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Post by vickia on Oct 16, 2007 14:56:50 GMT
Thomas FINALLY had an appointment today with the ENT consultant about his hearing. After testing, his hearing still hasn't improved and there is definately fluid behind his eardrums.
The consultant has said that at the minute Thomas' ears are too small for her to put Grommets in so she is referring him to be fitted for hearing aids until such time that she can operate.
Has anyone else had experience of this? I can't see Thomas keeping hearing aids in!!! lol.
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Post by pinkshell1110 on Oct 16, 2007 17:08:48 GMT
hi there vickia we had exactly the same with charlie his ear canals being too small he had one grommet put in bout 6 weeks ago but the other side was still too small bless him he is 3 and a half we did try hearing aids but as you say how on earth do you keep them in,after 3 unsuccessful months the audiologist suggested "TAPING " them in ,i dont think so, charlie learnt to lip read quite early on and he got by very well woth that but all kids are so different maybe thomas will keep them in lots of luck xxxxxxxx
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Post by lisajg on Oct 16, 2007 17:30:47 GMT
Harrison has hearing aids - for the same reason, ENT surgeon had a try but his ear canals were too small at the mo for grommets. Harry is 3 years 6 months now, I think we first got them just before he was 2 years old. To start with he just pulled them off straight away but recently we have had more success. He has become quite good at wearing the right hand side one when he is at nursery (his hearing is worse on the right so prob senses the benefit more), we have a clip which attaches to his top and the hearing aid - then at least if he pulls it off it doesn't get lost. Angie (who has just joined) has a lovely little boy called Samuel, he wears his no problem, he has had his since he was very little so I think the younger they get them the better it is. If Thomas is getting hearing aids then you'll prob get a 'teacher for the deaf' who gives you lots of support, they're great for helping with signing and giving advice on how to communicate well with kiddies who have glue ear. Claire will probably be on to offer some advice too as her little George has had hearing aids for a while.
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Post by lizzymd² on Oct 16, 2007 18:47:57 GMT
Awww wee soul, can they not drain fluid or sook it out? Hearing aids aren't as bad as they used to be and his speech will come on too.
Keep us posted
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Post by vickia on Oct 16, 2007 19:35:08 GMT
The only way to drain the fluid is to put grommets in so thats out! Thomas' hearing loss is moderate but a lot depends on the weather and how much fluid he has in his chest and so on! Sounds silly I know but when he's really ruttly, like in winter, his hearing is a lot worse. He can hear though and loves to shout and babble. He understands words like wave, kiss, clap, cuddle, how big, etc and will react appropriately to each. He will also shout mama and dada when he wants us and calls his brother, Daniel, da so he obviously can hear but just not so well. I am DREADING hearing aids though cos I can't even keep shoes on him! lol. And a hat is totally out of the question! ha ha........
I've not heard of a teacher for the deaf. How would we go about getting one of those? We do try to use Makaton with Thomas but his a bit oblivious to it all at the minute! lol
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Post by pinkshell1110 on Oct 16, 2007 20:07:54 GMT
we got our teacher of the deaf once charlie was diagnosed, we have been unlucky cos she has had no input whatsoever, except the very first time we met her,she just told us bout schools for kids with hearing loss !!!!! Sounds like everyone else gets a good input, and i hear the clips are very good that harrison uses . lots of love shell,charlie and jasmin xxxxxxxxx
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Post by claireyd22 on Oct 16, 2007 20:33:38 GMT
Hi, yes we've had the same with George. He had hearing aids fitted in July and i'm afraid to say that he's an absolute nightmare with them. If you look away for a second he's wipped one out and its in his mouth. He's learnt that if he bites it and pulls it out at them same time that the ear mould comes off then he chews it - obviously very worrying. Just lately though he;s getting better at leaving them alone if he's got a hoody top on but as soon as you pull the hood down he starts pulling the hearing aids out. We lost an earmould in Asda a couple of weeks ago so we're waiting for new ones to come - we're going for multi- coloured ones this time as they will be easier to see! The hearing aids are quite nice now, they come in all diferent colours and are really small. I posted a picture in the gallery when George first had his, its probably a couple of pages back now. The Teacher of the deaf contacted us at first and came to our house to discuss hearing aids , and now comes every two weeks so you should get one for Thomas. We are seeing George's consultant tomorrow but I don't think they will offer grommets yet as his ears are still so tiny. Hope this helps you x
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Post by lisajg on Oct 16, 2007 21:10:00 GMT
I think the teacher for the deaf are told as soon as any child is recommended for hearing aids, so they should contact you shortly, if not mention it to your ENT consultant. Harry won't wear a hat either - gave up on that a long time ago, lol. Maybe if Thomas hears a benefit once he has his hearing aids then he'll keep them on, sounds like he's making lots of good sounds already which is really promising. Harry's teacher for the deaf is doing quite a bit of training for his nursery at the mo, they already use makaton but she's giving them lots of input on what signs to use + she's giving them all training in glue ear (just so that they understand fully what they can do to help Harry, may sound obvious but just basic things like making sure they have eye contact with him, sitting at the same level to him, speaking clearly etc). Nursery is probably a way off for Thomas but in the meantime your teacher for the deaf should be able to offer lots of support, even if the hearing aids are a battle! Good luck with it all xx
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Post by lisajg on Oct 16, 2007 21:23:20 GMT
Oh Claire, meant to say to you as well, Harry used to do the same with chewing his hearing aids (little monkey!). In the end I wouldn't let him wear them unless I was able to watch him like a hawk, as soon as I'd turn my back I'd hear him crunching on it! I think the reason why we're having more success now is because Harry has 1 on 1 support at nursery - they occupy him ALL the time with something so it gives him a chance to finally forget his hearing aid is there! It's more difficult for us mums to keep them 100% occupied all the time but hope this offers you some hope for the future. Probably doesn't help much at the moment though I have found the coloured ear moulds are easier to find tho when they've chucked them across the room somewhere! Take care x
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Post by claireyd22 on Oct 17, 2007 20:43:27 GMT
Hi, thanks for that Lisa, George is much better when he's got my total attention and he is occupied but like you say you can't do that all the time. We saw George's ent consultant today and like we thought he can;t have grommets yet so its a case of us just persevering with the hearing aids x
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