Well, he passed his hearing tests today with flying colors. The audiologist did another tymphanogram test and a "modified" hearing test. The tymphanogram results were normal. Friday, his right ear was flat (meaning no sound bounced back from the ear drum). So we went on to the other test. Since Jacob is too young to respond "raise your hand when you hear a beep", this test sends a "buzz" to his ear drum and if his hearing is good, the ear drum will "send it back". That test showed perfect hearing. I asked him how a tymphanogram could be flat (failed) a few days ago and now it's perfect? He said it's very easy to get "false" results from that test...that it has to be held just right and it's easy to get it against the ear canal and give false results. Soooooo, the good news is that his hearing is just fine! I'm waiting on a call back from the speech pathologist about the home evaluation they want to do with Jacob. Because regardless of hearing, his speech is still not what it should be. I wouldn't be concerned about it (he does have a big sister that always talks for him) except that he tries to communicate and all that comes out are vowel/middle sounds. If I make him say individual letter sounds, he can do it. But putting a word together he can't do. Please is either "uhh" or "eee", for example. Plus, the early childhood center agreed that his speech is a concern. So, that's where we'll go from here! Again, we definitely appreciate all the prayers and support. God is faithful!!
Showing posts with label hearing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hearing. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Appointment Already
They already got Jacob an appointment with the audiologist at 10:30 in the morning (Wednesday). Any prayers you'd like to pray on our behalf would be much appreciated!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Results...Thus Far
First off, thank you for praying for us today! Jacob did great letting the PA look in his ears.
(I just love little boys in overalls!)So what we found out today is this: the PA was able to see all of both ear drums and did NOT feel that the wax was causing any issues. His right ear drum (which is the side he failed the test on) is a bit red but she did not recommend any antibiotics (we'll see how that goes, seeing as how he woke up after being asleep for 1.5 hrs. tonight screaming and took me several minutes to even calm him...not normal behavior for him.). The PA said there is obviously something going on since he failed the tymphanic (or whatever it's called!!) test so she is setting up an appointment with an audiologist to do more hearing tests. Don't know yet when that will be.
I'm a little bit frustrated because that's not what I was expecting to hear. I honestly thought the wax was the problem. Seriously, this kid has WAXY EARS! So what is the problem? I haven't a clue. I guess maybe the audiologist can shed more light on it. The PA suggested the fall-to reasons for kids being speech delayed--2nd child (oh yes, Anna talks for him all the time); boys, they have a tendency to not pay attention (ehh, no. Since the kid knows every last letter sound and can mimic animal sounds and re-enact scenes from cartoons...I'm pretty sure he's paying attention!). The way he misses the beginning sounds and the way he doesn't distinguish between similar sounds (like c/k and t) makes it obvious to me that it's a hearing issue and not a "behavior" issue. So we'll just see what happens.
I'm okay...ya know, when something out of your control (and unknown) is wrong with your kid sometimes it's hard. I guess I should say I'm okay as long as we just talk about the fact. But if you say "I'm praying for that sweet boy and his ears" I'm gonna tear up! MY SWEET BOY. (thank you Kim, for your invaluable encouragement and insight!)
Fiddlesticks. I hate being emotional. So if you see me, don't be sweet to me just ask me about the facts and I'll be okay. :) The reality is that even if he has permanent hearing loss in one ear...that's so minor compared to what some other families have to go through. Not that it's not a big deal and will not affect (or is it effect??) things, but I just try to keep it in perspective. God has a plan for this. This is not taking Him by surprise!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Reminder....somewhere!
I went to open the fridge door the other day and noticed my "reminder"...
almost completely covered in letter magnets! Lucky for me, I already had it on three different calendars. Sadly for me, that doesn't always make any difference in my ability to remember!! HA
This was a reminder for Jacob's appointment for his "Count Your Kid In" screening at the grade school. I've been concerned for a while that he's not hearing everything (and not just because he's two or a boy or my husband's son! hehe). In the last several months he's started trying to talk (before he really made no effort to talk except to say a few select things like more, NO, yeah, and our names). Except all that came out were vowels sounds and the occasional ending sound. Never the beginning sound except for the words he'd been saying such as Yeah, No and our names. He knows every last one of his letter sounds--he loves watching Leap Frog and says them along with the video. I've also known forever that he has incredibly waxy ears. I figured that's what the deal was, but for whatever reason I just didn't do anything about it. Seriously, I don't know why. So anyway, I finally talked to a lady I student taught with and she said her first step would be one of these screenings. So he had his appointment Friday. We first met with an early childhood center's rep (I really don't know what her title was!). She asked Jacob some questions, checked his vision using flashlights and finger puppets (to check following and color-blindness). Of course, he wasn't too cooperative about that, but I assured her I had no concerns with his vision. Only his speech. He was cooperative for about 10 seconds and then he spotted some toy up on the shelf that he was zoned in on. You know my children and their ONE TRACK MINDS! So the lady said she definitely wants to do an in-home evaluation with their speech pathologist (yet to be set up) because his speech (or lack thereof) is a concern. We then went in to the school nurse to get his hearing checked. She looked in his ears, which she said "I can't see all of either ear drum because of all the wax." SHOCKER. She then did a tympanic test (the tympanic membrane, aka ear drum, is located in the middle ear, and moves in and out to variations in sound pressure, changing acoustical energy to sound energy). For this test, a little puff of air is blown into the ear. She said he can't feel the air but should hear it. His right ear's results were flat, meaning the waves didn't bounce back from the ear drum. Which means there is something blocking them--usually fluid, but in Jacob's case, most likely wax. Her recommendation was for Jacob to see his primary doctor and see what he would do--hopefully agree that wax needs to be removed. If not, move on to an audiologist and have a full-blown hearing test done. So Jacob has an appointment tomorrow afternoon. I truly believe that the wax is what's causing the hearing "loss" but I also know that he will require speech therapy to catch up to where he should be (by the time a child turns 3, he should have a vocabulary of about 300 words. Jacob says about 10).
So, if you wouldn't mind praying for Jacob tomorrow around 1:30 that would be much appreciated. He hates having his ears touched, let alone someone poking around in them! And also pray that the doctor would agree to try and remove some wax and see if it helps. Thanks!! :)
almost completely covered in letter magnets! Lucky for me, I already had it on three different calendars. Sadly for me, that doesn't always make any difference in my ability to remember!! HAThis was a reminder for Jacob's appointment for his "Count Your Kid In" screening at the grade school. I've been concerned for a while that he's not hearing everything (and not just because he's two or a boy or my husband's son! hehe). In the last several months he's started trying to talk (before he really made no effort to talk except to say a few select things like more, NO, yeah, and our names). Except all that came out were vowels sounds and the occasional ending sound. Never the beginning sound except for the words he'd been saying such as Yeah, No and our names. He knows every last one of his letter sounds--he loves watching Leap Frog and says them along with the video. I've also known forever that he has incredibly waxy ears. I figured that's what the deal was, but for whatever reason I just didn't do anything about it. Seriously, I don't know why. So anyway, I finally talked to a lady I student taught with and she said her first step would be one of these screenings. So he had his appointment Friday. We first met with an early childhood center's rep (I really don't know what her title was!). She asked Jacob some questions, checked his vision using flashlights and finger puppets (to check following and color-blindness). Of course, he wasn't too cooperative about that, but I assured her I had no concerns with his vision. Only his speech. He was cooperative for about 10 seconds and then he spotted some toy up on the shelf that he was zoned in on. You know my children and their ONE TRACK MINDS! So the lady said she definitely wants to do an in-home evaluation with their speech pathologist (yet to be set up) because his speech (or lack thereof) is a concern. We then went in to the school nurse to get his hearing checked. She looked in his ears, which she said "I can't see all of either ear drum because of all the wax." SHOCKER. She then did a tympanic test (the tympanic membrane, aka ear drum, is located in the middle ear, and moves in and out to variations in sound pressure, changing acoustical energy to sound energy). For this test, a little puff of air is blown into the ear. She said he can't feel the air but should hear it. His right ear's results were flat, meaning the waves didn't bounce back from the ear drum. Which means there is something blocking them--usually fluid, but in Jacob's case, most likely wax. Her recommendation was for Jacob to see his primary doctor and see what he would do--hopefully agree that wax needs to be removed. If not, move on to an audiologist and have a full-blown hearing test done. So Jacob has an appointment tomorrow afternoon. I truly believe that the wax is what's causing the hearing "loss" but I also know that he will require speech therapy to catch up to where he should be (by the time a child turns 3, he should have a vocabulary of about 300 words. Jacob says about 10).
So, if you wouldn't mind praying for Jacob tomorrow around 1:30 that would be much appreciated. He hates having his ears touched, let alone someone poking around in them! And also pray that the doctor would agree to try and remove some wax and see if it helps. Thanks!! :)
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