horseybird
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I think this is all so new and as mums we worry anyway. Having to get used to having a child with a hearing probłem is tough. But the hearing aids are now
2 failed hearing tests=mild-moderate hearing loss
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horseybird
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Oops!
Sorry was saying that the aids are part of our life and the support has continued to be amazing. I actually woke her up by being noisy the other day. When her aids are in she gurgles, coos and makes noises baçk. I think by having them this young she will have the best chance of normal speech. My speech therapist said they don't have to hear the sounds to learn to produce them. They can use vibrations and other ways to learn speech. I think our babies are lucky to have this now. Most people don't always notice the aids anyway x
Sorry was saying that the aids are part of our life and the support has continued to be amazing. I actually woke her up by being noisy the other day. When her aids are in she gurgles, coos and makes noises baçk. I think by having them this young she will have the best chance of normal speech. My speech therapist said they don't have to hear the sounds to learn to produce them. They can use vibrations and other ways to learn speech. I think our babies are lucky to have this now. Most people don't always notice the aids anyway x
SoBlessedMama
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I think you're spot on, HB--this is how we can give our little ones the best start, and the best shot at on-track development. While it isn't ideal, I'm really thankful the technology exists to help them.
SoBlessedMama
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I'm sorry you're having such a hard time, Gem. I hope everything goes smoothly and that you can come to terms with the transition.
SoBlessedMama
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Thanks, I know I'm being silly and things could be a whole lot worse - she's not ill but i just get so upset about it. Dreading Tuesday
You're not being silly at all. It IS a hard issue. It ISN'T ideal. We want what is best for our little ones, and in a perfect world, that would mean that they are 100% flawless, and never struggle with anything. But the reality is that we don't live in that world.
The reality is that 50 years ago, our kids would have struggled in school. Mine probably would have had to learn sign language. They would have had a hard time being successful, and living a "normal" life, with "normal" abilities in speech and communications. The AMAZING reality now is that chances are that every one of our kids, having been identified early, and having received early intervention, will be perfectly on track with development, and live wonderful, fulfilling, successful lives. You're not being silly, Gem. You're just being a protective Mama. : )
patch2006uk
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My eldest has a severe high frequency loss in his right ear and a mild high frequency loss in his left ear. They decided that he didn't need hearing aids at birth, as his better ear was good 'enough'. His speech has been unaffected, he's a chatty little thing. He tells us that when his brother cries in the night, he flips so his right ear is facing up and he can't hear the crying so much. They are going to see how he gets on at school and decide whether he will need aids for different environments based on their assessments.
We signed with him from 3 months, and my husband did a BSL level 1 course last year and I am 2 thirds of the way through one myself now. We didn't and still don't know if his hearing loss will be degenerative, so we wanted to give him a back up means of communication.
We don't have any family history of deafness on either side, so it was a massive shock when he was diagnosed at birth. We assumed he failed the newborn screening because of meconium in his ears, but further tests showed his hearing loss.
I hope the fitting goes well
We signed with him from 3 months, and my husband did a BSL level 1 course last year and I am 2 thirds of the way through one myself now. We didn't and still don't know if his hearing loss will be degenerative, so we wanted to give him a back up means of communication.
We don't have any family history of deafness on either side, so it was a massive shock when he was diagnosed at birth. We assumed he failed the newborn screening because of meconium in his ears, but further tests showed his hearing loss.
I hope the fitting goes well
Gem13
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patch2006uk do you mind if I ask what scores your eldest got on his hearing? I was told the pass mark is 30-Hattie got 55 on her first test & 50 on the second two. (I was told there wasn't much difference, but 50 is closer to 30 than 55 even with my baby brain!!!) So just wondered what scores you had to get away without them. I think she can hear which is hard
Gem13
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So Hattie had her aids fitted this morning, she was actually really good. I was a blubbering mess. They said because her hearing loss in mild/moderate then the hearing aids are fairly weak so we won't notice any difference in her which i find quite hard. I might have been able to accept it more if there was an obvious change in her as soon as they were fitted.
superfrizbee
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I have no experience but wanted to give hugs. There's a guy I work with who is partially deaf. I don't know to what degree but it's certainly near total in one ear. His lip reading is amazing and his speech is perfect. He's incredibly intelligent and successful - a very highly though of manager. He's creative, articulate and his a wicked sense of humour.
My mum is also blind and although it's not the same it's still a life challenge. She's amazing and an inspiration to me and it's never held her back in life. I do understand how you feel though. My son had a stroke at 7 weeks and it's hard to come to terms with the fact that things aren't always perfect for our children. On bad days I'm a basket case but on good days I feel that our abilities/disabilities don't make us weak, they show that by rising above them that we are strong. X
My mum is also blind and although it's not the same it's still a life challenge. She's amazing and an inspiration to me and it's never held her back in life. I do understand how you feel though. My son had a stroke at 7 weeks and it's hard to come to terms with the fact that things aren't always perfect for our children. On bad days I'm a basket case but on good days I feel that our abilities/disabilities don't make us weak, they show that by rising above them that we are strong. X
patch2006uk
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Sorry it's taken so long Gem, but have sent you a PM x
patch2006uk
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In case anyone else is interested, these are his results:
"Severe sensorineural hearing loss on the right between 1 and 4 KHz and a mild less than 40dbeHL loss of 4KHz on the left"
"Responses of 30dB for 0.5k and 1k, and 60dB for 2k and 30dB for 4K in the left ear, and 70dB for 0.5k and 90dB for 1K, 80dB for 2K and 50dB for 4K in the right ear, with normal tympanograms"
"Severe sensorineural hearing loss on the right between 1 and 4 KHz and a mild less than 40dbeHL loss of 4KHz on the left"
"Responses of 30dB for 0.5k and 1k, and 60dB for 2k and 30dB for 4K in the left ear, and 70dB for 0.5k and 90dB for 1K, 80dB for 2K and 50dB for 4K in the right ear, with normal tympanograms"
SoBlessedMama
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Just a quick update--little guy got his hearing aids yesterday. The appointment went so well, and so far it has been a really great experience.
He's SO much more responsive to noise, especially voices, so that's a lot of fun to see. He also seems very unbothered by them, and has adjusted really well to wearing them.
And...this is superficial, but I was very surprised and pleased with how small they are. You basically have to turn him around and look at the back of his head to even see them.
We have our next appointment in May, unless he has issues between now and then, but I feel really hopeful that he's going to do great. : )
I hope you're all doing well!
He's SO much more responsive to noise, especially voices, so that's a lot of fun to see. He also seems very unbothered by them, and has adjusted really well to wearing them.
And...this is superficial, but I was very surprised and pleased with how small they are. You basically have to turn him around and look at the back of his head to even see them.
We have our next appointment in May, unless he has issues between now and then, but I feel really hopeful that he's going to do great. : )
I hope you're all doing well!
Gem13
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SoBlessedMama that's fab news! So glad you're noticing a difference, makes it all worth while I'm sure. Harriet has had hers for almost 2 weeks and I'm getting used to it now. They said we wouldn't notice any change in her as they're quite weak. She was hearing sounds anyway thankfully. Just waiting for her next appointment to have the moulds resized as she is growing at a huge rate!!
SoBlessedMama
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Thank you, Gem. : ) You sound like you're in a much better place with everything now--that's great! : )
horseybird
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SoBlessedMama that's fantastic news. It's so nice to see reaction to sounds, and to hear the noises coming from our babies when we talk to them. Thrilled for you! Xxx hugs from someone in the same boat xx
SoBlessedMama
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Thank you, Hb. : ) It is a blessing to see his little face light up in response. : )
SoBlessedMama
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Ok girls--I need some practical advice lol. Yesterday was little man's first full day with the hearing aids. He did great! He wore them for almost 10 hours, and didn't seem to be bothered by them.
Our audiologist gave three suggestions for keeping them flush against his ears (not flopping.) She suggested 1) a pilot's cap 2) toupee tape 3) an ear gear band.
Well, it is very humid where we live, and he sweats like a beast, especially on his head lol. So no pilot's cap for us, at least until cooler weather. (I've also seen head/sweat bands used in a similar way, and I think this would have the same sweaty effect for him.)
So, we tried the tape half the day, and the ear gear half the day to see what worked best.
The toupee tape was great--he didn't notice it at all, and never tried to mess with the hearing aids. But it doesn't stay sticky. I think we would have to re-apply it 2-3 times a day.
The ear gear was ok--but the neck strap bugged him, so he pulled them out twice while he was wearing the strap. Not bad, but not as good as the tape.
What do your little ones use? Is there maybe some tape that is more secure than just plain old toupee tape?
I'd love any tips. : )
Our audiologist gave three suggestions for keeping them flush against his ears (not flopping.) She suggested 1) a pilot's cap 2) toupee tape 3) an ear gear band.
Well, it is very humid where we live, and he sweats like a beast, especially on his head lol. So no pilot's cap for us, at least until cooler weather. (I've also seen head/sweat bands used in a similar way, and I think this would have the same sweaty effect for him.)
So, we tried the tape half the day, and the ear gear half the day to see what worked best.
The toupee tape was great--he didn't notice it at all, and never tried to mess with the hearing aids. But it doesn't stay sticky. I think we would have to re-apply it 2-3 times a day.
The ear gear was ok--but the neck strap bugged him, so he pulled them out twice while he was wearing the strap. Not bad, but not as good as the tape.
What do your little ones use? Is there maybe some tape that is more secure than just plain old toupee tape?
I'd love any tips. : )
horseybird
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Hi. I can't offer any advice on the tape as haven't used it. We sometimes have problems with the right ear on our little one. This ear seems hard to fit. Our audiologist used a tube with a double bend in it? It meant that the hearing aid it self wasn't flopping about off of her ear, it's helped a lot with that. Could you try and see if they could do this?
