Re: Audiologist

[Guest guest]

Colleen,

I can understand where you are coming from. Let me relay our worse

experience. Our daughter was 5 when we adopted her from Romania in December.

We thought she was deaf, but once we realized she had some hearing, we

started the process of getting her hearing testing. The local School for the

Deaf did her first 2 test and was wonderful with her. We got a feel for her

level; nothing good enough for hearing aids, but it was a great start. They

test deaf/hoh children everyday. However, we had to find another audiologist

because our county would have to make the referral to them if that was

determined to be where she would attend.

Our ENT (I could tell you stories about him, but another time) sent us to an

" experienced " woman who apparently did not test children or at least none

with no language. She asked no background questions, and pulled her

" secretary " to go into the booth with us. She told me to interpret for her

(that's what I do) as she threw the blocks into the basket. Of course, our

andra was just learning what sound was, and most certainly did not know

English or sign language. She was in an orphanage her entire life and was so

curious about everything. I had trouble getting her to focus or sit in my

lap, much less respond when this violent women through the blocks into the

bucket. She took her doll away from her [AT THIS STAGE (andra had only

been with us for 2 months) DON'T EVER TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM AN ORPHAN--NOT

A GOOD IDEA], became smart when our daughter climbed down. I finally

intervened and said you do not understand this child and asked her to leave.

Needless to say we never went back. The audiologist (outside the booth) was

almost in tears and I was mad.

We then contacted our school system (which is fairly large) and they sent us

to a team of audiologists who knew how to work with children. At one time we

even took a short break and started again after she had rested. She was

tested over several weeks also, until we got a consistent report. The thing

that worked initially with andra was the clapping monkey, elephants,

pigs, etc., that light up when she heard the sound. It's all in having the

right audiologist who work consistently with children.

I hope this helps. I, too, became use very frustrated. Right now I am

scheduled to see a different audiologist to see about getting different

loaner aids. I can't get the local one to try anything but Oticon. I feel

that one trial is not sufficient. So, we are starting over. Would you

believe that the preschool teacher offered to accompany us to the

audiologist! She is also a trained audiologist, but doesn't fit aids.

andra responds better to her since she is her known " authority "

figure/teacher.

There is always something. Be assertive. I may be getting a reputation

(smile), but my children comes first. She deserves the best hearing she can

get.

Vicki