Can anyone offer some help on child hearing loss?

Question

My 3 year old daughter was screened at pre-school today and it has been discovered that she has a hearing loss.

Children her age should be able to hear noises/voices as low as 25 decibles.

She couldn't hear anything under 40 decibles.

She was screened at birth, and had no problems with her hearing then.

She hasn't been screened since because her speech is excellent if better then kids her age. Although she has trouble with certian words or sounds, which everyone thought was ok for her age.

I had noticed that over the last year she said "what?" and "huh?" a lot but I thought it was our fault for not speaking loud enough or clear enough for her.

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or similar experience.

What percentage of hearing loss is this?

I can't get her into her doctor till the 26th of this month for another screening, and they won't answer any questions because they have not screened her yet.

I am kind of at a loss here.

HELP!

The nurse who administered the test Checked her to see if she had a slight cold or fluid in her ears and she didn't.

Thats why this kinda bothering me.

Answer 1

my little brother was the same way. except we did not screen that early. we had him go in for some tests at age 8. the doctors put tubes in, they did not work, so the doctor did an exploratory surgery. he found something call closesitoma (spell?) it is a cyst type thing that grows like a cancer. the doctor did 2 surgery's to remove it and was successful. my brother regained about 1/2 of the hearing loss and the cyst has not come back in 5 years so the doctor thinks it is gone. take him to an ear, nose, and throat doctor. they can do the tests.

Answer 2

I hope your husband is seeing an ENT regularly to find out what the root of the problem is. Hearing loss of this degree at his age is not typical and you need to find out what is causing it, ESPECIALLY if his hearing has declined rapidly recently. Next, I hope you are going to a reputable Audiologist, not just a hearing aid dispenser. Audiologists are not medical Dr.'s but do have an additional 4 years of doctoral school after college. I see people come into the Audiology clinic ALL THE TIME with hearing aids that are not powerful enough to fit their hearing loss. Often when this happens the user turns up the inferior aid as loud as it will go, which overdrives the mic and creates distortion. This is a terrible combination to someone who already has reduced speech discrimination. Hearing aids technology has grown very rapidly in the last 5 years so if his Hearing aids are older it may also be time to upgrade to newer technology, or at the very least reprogram his hearing aids to see if they still fit his hearing loss if There are many communication devices and alternative communication methods that your audiologist can help you find in your area. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

All I can think of is to refer you to the Osmond family as there are at least 3 members of their family who have hearing losses. Virl, Tom, and Justin Osmond might be good ones to contact. My uncle has had a hearing loss since a young age and has a tendency to talk louder, and I have a very slight one in one ear. See link below for a little insight into deafness or the family website itself. Also, there is a biography by Paul H. Dunn about the Osmonds where Olive Osmond explains more of what the family went through with the two oldest brothers, Virl and Tom. I have heard Tom Osmond play the piano before, by the way, although it's been a long time. He has the most severe hearing loss.

Answer 4

I really can't offer any advice since my son is only almost 16 months. His hearing problem is that he has already learned to push the "mute button" when we are talking to him! I am glad you at least have the doctor's appointment because that is the most important thing right there. I know it is hard being stressed out due to your child's health problem. My son has given me a lot of stress in his short life so far so just stay calm don't get too upset and be your daughter's advocate. She can not force doctors and other medical specialists to do what is right for her health, that is your job as a parent. If you know something is wrong, say SOMETHING. I wish you all the luck and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Best wishes!

Answer 5

I can't understand how this is for you because I don't have a hearing loss or a child with one but it must be really frustrating for you to not know how much of percentage loss this is. Ask them if they can have her come in early just to relive your worries if there is a cancellation they might be able to have your child come in early. The ones who tested your child should be able to tell you more or what kind of percentage loss they believe she has. I hope your daughters hearing loss is not that bad where she needs hearing aids some people only need therapy.

Answer 6

Could you afford to get her a hearing aid? If not ask Montel Willams, he might help if he gets your letter. He does get a lot of letters though. I know he's helped people with studdering problems and introduced them to a person who invented a special hearing aid that stops them from studdering. It's not the same thing, but I can see that he likes to help people. Don't worry, the 26th isn't too far away, I'm sure they will recommend a good hearing aid. Just be patient...I wish you the best and I hope you find something.

Answer 7

My son is 5 and his school tested him a month ago, they said he had a hearing loss. So I made an appoinment with my onocologist and had him tested friday. His hearing is fine. They said that children this young might have a problem understanding to raise thier hand when they hear the beep in thier ear. Take her to a doctor.

Answer 8

hearing loss is measured in frequencies. You need to get her checked out soon these are very important years for children and they need to hear.
Once a test is given you can plot the actual loss of hearing in certain ranges. Hearing aids are programmable to amplify the frequencies you have difficulty hearing and not so much amplification on the normal ranges that you do hear well.

Answer 9

She may have fluid in her ears like my daughter and many children. I just took my daughter the the E.N.T yesterday because I noticed she was not answering when I was talking to her and she was saying " I hear a train but there are no trains near by" So I took her to her doctor and he said she had fluid in her ears and he sent me to the E.N.T and he said that it looks like it is going away andit is very common in young children it comes and goes.