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Post by brocksmommy on Apr 19, 2006 21:01:39 GMT -5
i have a question about hearing.
when do babys start responding to sound. i think my little man may not hear very well or not at all. i have tried various sounds and not even do his eyes move. nothing
i asked the nurse. about it and his chart said that he failed the hearing test, but the doc said that he had him retested while still in the hospital and he pass.
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Post by coopersmoma on Apr 19, 2006 21:40:06 GMT -5
I would suggest scheduling an appointment with an Audiologist or a Pediatric ENT. Cooper failed his hearing screen in the hospital and he has now had 2 sets of tubes!! After the first set he finally passed a hearing test!!! That would be a good start. We saw an Audiologist twice with 2 failed and he then referred us to an ENT. Hope this helps...
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Post by ALLISA on Apr 20, 2006 0:41:59 GMT -5
Hi there !
I know Erin goes every 6 months to audiologist because hearing problems are much more prevelant in kids with DS.
She was the same way as a baby....you could drop a pan on the ground next to hear and she wouldn't even have a startle reflex.
As of her last appt....they always say that her hearing is reduced a little.....combiantion of very tiny ear canals and some fluid. They have done an ABR sevearl times( which checks the brains responses to noise ) and those always are in a normal range.
Her ears are STILL too tiny to accomadate tubes !! I was told this by 3 different doctors in 3 differnt hospitals because I didn't think it could be true !! I got 3 opinions and stayed with my last doctor.
Also...eyes should be checked every 6 months as well....though I always left feeling frustrtated from those appts....how do docs check an infant's site ? There are people here with babies and youngsters wearing glasses.
Allisa
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Post by momofrussell on Apr 20, 2006 15:00:22 GMT -5
Good question.. and I don't know the answer!!! I guess a good idea would be to see a Ped ENT / Audiologist and see where that takes you.. can't hurt! Sometimes a sedated ABR is the only way to get a good hearing test when they are little. Russell didn't respond to sound for years... but it was not due to hearing issues and ear canals... we ruled out that stuff and realised other issues  A. |
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Post by MaggiesMom on Apr 28, 2006 0:30:13 GMT -5
Hello,
Congratulations on that new baby! I haven't been around in a while, but I have lots of experience with hearing problems.
Maggie, our 5 year old, with DS, has a moderate loss in her right ear and a profound loss in her left ear. She wears a hearing aid in her right ear and responds to sounds very well. We're still trying to find out how well she hears speech sounds.
I would suggest an ABR be done by a pediatric audiologist as soon as possible. If you have a medical college close by, they usually have some of the best audiologists. Lousiana is known for having several well known audiologists. I believe that's where you're from. The sooner you catch a hearing loss and get aided, the better!
It took two ABR's to find out whether Maggie could hear anything. She's had two sets of tubes, several hearing aids and we just did another ABR because they have now diagnosed her with auditory neuropathy. Meaning her "wiring" for her hearing doesn't always work the way it's supposed to. Great huh?
Anyway, it took Maggie several months before she actually heard and turned to loud sounds. After she got her hearing aids, at 4 months of age, she responded much better.
I agree with an earlier writer who said all children, as well as adults, with DS should have their hearing tested every 6 to 12 months. You'd be surprised the things that get diagnosed when it's just a hearing problem.
Hope everything turns out great! If you have any questions, just post up.
Robin - Maggie's mom
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Post by Tammy on Apr 28, 2006 7:20:19 GMT -5
My hearing loss experience has been with one of my "typical" children, and was enought o really make me realise how important hearing IS to us.
My #2 Daughter, would sleep a lot as a baby, was perfect, and slept through ANYTHING...
As she grew, she responded to sounds, so all was normal... or so we thought ...
Her speech was slow to develop, and at 2 yrs old, I WAS concerned.
I went to our local Community Health Nurse, who told me it was "normal" and OK for the second child to be delayed with speech, as they have the older sibling who usually speak for them...
She would respond to the usual... "Shake something behind each ear and watch them turn"...tests, to which she always responded.
"Expert" opinions were...
She is fine, hearing is good, and she is developing normally.
I queried this diagnosis and saw a few "experts" over the next few years, only to have this diagnosis confirmed...
When she started school...
The teacher asked me...." Does she have hearing problems??"
Teacher was sure my daughter could not hear her properly...
I was never so thankful of a "negative" feedback from anyone!!
Armed with a letter from the teacher I approached our Drs again, and FINALLY was referred for a hearing test...
Interesting to note, at the same time, on referral from her teacher, she was also placed on the waiting list for speech therapy...
The results of her hearing test...
She had MODERATE low range hearing loss to the left ear, and, MODERATE hearing loss to entire sound range in the right ear... Translation... this kid REALLY COULD NOT HEAR...
She had a very large build up of fluid in her ears which required Tubes to drain...
Even though she had NEVER in her life had an ear infection... which is another reason why the "experts" did not respond or pick up her hearing problems.
Long and short of it all...
She had one set of tubes inserted, and her hearing tests came back normal...
And have done ever since...
BUT.....
She DOES still have learning difficulties BECAUSE...
She had a severe hearing loss in a time of her life that she should have been developing "effective" listening skills...
Long and short again...
She can hear.... but is not always able to "process" the information that ahe hears...
There is a whole load of info out there about auditory processing and middle ear problems...
BUT... I have to say.... prevention is FAR better than cure!!
If you have ANY doubts about your baby's hearing...
FOLLOW up on it....
and KEEP PUSHING, until you are satisfied one way or another...
I often think of the delays and problems my "normal" child has experienced....
and shudder to think of the problems and delays any child with DS in the same situation may have to deal with...
Apologies if this is too long... but hearing is a real cause for concern.
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Post by brocksmommy on Apr 28, 2006 17:36:41 GMT -5
we just got back from the audiologist and he failed again. so they are setting up for the ABR(?) test. i'm glad that i'm checking my suspitions. no one even notice that his chart said he fail it in the hospital. thanks everyone, I'll keep y'all post.
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Post by MaggiesMom on Apr 29, 2006 10:36:42 GMT -5
You go girl!
I can't tell you the number of times we've had to push and push to get things going. (Well I could, but it would take days!)
Unfortunately, doctors don't know everything. As one audiologist told me...medicine is more of an "Art" than a science sometimes. Nothing is concrete.
I totally agree with Tammy about the fluid and hearing loss. Maggie had a 30 dbh hearing loss due to fluid...on top of her actual sensory neural hearing loss. Which basically mean she could hear sounds, but not speech.
AND...the doctors always said "I can't see any fluid" and she didn't have ear infections...but it was there. I hope that's all your little guy has. That's an easy fix.
Take care. Keep us posted.
Robin - Maggie's mom
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