Hannahs Ears- Advice?

[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.

[lizbud]

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.

Do you think Hannah is crying out of frustration then, rather than pain?
I hate to think of a child in pain but not able to properly express that to
other people. I hope you are able to get her in to see the Specialist
soon so you will have some real answers as to how to help her.

[sparks19]

Do you think Hannah is crying out of frustration then, rather than pain?
I hate to think of a child in pain but not able to properly express that to
other people. I hope you are able to get her in to see the Specialist
soon so you will have some real answers as to how to help her.

I think she cries because she's scared. I've heard her frustrated cry many times lol but this cry is different. I don't nessecarily think it's pain either but it wouldn't hurt to rule that out for certain.

I think this last month has only exacerbated this issue. It's been a crazy month. Between going to visit the inlaws in florida for a week and Christmas and new years and all the running around she has been really off schedule and I think that's just making this worse. Today she did pretty good. We went over to a friends for a play date and she only covered her ears once and that was because she was having trouble "going" not because of any sound.

she's usually pretty good about telling me if she hurts somewhere but I think fear is a new concept for her and she doesn't know how to express that so this is her coping mechanism when she gets nervous.

when she does it I ask her whats wrong but she jsut says "it's too loud"

So hopefully this hearing test will either reveal something or show everything is fine and then we know it's behavioural and can go from there.

a friend of mine deals with children with sensory issues and she gave me a few titles to check out that will help us work with this too.

I'm hoping now that we are back to regular normal day to day routine that she'll get back to feeling more comfortable with her surroundings and may help with this issue... hopefully. She definitely thrives on routine and when that gets out of whack she gets all out of sorts.

If it is pain I hope they find out the cause of it so we can get that taken care of right away.

[lvpets2002]

Awee Bless her wittle heart.. Poor baby Hanna.. Sending lots of Huggss Hanna.. Now when is her hearing test?? Keep us posted ok = Also sending lots of Prayers too.. As a child I had lots of Ear Problems & was always in a Ear/Nose Doctors office.. My ear-drums ruptured like twice & all kinds of pain always.. It all cleared after a certain age..