Saturday, October 16, 2010

Confirmed


The diagnosis is official - nerve deafness.

My daughter has nerve deafness - thank goodness it is just in one ear. The diagnosis wasn't a surprise really - she failed her newborn hearing screening in that ear, so we've always known something was up. But the ENT and the audiologist insisted they couldn't get accurate results from a hearing test (you know, the one in the sound proof booth) until at least age four. She's now had two tests, six months apart that have shown the same results: she can hear very high frequencies and very low frequencies in that ear; but almost all human speech falls into the range of frequencies she can't hear.

I know the hearing loss effects her because of the little things she does. She refers to her good ear as "my listening ear" and has told me (while pointing accurately) "this ear doesn't work." This morning, while she was playing on the computer, she choose to only put the ear bud into the good ear. I thought the other one just fell out so I offered to help her put it in so it would stay. She assured me, "No Mama, I don't want it." O.K. - whatever works, I guess.

As of right now, life is good. She is already asking us to repeat things when she doesn't quite hear us. I'm sure "selective hearing" will start when she is a teenager, but she's not there yet. And as of this week there is an amplification system for her preschool classroom so the teacher's voice can be slightly louder than the din. The speech therapist is monitoring her and tells me her speech is "age appropriate." Apparently Ls, Fs and Ths are harder sounds to make and are often not perfected until later, so I shouldn't worry about her inability to make them correctly. But, of course, I do. I am her mama after all, it's my job to worry about her...

10 comments:

Tim said...

I have that , too. I'm am always missing bits of a conversation.

Melody said...

Yes Liz, you're right...no matter what...it IS our job as mommies to worry about our babies...no matter how old they are. I don't think it ever ends...mine are 10 and 14 and I still worry as much (if not more) than when they were tiny! Positive thoughts and prayers for your little one! Hugs! :)

Sally said...

Does your school system have any sort of Hearing Itinerant Teacher? I'm not sure what services are available Mackinac Island... but if you think there is an itinerant floating around, ask to have them come in and evaluate your daughter in the classroom. (I'm a Hearing Itinerant Teacher). If you would like any more teacherly information or pointers, I would be more than happy to help you in any way that I can, just send me an e-mail. It sounds like your daughter is already developing some great compensatory skills! I just wish some of my older students would use those skills!

Brenda said...

Mine are 34 and 38, and I'm still worrying. Sounds like you've been on top of things since literally day one, Liz, which is such a blessing. No need for me to offer advice because I have no experience in this at all. So, Ted and I will just have her, and the rest of the family, in our prayers. Please tell her "in her listening ear" that Bear and Maddie send kisses and lots of love. Brenda

The Elkins said...

They thought my daughter had something similar at first. I know several people with nerve deafness (must be common around here) and only when they're in crowded places do they usually have trouble. Sounds like K is dealing great, amazing how adaptable kids are isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you can get good advice on here....isn't the internet just the most wonderful and surprising thing.
Good luck to you and it really does sound as if she is compensating and understanding her limitations on her own. B.

Diane said...

Of course you will always worry because you are her loving Mama. I am glad that the school has the amplification system for her and that she is so aware of what she has to ask for things to be repeated if needs be. Take Care!

clara said...

Hi Liz, I know she is in good hands with such wonderful parents. I do have to speak to a few people with one listening year and sometimes I forget to speak louder or to speak to the right ear.

Deanna said...

Awww, she sounds so cute, talking about her "listening ear" and not putting in the ear bud. Children are so much stronger than we realize, the just adjust and adapt better than we do. And Liz, you are right, Mama's worry....that's just what we do. I will say a prayer for you and your little girl today. Hope you have a blessed weekend.
Deanna

Suzanne said...

Sounds like you are all on the right path for your daughter. Our son was born with the same hearing loss. We did alot with speech therapy, but didn't use any hearing aids. Most folks don't know about his hearing loss. Good luck!