Hannahs Ears- Advice?

[Pinot's Mom]

Tanya, I have noise sensitivity, and have had as long as I can remember. I had MANY ear infections in my youth, and that may have something to do with it. I've never had it evaluated. I sympathize with Hannah, and you all, as this is a difficult thing to deal with. I wish you luck; keep us updated.

[sparks19]

Hannah goes to the doctor at 2:30

I'm thinking it's a sensory thing but of course I will be open to exploring other causes.

Hannah is sensory sensitive as it is... doesn't like to get her hands dirty without having them wiped off right away, has issues with food textures, will only wear certain clothes and has to wear them with sleeves pulled up if it's long sleeved. Just a bunch of different little things but this is the only one that is affecting day to day life.

A friend of mine that works with children with sensory issues recommended a bunch of books to read about how to help children who have sensory sensitivities so I think I'll get a few of those... even if this ear covering thing isn't sensory it could still help me with a few other hurdles

I'll update with how the doctors visit goes.

[sparks19]

First of all... it's hard to convince people that something is "wrong" with your child when she walks past the nurses station (in the outfit she picked out. striped green dress, purple clip on earring, pink tights and red glittery shoes) waving at everyone and saying "OH hi everybody. How are you?" to everyone she sees and then asks the doctor "So what do you wanna do today?" LOL

but that's another story.

The doctor said her ears look a little bit red but not infected. She's sending us to an audiologist to have a hearing test first and see if that comes up with anything.

If that doesn't yeild any results then we are going to talk more in depth about seeing someone that can help her deal with that and help US to help her deal with that.

It SEEMS that perhaps covering her ears is how she deals with a stressful or unusual situation and maybe not so much that it's actually hurting her ears. Because she is having some constipation issues and sometimes if it's really hard for her to go she'll sit down and cover her ears until she's done. So that's what makes us think it's more emotionally related than actual pain related

[Karen]

I'm glad she'll see an audiologist anyway - and you can tell her it is kind of a fun thing, they put headphone on and you get to play games like "raise your hand when you hear it beep!" I got to see one as an adult, which eventually led to my being diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, but the audiologist was the most interesting, interactive exam.

That way you can also rule out any ear problems, and focus on behavior, if that's what it is!

[sparks19]

I'm glad she'll see an audiologist anyway - and you can tell her it is kind of a fun thing, they put headphone on and you get to play games like "raise your hand when you hear it beep!" I got to see one as an adult, which eventually led to my being diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, but the audiologist was the most interesting, interactive exam.

That way you can also rule out any ear problems, and focus on behavior, if that's what it is!

yeah that's the conclusion we came to. It can't hurt to have it done and we could find something or we could just rule out all that stuff and focus on the other.

so yeah I think it's a good first step. Now I just hope they can get us in sooner than the allergist did (I think that took three months lol)

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I'm glad to see things are moving along quickly for her. I hope she'll be able to be seen quickly. I know how long of a wait those specialists can be to get in with.

I also know what you mean about having to convince the doctor something is wrong and they look at you like you're nuts. When Topher was born I noticed a cloudy spot in his eye. The first two pediatricians we saw dismissed it completely so I took him to a third (he's now our primary pediatrician). He couldn't see it at first, but he didn't give up and finally he saw it. I hated being looked at like I was crazy, but I knew what I saw was real. Once he saw it he referred us to the specialist. (Turns out Topher was born with a cataract.)

Karen, that's probably not how they'll do Hannah's test. Nathan was/is very delayed with his speech. He didn't say his first word until after his third birthday. He had his hearing tested and it was really neat how they did it. They has a VERY small sound-proof room that Nathan, my husband, and I went in. My husband and I were instructed to be completely silent. The lady preforming the test sat on the outside of the room looking in through a window. She had a switch board that controlled different things in the room. There were speakers in different parts of the room. There were also a couple toys in the room that made noise. Nathan sat in a chair in the center of the tiny room. The woman would play a sound from one of the speakers or toys and note Nathan's response. It was a very nice and gentle set up for a young kid.

[lvpets2002]

Well so glad to read that its nothing major.. Yes I think doing hearing test is a good idea.. Poor Baby Hanna.. Huggss & Prayers being sent.. Keep us posted ok..

[Cataholic]

I am glad to see that Hannah will go see an audiologist. Jonah saw an audiologist as part of his speech development, and his test was done about the time he turned 3, also. It wasn't a scary procedure, from what I recall. I just asked him if he remembered it and he said, "yeah, I didn't have a river, and that's a good thing. I did have a mountain, and that is a good thing". LOL, from 3 years ago...he remembers. Me? Neh.

I would also consider an ENT.

My friend's daughter has the exact same issues that you mention Hannah does, I mean...exact. She kind of fights it...and I don't think that is the best approach. If long sleeves and tags bother someone, they bother someone, best to go to 3/4 length, and cut out tags!

Good luck.

[sparks19]

I am glad to see that Hannah will go see an audiologist. Jonah saw an audiologist as part of his speech development, and his test was done about the time he turned 3, also. It wasn't a scary procedure, from what I recall. I just asked him if he remembered it and he said, "yeah, I didn't have a river, and that's a good thing. I did have a mountain, and that is a good thing". LOL, from 3 years ago...he remembers. Me? Neh.

I would also consider an ENT.

My friend's daughter has the exact same issues that you mention Hannah does, I mean...exact. She kind of fights it...and I don't think that is the best approach. If long sleeves and tags bother someone, they bother someone, best to go to 3/4 length, and cut out tags!

Good luck.

Yeah I'm going to call them tomorrow and see when we can get her in there. She does fine with her eye exams so hopefully the same goes for the hearing test.

Yeah I don't really fight her little quirks. She can wear her sleeves up and her pants up if she wants (although my only rule on that is her pants must be rolled down when she's outside in the winter... once she's inside she can pull them back up), I pretty much dress the way she wants as long as it's weather appropriate and her shoes don't have to match but they have to be the same kind of shoe (she likes to mix and match her flip flops lol)

None of them really interfere with her day to day life but this one is starting to. Like she normally loves dance class... and she still does most of the time but now since this started she sometimes will stop and hold her ears and sometimes cry. but when you ask her if she had a good class she says yes and wants to go back . So I don't know... but in the moment it's affecting her enjoyment of things she would normally like and when it starts interferring that's when it's a problem.

We aren't going to push her but if there is anything we can do to help her we will. but the other stuff we just leave it be.