Anyone's toddler had hearing issues?

[Hels80]

Hi,
I’d agree, learn some makaton signing (Mr Tumble is great for basics). Most schools use this too in the early years as it’s a tool for developing speech and language, not replacing communication.
All the signs are pretty much what you would use if you were trying to get someone to understand who was just out of earshot. You know the everyday gestures we all do.
On amazon they do keychains with a couple of the signs on- like behaviour signs and instructions on how to sign them (stop, no, good, well done etc).
May be of some use to you.
Get a referral to a speech therapist. I’ve forgotten how old he is but google your local nhs speech therapy as in our area they do drop ins.
Usual advice for children with glue ear is to get down to their level so they can see your face when you give instructions, and use gesture/pictures/photos to support their understanding.
That’s obv for a school setting though.
Good luck!

[alkel2730]

Originally Posted by DisneyHoneymoon

My lb is 8 months old now.
He failed his hearing test in hospital, but he was born in the water, so they thought it was just water. He failed the next test, too and got referred to the audiology specialist. By the time he was a few weeks old we found out he is completely deaf in his left ear, but his right ear work perfectly fine.
He is classed as partially deaf. Frustratingly, both his ears are perfectly fine, but the nerve from his left ear to his brain didn't develop fully.
At first we were shocked to find out, but we were basically told, that he will not need any further treatment and that it's important that we knew so early (ie before he falls behind in school) and that his right ear stays as strong as it is.
He had a ct scan, which we still need to discuss with his doctor and he will also have his 9 month check up next week to do another hearing test.
We will stay under the audiology team until he's 18 years old.
I'm glad we know so early on and so far he is reacting to noise the same way his big sister did at this age, but I worry for him and his future
I taught my first baby sign language, because I thought it was cute, but I am teaching my lb, too. It might come in handy for him.

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Aw I'm sorry to read that but I'm glad you found out early. I'm worried for my son too. I just keep hoping it's really bad glue ear. I hate the waiting too. I hope his check up goes well. x

[alkel2730]

Originally Posted by TC Devon

I knew a few signs from school (and mr tumble &#128512 so I could sign no, stop, hot etc I also used a lot of facial expressions alongside it. I also spoke as I signed.

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Thanks. I found a YouTube video today from mr tumblr doing signs but I couldn't get him to focus for long enough to watch it. It doesn't help that my older child speaks for him and wants to always be involved. I love that she does but he gets distracted.

[alkel2730]

Originally Posted by married2mm

20+ years ago dd2 failed her first hearing test with flying colours
Did not respond to anything

She was then referred to audiology dept for further tests and grommets were suggested..

She was just under 1 and did indeed 'flop' as a previous poster stated-she was screaming and then silence-I can still picture it now

Half an hour later she was back on the day ward and bright as a button. She had no further issues at all-in fact we say she has bionic ears as her hearing is amazing

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That's great thanks for that. I'm really dreading the thought of him having the op if that's the route we go down.

[alkel2730]

Originally Posted by Hels80

Hi,
I’d agree, learn some makaton signing (Mr Tumble is great for basics). Most schools use this too in the early years as it’s a tool for developing speech and language, not replacing communication.
All the signs are pretty much what you would use if you were trying to get someone to understand who was just out of earshot. You know the everyday gestures we all do.
On amazon they do keychains with a couple of the signs on- like behaviour signs and instructions on how to sign them (stop, no, good, well done etc).
May be of some use to you.
Get a referral to a speech therapist. I’ve forgotten how old he is but google your local nhs speech therapy as in our area they do drop ins.
Usual advice for children with glue ear is to get down to their level so they can see your face when you give instructions, and use gesture/pictures/photos to support their understanding.
That’s obv for a school setting though.
Good luck!

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Thanks. He's 19mths so like a baby toddler really so it's really hard to get him to focus and he's not talking yet. I tried this morning but I couldn't get him to stay still. He's got a terrible attention span! We spoke to his nursery this week about it all and without us asking they've put a package in place for him so they can teach him basic signs and work with him. They've had lots of images laminated and are using them 1:1 with him so he can tell them basic stuff like when he's hungry or thirsty etc. They're all trained in basic sign language. They've got a sensory room so they're doing this with him without any distractions which I think is a huge help. They said he did well. I've got an older child too who is 3 so it's super hard to get that space for him to learn and she talks for him a lot so I do think this time at nursery will be a massive help.

[butterflymags]

My DS is now 14 and wears hearing aids. He failed his routine tests as a baby and was refered to ENT. He never had any infections and was diagnosed with glue ear. he had grommets fitted at 11 months old. They fell out within 4 weeks but they had temporaily fixed the problem. His hearing then got worse so was fitted with grommets again at around 3. These fell out after about 3 months and again he was ok for a while. Then when he was 6 his hearing dropped again, however this time they did not want to do grommets as the previous ops had caused too much scaring of his ear drums and he was offered hearing aids.

We were always told he would grow out of glue ear but he hasn't and unfortunately he now has other issues. His left ear has a permanent perforation (a child hit him around the head at school and it never healed) and his right eardrum is retracted (curves inwards, instead of outwards) They are holding off repairing them as at the moment he does great with the aids and we dont like the risks.

He has wore aids since he was six and has done really well. He gets support from the education's sensory team who work with the school to ensure he has all he needs. Some hospitals do offer hearing aids now as an alternative, my friends daughter was offered them.

I found NDCS (National Deaf Childrens Society) a great help when I first found out he had problems and I do find them very good now, my DS goes on activity weeks etc with them and they are brilliant for advice. This is their link ndcs.uk/

[alkel2730]

Originally Posted by butterflymags

My DS is now 14 and wears hearing aids. He failed his routine tests as a baby and was refered to ENT. He never had any infections and was diagnosed with glue ear. he had grommets fitted at 11 months old. They fell out within 4 weeks but they had temporaily fixed the problem. His hearing then got worse so was fitted with grommets again at around 3. These fell out after about 3 months and again he was ok for a while. Then when he was 6 his hearing dropped again, however this time they did not want to do grommets as the previous ops had caused too much scaring of his ear drums and he was offered hearing aids.

We were always told he would grow out of glue ear but he hasn't and unfortunately he now has other issues. His left ear has a permanent perforation (a child hit him around the head at school and it never healed) and his right eardrum is retracted (curves inwards, instead of outwards) They are holding off repairing them as at the moment he does great with the aids and we dont like the risks.

He has wore aids since he was six and has done really well. He gets support from the education's sensory team who work with the school to ensure he has all he needs. Some hospitals do offer hearing aids now as an alternative, my friends daughter was offered them.

I found NDCS (National Deaf Childrens Society) a great help when I first found out he had problems and I do find them very good now, my DS goes on activity weeks etc with them and they are brilliant for advice. This is their link ndcs.uk/

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Thank you for sharing your son's story that's really interesting to see what he's had and been offered as he's got older. You've made me think I need to ask a lot more questions at each stage to find out the risks and what's going on. We still haven't gotten our next stage letter through yet but it's only been a week buti just want to crack on now! That link is super useful! Thank you x