[aclee]

So today Matty went for a hearing test because he failed the EI test on his left side. He didn't respond to their bell at all. Several times since then, it seems hit or miss to me if he responds to me whispering in that ear. He always responds to DH though (of course!) He does seem to sleep very soundly. The other night we were replacing the smoke detector in our bedroom with a carbon monoxide/smoke detector and it did it's loud beep about 6-20 times. Matty was sleeping about 5-6 feet away and he didn't wake up at all.

Anyway, we went and they had to stick these ear plug like things in his ear a bunch of times and he was TICKED OFF...screaming. Good thing it was a sound proof booth. So they checked for inner ear fluid and he was fine, but they couldn't do the check for actual hearing and tones, because he needs to be quiet and...well he wasn't. We discussed Matty's prenatal history and apparently that also makes him much more likely to have hearing issues. The Dr. recommended that we bring him to Children's and have him sedated for the testing.

I'm sorta like...umm...no. This hearing thing does not seem to be impacting him at all. He's growing and learning and responds to voices and sounds around him. He passed his newborn screening fine. When you call his name, he whips his head around. Sometimes when you whisper on the left side, he doesn't respond, but sometimes he doesn't on the right either!

I am thinking I'll have EI reevaluate him for hearing when they do their status which is every 6 months. I think that will be when he is 9 month old...Is that wrong? I never in a million years would have thought that he had any hearing issues if EI hadn't said he failed on the L side.

What do you all think? Sedating him seems a little extreme to me?

[sbaglio]

Maybe you can find out what sort of sedation they plan to use? We would use chloral hydrate for kids who needed essential imaging (e.g. MRI or CT of the brain) and would not stay still, and it kind of just made them drowsy. I would totally not go for general anesthesia, and would be shocked if that's what they were suggesting...

[loveajax]

I was going to say the same thing...I don't think they give kids the "knockout" drugs. I thought once DD may need an MRI and honestly the sedation was my biggest concern.

I guess the question is what would they do/what "remedies" would they have if they did learn there was an issue on the left side? (Sorry, I don't know the answer, but I'm always one for more info if it can somehow "help").

Good luck! I hope it's a "false" alarm.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by sbaglio

Maybe you can find out what sort of sedation they plan to use? We would use chloral hydrate for kids who needed essential imaging (e.g. MRI or CT of the brain) and would not stay still, and it kind of just made them drowsy. I would totally not go for general anesthesia, and would be shocked if that's what they were suggesting...

He said that when we went in they would do the "drowsy" meds, but that he was concerned that given Matty's extreme reaction to the beeps, they might have to put him out completely. Matty was terrified and I think if he had any cognitive ability at all, he would cry. I don't know if it's sensory or what, but he was so upset. Gagging...everything.

[mommytoEli]

when my infant (he was probably about 5-6ish months old) had the hearing screen they wanted to sedate him as well. well first, they told me they wanted me to keep him up all day long and bring him in so tired he'd fall asleep on his own. lol. well...he fell asleep on the car ride over instead. anyway...he was still very sleepy once we got there, and they were able to get the test done bc of his groggy state. i know that sleep deprivation isn't nice either, but at least it isn't going under. if you feel comfortable with it, you might want to talk to your dr and see if you can try one more time and bring him in sleepy. just make sure someone sits in the back of the car and keeps him awake.

(by the way....my son did end up needing tubes, and THEN he could hear. they determined he had not been able to hear for some time, and as a result his speech was delayed.)

[hpfreak080]

Originally Posted by mommytoEli

(by the way....my son did end up needing tubes, and THEN he could hear. they determined he had not been able to hear for some time, and as a result his speech was delayed.)

This is going to sound really silly but here goes lol:

So THAT'S what the tubes are for! I had to have tubes in my ears when I was little, but I never knew why...
My mom actually still has one of the tubes in my baby book (the other one fell out on it's own and we couldn't find it ).

Anyway, nothing else...just thought I'd share my lack of knowledge about this lol

[LeighM]

I am writing this from the point of view of someone who has hearing problems and wears hearing aids.

Your son may respond to a pitch/sound but it doesn't mean that he is hearing it correctly. You maybe talking to him but he may not be hearing the words just responding to a sound or your facial movements.

It is really important that he is hearing language correctly in order to build his skills. Down the line sound confussion can cause problems educationally.

I know you don't want him sedated and as a mother I understand. However, I think it is very important that he hears things correctly at an early age for developemental reasons.

It sounds like he is missing the high pitch sounds which would account for him sleeping through the fire detector and your voice. Just because someone has hearing problems it doesn't mean it is an all or nothing. Even with hearing aid I understand men much easier than woman due to the tone of the voice.

I am glad to hear you are dealing with a children's hospital regarding the issue. And yes even as an adult - hearing test are stressful.

I hope this helps.

[Amber76]

Just as an FYI, I read a study that said most kids sleep through smoke detectors. I tested that theory and even my teens didn't wake up to the smoke detector beeping unless it went on for more than 2 minutes. It didn't phase my then 12 month old at all, and his hearing is fine.

Having said that, though, if he does have hearing loss, now is the best time to find out. But, if it is unilateral, it likely won't have nearly the same affect on his speech and language development as it would if it were bilateral.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by LeighM

I am writing this from the point of view of someone who has hearing problems and wears hearing aids.

Your son may respond to a pitch/sound but it doesn't mean that he is hearing it correctly. You maybe talking to him but he may not be hearing the words just responding to a sound or your facial movements.

It is really important that he is hearing language correctly in order to build his skills. Down the line sound confussion can cause problems educationally.

I know you don't want him sedated and as a mother I understand. However, I think it is very important that he hears things correctly at an early age for developemental reasons.

It sounds like he is missing the high pitch sounds which would account for him sleeping through the fire detector and your voice. Just because someone has hearing problems it doesn't mean it is an all or nothing. Even with hearing aid I understand men much easier than woman due to the tone of the voice.

I am glad to hear you are dealing with a children's hospital regarding the issue. And yes even as an adult - hearing test are stressful.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for weighing in. I think we'll likely go for it. I'm a child with major hearing issues as well. I had tubes three times, and one ear drum was punctured by a Q-tip during a game of "Doctor" with my sister that went horrible wrong. Both ear drums are covered in scar tissue.

I do want him to hear correctly, and I completely understand how important that is...I'm just starting to sort of feel like EI is crying wolf on everything. He needed his eyes checked, they were fine. He needed a hip ultrasound even though all physical exams were completely normal...that was fine. Now it's his ears. It sort of goes on and on.

If he has an issue, I think it IS octave related...which is what I've always thought. It would explain why he always hears my husband. Interestingly enough, when you test him by whispering or talking right ear first, he almost never responds on the left side, but when you test him left ear first, he almost always responds. Both times EI tested him, they did right ear first. I do know he could be responding to my facial expressions etc, but sometimes, I even shake his bottle to mix it and I'm behind him, and he hears THAT and whips his head around...

I'm going to talk with DH more about it tonight. Honestly I don't know that it's really an "option" to not get it done. Everything from EI is CC'd to the agency, and the last thing I want is for them to think I'm not getting him the suggested medical care...

[Amaurosis]

Don't have time for the complete story, but I really wanted to encourage you to get the test done. My son also passed his newborn screen, but is nonetheless deaf. We were able to get this diagnosed at three months, and got him into early intervention right away. It has made an AMAZING difference for him.

PM me if you want more details or have any questions about the tests -- we've been through the gamut!

[ChromaKelly]

At first I was going to say no, I would just wait, but after reading the other posts, I probably would do it.
I understand about feeling like your baby is being tested for every little thing. Ainsley had to go for a LOT of tests because of everything that happened at birth. I think they just want to be thorough, and it is so much better to catch anything asap. She also had to go for a hip ultrasound (actually both had to, because they were breech), genetic tests, neuro, etc.

[shy_bear]

I agree about getting this done; it is so very stressful to see your child be picked at!! BUT early detection is key. A. has been in therapy since 4mths old; now 28mths and he has come so far. We have been to so many doctors I have lost track of who we have seen. In the end we got our answers!

[angelkisses0102]

Are they doing an ABR (auditory brainstem response) test? DS had it done at 12 months old...while they were doing tubes. His hearing was significantly reduced due to fluid but once the fluid was drained he only had a minor hearing loss that we do nothing about.

In his case, we did not realize how significant the actual hearing loss was until the ABR.

It was quick...even with the tubes being done at the same time and recovery was quick and easy too.

Good luck.

[Sleeplvr]

I would do the test. My DS failed the newborn hearing test at the hospital and again when we went back after he was released. He got a referral to a specialist and passed the tests. My DD who passed the newborn hearing tests had to get tubes when she was 12 months old. They have fallen out and she's scheduled to have them put back in again. Along with the constant ear infections we're getting "what did you say?" a lot from her. So she's clearly missing some sound.

My son can sleep through anything. My DD is a very light sleeper and anything will wake her up.