Update on Abigail-Louise

[Eoz]

Well after a long 14 months we have struck gold with Abigail.She finally has a diagnosis!

She isn't Autistic but has severe Glue ear on the right and partial hearing loss on her left.She does have Sensory issues as well so she is going to see a occupational therapist.She also has something wrong with her leg.Something i've begged them to check out and finally they saw it for them selves so she now will get to see a physiotherapist.

Glue ear is often misdiagnosed as Autism as it shows all the traits of autism.Poor speech,communication problems,tired,unsocial and behaviour issues.

If you stick your fingers in your ears and talk you'll hear things very muffled that's how Abi hears things.Because of this she only hears certain tones and part sentences hence her screaming and lashing out.We noticed high pitch things hurt her ears and thats because it causes vibrations in her head and ears.It all clicked into place.It explains why swimming is hard,why she hates being on swings,why she is so clumsy,poor speech and why she takes herself away from other children as she finds it hard to communicate and hear them.

We're over the moon but we have a long way to go yet.This has been present a long time so it wont b easy to cure.She needs her tonsils out,adenoids out and grommets in.She may also benefit from a hearing aid but that wont be for a while yet.She will have physio regular,occupational therapy once a week,speech therapy once a week and go to a special needs group to socialise once a week as well as me trying to get her to stay at the childminders.She also needs to practise blowing into a recorder or through a straw to open her airways more.

So hopefully with the right help Abigail can start to live a happy.normal life x

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I am glad you finally got the help you need hun. Heres to the future for Abi and the family xx

 

[TTC LADY]

That's great that you finally got a diagnosis. All the best and hope everything works out from now on.

 

[Eoz]

Thank you Ladies xxxxx

 

[Marleysgirl]

Glad you got it sorted, but it's an interesting diagnosis.

Our boy Andrew has been diagnosed with hearing loss in both ears (sensori-neural rather than conductive) plus his regular audiograms show that he has slight fluid build-up in one ear. However, we are not convinced by this diagnosis and think his problems may be more behavioural/attentive like mild autism, as his behaviour does not differ whether he wears the aids or not.

Andrew isn't sociable when he plays, but we don't have any episodes of him lashing out. And he really really enjoys his swing

If your audiologist didn't do so, may I point you towards the NDCS website for more about hearing problems in children. And ask about getting a Teacher of the Deaf assigned, they visit at home to help you and your child through education including the pre-school years. (Not that ours is much good, but that's our problem!)

 

[Eoz]

Marleys girl thank you so much xx I am pleased we have this but somewhere in my heart I'm unsure if its the end of it.I will mention the teacher when she see's the pead next.

Do you not think your boy is like this because of his ears?I know Abi hates being in groups.Being one of 5 is so hard for her.She feels cared of them and just cant get her point across x

 

[Marleysgirl]

Andrew hasn't really been in a "group" situation to find out! He has a full-time SAHD, and has regular playdates with a fellow extreme-preemie (same size, i.e. tiny!). He used to be very antisocial and independent but has recently started playing with us and coming to us for cuddles/lifts.

The reason we think hearing loss isn't his only problem is because he can hear us sometimes, for example he hears us coming in the back door or coming upstairs, and sometimes responds to us calling across the room. Also he's had hearing aids since December and despite increases in the amplification, they make absolutely no difference to his behaviour - he is no more attentive to us, still ignores the television etc. The audiologists are now at a loss, he refuses to co-operate during the tests so they can't really do anything until he's older.

 

[Eoz]

its so hard isnt it.Keep on fighting hopefuly you will get it sorted.The hearing sometimes is typical of Abi but the Dr said its because the fluid can go up or down.Im not so sure but time will tell.

I noticed Abi's prob as I took her to childrens centres and she hated it all x