborn hearing screen. All it does is send sound waves into the ear and measure the feedback after it hits the ear drum. Lots of things can cause a "fail" on that kind of test, fluid in the ear being one thing, small ear canals, a misplaced probe, movement from the child, etc etc etc. If they truly are thinking she has hearing loss, they need to do an audiogram like I described above.

Definitely focus on getting the fluid taken care of. It can cause hearing to be dampered, kind of like being underwater...you still hear most sounds, it's just not clear. That will effect speech development if left untreated.

I'd call back and ask about the antibiotics. That still doesn't make any sense to me. Chiro will really help, craniosacral could help, and allergy meds could also help. Tubes would solve the problem, but require surgery, so obviously should be avoided if you can!

I'm sorry to hear about your dad...hang in there!!