Re: Is there really an accurate test for infants/toddlers???

[Guest guest]

Ian had an Sedated ABR/ASSR. We have an audiogram where they plotted out

his loss, and it has the common sounds on it. I am confident that it is

correct. Had we NOT had the sedated test, NO way. No way I would go by a

booth test that young.

Tawnya

Ian, 1 mild/mod, aided

, 3 1/2 hearing

Is there really an accurate test for

infants/toddlers???

>

>After all the recent posts I was just curious to see how many of you

>really think there is an accurate hearing test for babies. I do

>not! I do believe that our baby has a mild loss but I don't believe

>the tests. Especially after today. We went to our audiologist

>today for a follow - up. Our daughter (6 1/2 months)got her hearing

>aids two weeks ago for a mild or mild to moderate loss - it's still

>unknown. Today she had sound booth tests and her responses unaided

>were from 20db to 40db. She's never responded to 20db undaided.

>It's all SOO confusing cause our Audi keeps telling us that we won't

>know for SURE what the loss is until our daugther is older. The

>booth testing is so hard cause some of the sounds they play are so

>boring (can't find a better word) that I don't even turn to the

>sound. My daughter is the type of baby that if she's into a toy or

>something and she hears a truck go by, she won't turn her head. She

>gets really focused on things which I know all babies do. So we

>don't really have an audiogram for our daugther cause they can't

>pinpoint where exactly the loss is. I am just so frustrated with

>this whole thing. The unknown is something I am not comfortable

>with especially when she's wearing hearing aids. I am scared they

>will harm her. Part of me (don't blast me for saying this) wishes

>they didn't have the newborn screenings here OR that they tested at

>a different decibel level. Our Audi said that our daughter would

>have probably gotten to first grade and needed a hearing test and

>that is when we would have found out. SOOO confusing. It's been 6

>1/2 months since our daughter has been born and this is totally

>consuming me and driving me insane. Sorry for the brutal honesty

>but it's the truth.

>

>Anyway, back to my original question, is anyone confident in the

>tests for babies and toddlers? And for those of you who have babies

>with a hearing loss, do you have an audiogram? And have they really

>pinpointed the exact loss?

>

>Thanks and sorry for venting...

>

>Alison

>mom of Lucy 4/15/04

>

>

>

>

>

>All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each post

is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to

copyright restrictions.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ian had an Sedated ABR/ASSR. We have an audiogram where they plotted out

his loss, and it has the common sounds on it. I am confident that it is

correct. Had we NOT had the sedated test, NO way. No way I would go by a

booth test that young.

Tawnya

Ian, 1 mild/mod, aided

, 3 1/2 hearing

Is there really an accurate test for

infants/toddlers???

>

>After all the recent posts I was just curious to see how many of you

>really think there is an accurate hearing test for babies. I do

>not! I do believe that our baby has a mild loss but I don't believe

>the tests. Especially after today. We went to our audiologist

>today for a follow - up. Our daughter (6 1/2 months)got her hearing

>aids two weeks ago for a mild or mild to moderate loss - it's still

>unknown. Today she had sound booth tests and her responses unaided

>were from 20db to 40db. She's never responded to 20db undaided.

>It's all SOO confusing cause our Audi keeps telling us that we won't

>know for SURE what the loss is until our daugther is older. The

>booth testing is so hard cause some of the sounds they play are so

>boring (can't find a better word) that I don't even turn to the

>sound. My daughter is the type of baby that if she's into a toy or

>something and she hears a truck go by, she won't turn her head. She

>gets really focused on things which I know all babies do. So we

>don't really have an audiogram for our daugther cause they can't

>pinpoint where exactly the loss is. I am just so frustrated with

>this whole thing. The unknown is something I am not comfortable

>with especially when she's wearing hearing aids. I am scared they

>will harm her. Part of me (don't blast me for saying this) wishes

>they didn't have the newborn screenings here OR that they tested at

>a different decibel level. Our Audi said that our daughter would

>have probably gotten to first grade and needed a hearing test and

>that is when we would have found out. SOOO confusing. It's been 6

>1/2 months since our daughter has been born and this is totally

>consuming me and driving me insane. Sorry for the brutal honesty

>but it's the truth.

>

>Anyway, back to my original question, is anyone confident in the

>tests for babies and toddlers? And for those of you who have babies

>with a hearing loss, do you have an audiogram? And have they really

>pinpointed the exact loss?

>

>Thanks and sorry for venting...

>

>Alison

>mom of Lucy 4/15/04

>

>

>

>

>

>All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each post

is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to

copyright restrictions.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

--- wrote:

So, I do not think that there is a way to tell 100% for sure what the loss is

for an infant or young child. However, I do think that you can get a good feel

for the loss by looking at the full picture of ABR, booth test and your own

observations as well as observations of professionals like TOD and/or schools

for the deaf -- anyone who works with your child. And I understand your

frustration, but I do think that in most cases, it is a huge advantage to be

aided early.

--- end of quote ---

I feel for you guys going through this - neither of my boys were tested or aided

early (my older son was 3-1/2 years when he got his aids; my younger son was 15

months). My younger son had a diagnostic ABR that actually was right on the

money in terms of accuracy - it said he was profoundly deaf and he is indeed

profoundly deaf. My older son never had an ABR as he was too old. I will say

that as both have gotten older, their hearing tests have gotten more reliable.

They are better testers and know what to expect and we've had the same

audiologist for a few years now and that's made a difference. Audiology tests I

think are pretty subjective - it's not like taking blood and running a test in a

lab. It's definitely gotten more accurate and easier now that they're older.

's words above are so true - the audiology test is one piece of the pie in

addition to the others who interact with your child.

I will say my greatest sadness is that neither of our boys were diagnosed as

newborns. I think we lost a lot of time, particularly with my older son as he

was so old (comparatively speaking) at time of diagnosis. Of course it's water

under the bridge - my husband and I were able to testify to the NH house and

senate about the importance of newborn hearing screening (it subsequently

passed). I try not to look back and have regrets but if I could do it

differently, I sure would.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

--- wrote:

So, I do not think that there is a way to tell 100% for sure what the loss is

for an infant or young child. However, I do think that you can get a good feel

for the loss by looking at the full picture of ABR, booth test and your own

observations as well as observations of professionals like TOD and/or schools

for the deaf -- anyone who works with your child. And I understand your

frustration, but I do think that in most cases, it is a huge advantage to be

aided early.

--- end of quote ---

I feel for you guys going through this - neither of my boys were tested or aided

early (my older son was 3-1/2 years when he got his aids; my younger son was 15

months). My younger son had a diagnostic ABR that actually was right on the

money in terms of accuracy - it said he was profoundly deaf and he is indeed

profoundly deaf. My older son never had an ABR as he was too old. I will say

that as both have gotten older, their hearing tests have gotten more reliable.

They are better testers and know what to expect and we've had the same

audiologist for a few years now and that's made a difference. Audiology tests I

think are pretty subjective - it's not like taking blood and running a test in a

lab. It's definitely gotten more accurate and easier now that they're older.

's words above are so true - the audiology test is one piece of the pie in

addition to the others who interact with your child.

I will say my greatest sadness is that neither of our boys were diagnosed as

newborns. I think we lost a lot of time, particularly with my older son as he

was so old (comparatively speaking) at time of diagnosis. Of course it's water

under the bridge - my husband and I were able to testify to the NH house and

senate about the importance of newborn hearing screening (it subsequently

passed). I try not to look back and have regrets but if I could do it

differently, I sure would.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

--- You wrote:

Having been fooled for over 2 years I've had lots of time to think about how she

did what she did without us ever guessing she couldn't hear.

--- end of quote ---

Well said, ! Our Tom has a sloping severe/profound loss - most likely from

birth - and he met every single language milestone because he's bright, language

oriented and had just a teensy little bit of hearing. We even had the director

of audiology consult with us because he couldn't believe Tom was born with his

hearing loss given his language. (of course then Sam came along and it was

pretty obvious it was from birth)

I agree that audiology is as much an art as a science and there are so many

variables!

Barbara

[Guest guest]

--- You wrote:

Having been fooled for over 2 years I've had lots of time to think about how she

did what she did without us ever guessing she couldn't hear.

--- end of quote ---

Well said, ! Our Tom has a sloping severe/profound loss - most likely from

birth - and he met every single language milestone because he's bright, language

oriented and had just a teensy little bit of hearing. We even had the director

of audiology consult with us because he couldn't believe Tom was born with his

hearing loss given his language. (of course then Sam came along and it was

pretty obvious it was from birth)

I agree that audiology is as much an art as a science and there are so many

variables!

Barbara

[Guest guest]

I agree with you. I think that the sound boothe test is hokey and my daughter,

16 months, will focus on what is in front of her. She also tests at mild to

moderate, responding in the 20 to 40 range as well. She has had a sedated ABR

and it says she has this loss. I understand how you feel completly as far as

wearing the aids and causing further damage. I am not denying the test at all,

but she has been aided since 11 months and honestly she hears, talks, and

responds the same with or without them. She went to her speech therapy appt.

last week and I had forgotten them. Her teacher was amazed at her language.

This IS so confusing.

Carisa~

mom of Dylann 16 months

aldelgaudio wrote:

After all the recent posts I was just curious to see how many of you

really think there is an accurate hearing test for babies. I do

not! I do believe that our baby has a mild loss but I don't believe

the tests. Especially after today. We went to our audiologist

today for a follow - up. Our daughter (6 1/2 months)got her hearing

aids two weeks ago for a mild or mild to moderate loss - it's still

unknown. Today she had sound booth tests and her responses unaided

were from 20db to 40db. She's never responded to 20db undaided.

It's all SOO confusing cause our Audi keeps telling us that we won't

know for SURE what the loss is until our daugther is older. The

booth testing is so hard cause some of the sounds they play are so

boring (can't find a better word) that I don't even turn to the

sound. My daughter is the type of baby that if she's into a toy or

something and she hears a truck go by, she won't turn her head. She

gets really focused on things which I know all babies do. So we

don't really have an audiogram for our daugther cause they can't

pinpoint where exactly the loss is. I am just so frustrated with

this whole thing. The unknown is something I am not comfortable

with especially when she's wearing hearing aids. I am scared they

will harm her. Part of me (don't blast me for saying this) wishes

they didn't have the newborn screenings here OR that they tested at

a different decibel level. Our Audi said that our daughter would

have probably gotten to first grade and needed a hearing test and

that is when we would have found out. SOOO confusing. It's been 6

1/2 months since our daughter has been born and this is totally

consuming me and driving me insane. Sorry for the brutal honesty

but it's the truth.

Anyway, back to my original question, is anyone confident in the

tests for babies and toddlers? And for those of you who have babies

with a hearing loss, do you have an audiogram? And have they really

pinpointed the exact loss?

Thanks and sorry for venting...

Alison

mom of Lucy 4/15/04

All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each post is the

intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to copyright

restrictions.

[Guest guest]

Alison, I don't believe any of the infant tests are

accurate. Our son failed the infant screening - his

first sound booth audiogram put him in the

mild-moderate loss category with a 20-40dB loss. We

did an ABR afterwards where it was 30-60dB. At 10

months we did another sound booth test where they said

he was severe-profound deaf (70-80dB). We next did a

sedated ABR where he came back in the moderate hearing

loss category.

Since it's all over the map it can be really

frustrating.

Rajeev

--- aldelgaudio wrote:

---------------------------------

After all the recent posts I was just curious to see

how many of you

really think there is an accurate hearing test for

babies. I do

not! I do believe that our baby has a mild loss but I

don't believe

the tests. Especially after today. We went to our

audiologist

today for a follow - up. Our daughter (6 1/2

months)got her hearing

aids two weeks ago for a mild or mild to moderate loss

- it's still

unknown. Today she had sound booth tests and her

responses unaided

were from 20db to 40db. She's never responded to 20db

undaided.

It's all SOO confusing cause our Audi keeps telling us

that we won't

know for SURE what the loss is until our daugther is

older. The

booth testing is so hard cause some of the sounds they

play are so

boring (can't find a better word) that I don't even

turn to the

sound. My daughter is the type of baby that if she's

into a toy or

something and she hears a truck go by, she won't turn

her head. She

gets really focused on things which I know all babies

do. So we

don't really have an audiogram for our daugther cause

they can't

pinpoint where exactly the loss is. I am just so

frustrated with

this whole thing. The unknown is something I am not

comfortable

with especially when she's wearing hearing aids. I am

scared they

will harm her. Part of me (don't blast me for saying

this) wishes

they didn't have the newborn screenings here OR that

they tested at

a different decibel level. Our Audi said that our

daughter would

have probably gotten to first grade and needed a

hearing test and

that is when we would have found out. SOOO confusing.

It's been 6

1/2 months since our daughter has been born and this

is totally

consuming me and driving me insane. Sorry for the

brutal honesty

but it's the truth.

Anyway, back to my original question, is anyone

confident in the

tests for babies and toddlers? And for those of you

who have babies

with a hearing loss, do you have an audiogram? And

have they really

pinpointed the exact loss?

Thanks and sorry for venting...

Alison

mom of Lucy 4/15/04

All messages posted to this list are private and

confidential. Each post is the intellectual property

of the author and therefore subject to copyright

restrictions.

[Guest guest]

Alison, I don't believe any of the infant tests are

accurate. Our son failed the infant screening - his

first sound booth audiogram put him in the

mild-moderate loss category with a 20-40dB loss. We

did an ABR afterwards where it was 30-60dB. At 10

months we did another sound booth test where they said

he was severe-profound deaf (70-80dB). We next did a

sedated ABR where he came back in the moderate hearing

loss category.

Since it's all over the map it can be really

frustrating.

Rajeev

--- aldelgaudio wrote:

---------------------------------

After all the recent posts I was just curious to see

how many of you

really think there is an accurate hearing test for

babies. I do

not! I do believe that our baby has a mild loss but I

don't believe

the tests. Especially after today. We went to our

audiologist

today for a follow - up. Our daughter (6 1/2

months)got her hearing

aids two weeks ago for a mild or mild to moderate loss

- it's still

unknown. Today she had sound booth tests and her

responses unaided

were from 20db to 40db. She's never responded to 20db

undaided.

It's all SOO confusing cause our Audi keeps telling us

that we won't

know for SURE what the loss is until our daugther is

older. The

booth testing is so hard cause some of the sounds they

play are so

boring (can't find a better word) that I don't even

turn to the

sound. My daughter is the type of baby that if she's

into a toy or

something and she hears a truck go by, she won't turn

her head. She

gets really focused on things which I know all babies

do. So we

don't really have an audiogram for our daugther cause

they can't

pinpoint where exactly the loss is. I am just so

frustrated with

this whole thing. The unknown is something I am not

comfortable

with especially when she's wearing hearing aids. I am

scared they

will harm her. Part of me (don't blast me for saying

this) wishes

they didn't have the newborn screenings here OR that

they tested at

a different decibel level. Our Audi said that our

daughter would

have probably gotten to first grade and needed a

hearing test and

that is when we would have found out. SOOO confusing.

It's been 6

1/2 months since our daughter has been born and this

is totally

consuming me and driving me insane. Sorry for the

brutal honesty

but it's the truth.

Anyway, back to my original question, is anyone

confident in the

tests for babies and toddlers? And for those of you

who have babies

with a hearing loss, do you have an audiogram? And

have they really

pinpointed the exact loss?

Thanks and sorry for venting...

Alison

mom of Lucy 4/15/04

All messages posted to this list are private and

confidential. Each post is the intellectual property

of the author and therefore subject to copyright

restrictions.

[Guest guest]

How old is your son now and what is his status? Does he have hearing aids yet?

It is so interesting to hear all these different stories. I am glad I am not

the only one that was very confident in these tests.

Rajeev Jog wrote:Alison, I don't believe any of the infant

tests are

accurate. Our son failed the infant screening - his

first sound booth audiogram put him in the

mild-moderate loss category with a 20-40dB loss. We

did an ABR afterwards where it was 30-60dB. At 10

months we did another sound booth test where they said

he was severe-profound deaf (70-80dB). We next did a

sedated ABR where he came back in the moderate hearing

loss category.

Since it's all over the map it can be really

frustrating.

Rajeev

--- aldelgaudio wrote:

---------------------------------

After all the recent posts I was just curious to see

how many of you

really think there is an accurate hearing test for

babies. I do

not! I do believe that our baby has a mild loss but I

don't believe

the tests. Especially after today. We went to our

audiologist

today for a follow - up. Our daughter (6 1/2

months)got her hearing

aids two weeks ago for a mild or mild to moderate loss

- it's still

unknown. Today she had sound booth tests and her

responses unaided

were from 20db to 40db. She's never responded to 20db

undaided.

It's all SOO confusing cause our Audi keeps telling us

that we won't

know for SURE what the loss is until our daugther is

older. The

booth testing is so hard cause some of the sounds they

play are so

boring (can't find a better word) that I don't even

turn to the

sound. My daughter is the type of baby that if she's

into a toy or

something and she hears a truck go by, she won't turn

her head. She

gets really focused on things which I know all babies

do. So we

don't really have an audiogram for our daugther cause

they can't

pinpoint where exactly the loss is. I am just so

frustrated with

this whole thing. The unknown is something I am not

comfortable

with especially when she's wearing hearing aids. I am

scared they

will harm her. Part of me (don't blast me for saying

this) wishes

they didn't have the newborn screenings here OR that

they tested at

a different decibel level. Our Audi said that our

daughter would

have probably gotten to first grade and needed a

hearing test and

that is when we would have found out. SOOO confusing.

It's been 6

1/2 months since our daughter has been born and this

is totally

consuming me and driving me insane. Sorry for the

brutal honesty

but it's the truth.

Anyway, back to my original question, is anyone

confident in the

tests for babies and toddlers? And for those of you

who have babies

with a hearing loss, do you have an audiogram? And

have they really

pinpointed the exact loss?

Thanks and sorry for venting...

Alison

mom of Lucy 4/15/04

All messages posted to this list are private and

confidential. Each post is the intellectual property

of the author and therefore subject to copyright

restrictions.

[Guest guest]

How old is your son now and what is his status? Does he have hearing aids yet?

It is so interesting to hear all these different stories. I am glad I am not

the only one that was very confident in these tests.

Rajeev Jog wrote:Alison, I don't believe any of the infant

tests are

accurate. Our son failed the infant screening - his

first sound booth audiogram put him in the

mild-moderate loss category with a 20-40dB loss. We

did an ABR afterwards where it was 30-60dB. At 10

months we did another sound booth test where they said

he was severe-profound deaf (70-80dB). We next did a

sedated ABR where he came back in the moderate hearing

loss category.

Since it's all over the map it can be really

frustrating.

Rajeev

--- aldelgaudio wrote:

---------------------------------

After all the recent posts I was just curious to see

how many of you

really think there is an accurate hearing test for

babies. I do

not! I do believe that our baby has a mild loss but I

don't believe

the tests. Especially after today. We went to our

audiologist

today for a follow - up. Our daughter (6 1/2

months)got her hearing

aids two weeks ago for a mild or mild to moderate loss

- it's still

unknown. Today she had sound booth tests and her

responses unaided

were from 20db to 40db. She's never responded to 20db

undaided.

It's all SOO confusing cause our Audi keeps telling us

that we won't

know for SURE what the loss is until our daugther is

older. The

booth testing is so hard cause some of the sounds they

play are so

boring (can't find a better word) that I don't even

turn to the

sound. My daughter is the type of baby that if she's

into a toy or

something and she hears a truck go by, she won't turn

her head. She

gets really focused on things which I know all babies

do. So we

don't really have an audiogram for our daugther cause

they can't

pinpoint where exactly the loss is. I am just so

frustrated with

this whole thing. The unknown is something I am not

comfortable

with especially when she's wearing hearing aids. I am

scared they

will harm her. Part of me (don't blast me for saying

this) wishes

they didn't have the newborn screenings here OR that

they tested at

a different decibel level. Our Audi said that our

daughter would

have probably gotten to first grade and needed a

hearing test and

that is when we would have found out. SOOO confusing.

It's been 6

1/2 months since our daughter has been born and this

is totally

consuming me and driving me insane. Sorry for the

brutal honesty

but it's the truth.

Anyway, back to my original question, is anyone

confident in the

tests for babies and toddlers? And for those of you

who have babies

with a hearing loss, do you have an audiogram? And

have they really

pinpointed the exact loss?

Thanks and sorry for venting...

Alison

mom of Lucy 4/15/04

All messages posted to this list are private and

confidential. Each post is the intellectual property

of the author and therefore subject to copyright

restrictions.

[Guest guest]

It is so hard for parents to understand test results and the variations.

There are several points that I would like to make and I'll try not to ramble.

Audiology is as much an art as a science if not more.

I try to remind myself that everyone's hearing fluctates, especially with fluid

or blockage in the middle ear.

I also believe that different equipment can produce different results (newer,

better operated, tighter seal, more qualified experience (if a professional

isn't good at it, they aren't good at it, no matter how long they've done it.).

What one professional accepts as an indication of hearing another might not.

Also, some/many losses are progressive and I think some professionals try to

protect parents from this. Especially watch for changes during growth spurts

(hormones).

Very few natural sounds are produced at only one pitch (that is so different

than testing in a booth).

Also, hearing a sound and hearing exactly what the sound is different. My

daughter can tell she hears something with her hearing aid only but can't tell

what it is. She hears much much much better with only her CI. She hears a

little better than that with both her aid and CI.

As she learned to listen she got better at listening and realizing that a sound

was being made.

Little kids are smart and learn to compensate very early. Don't be fooled by

their picking up on clues. Shadows and vibrations and timing and other's

responses, the list goes on.

Children often/usually/probably talk as clearly as they hear..

Also, distance and volume impact sound dramatically. When I talk really close

to her unimplanted ear (without her aid in) she can tell that I said something

and sometimes guesses/tells what I've said. She can't at all with her

implanted side (CI not on).

She is a very good lip reader and that helps her figure out what I've said when

she doesn't hear me. (Try watching TV with no sound or closed captioning and

then increase the sound a little at a time.)

Having been fooled for over 2 years I've had lots of time to think about how she

did what she did without us ever guessing she couldn't hear.

Mom to 12, 7 (n24 4/00) and 4

Since it's all over the map it can be really

frustrating.

[Guest guest]

It is so hard for parents to understand test results and the variations.

There are several points that I would like to make and I'll try not to ramble.

Audiology is as much an art as a science if not more.

I try to remind myself that everyone's hearing fluctates, especially with fluid

or blockage in the middle ear.

I also believe that different equipment can produce different results (newer,

better operated, tighter seal, more qualified experience (if a professional

isn't good at it, they aren't good at it, no matter how long they've done it.).

What one professional accepts as an indication of hearing another might not.

Also, some/many losses are progressive and I think some professionals try to

protect parents from this. Especially watch for changes during growth spurts

(hormones).

Very few natural sounds are produced at only one pitch (that is so different

than testing in a booth).

Also, hearing a sound and hearing exactly what the sound is different. My

daughter can tell she hears something with her hearing aid only but can't tell

what it is. She hears much much much better with only her CI. She hears a

little better than that with both her aid and CI.

As she learned to listen she got better at listening and realizing that a sound

was being made.

Little kids are smart and learn to compensate very early. Don't be fooled by

their picking up on clues. Shadows and vibrations and timing and other's

responses, the list goes on.

Children often/usually/probably talk as clearly as they hear..

Also, distance and volume impact sound dramatically. When I talk really close

to her unimplanted ear (without her aid in) she can tell that I said something

and sometimes guesses/tells what I've said. She can't at all with her

implanted side (CI not on).

She is a very good lip reader and that helps her figure out what I've said when

she doesn't hear me. (Try watching TV with no sound or closed captioning and

then increase the sound a little at a time.)

Having been fooled for over 2 years I've had lots of time to think about how she

did what she did without us ever guessing she couldn't hear.

Mom to 12, 7 (n24 4/00) and 4

Since it's all over the map it can be really

frustrating.

[Guest guest]

Please remember that babies brains are developing rapidly. It slows as we age.

They are supposed to be making the " connections " when they are little. Trust me

it is much harder to teach an older child to listen and talk.

I'm so sorry that anyone has to face learning that their child doesn't hear

" normally " . Please don't let that diminish your bonding and special time with

your baby. There are so many appts and therapy time sometimes you get to

feeling like you don't have a life or your child doesn't get to have any fun or

just be a kid. I had 4 days after 's CI was activiated. I

remember how hard it was for a baby those first few years and she was hearing

but went to all of those appts. I actually went into labor during 's

speech therapy.

You have time to get it all worked out. I'm not implying to waste time but you

are on a long journey and it does get easier over time.

Mom to 12, 7 (n24 4/00) and 4 (talks non stop home but not

at preschool, just like )

It's all SOO confusing cause our Audi keeps telling us

that we won't

know for SURE what the loss is until our daugther is

older. The

booth testing is so hard cause some of the sounds they

play are so

boring (can't find a better word) that I don't even

turn to the

sound. My daughter is the type of baby that if she's

into a toy or

something and she hears a truck go by, she won't turn

her head. She

gets really focused on things which I know all babies

do.

[Guest guest]

As I've been reading these posts, two things have struck me.

First, it's so important that we work with audiologists who are

experienced with working with young children. We had an ordeal with our

first audi because she just didn't know how to test an infant, even

though she had done it before. It is entirely ok to shop around for

someone who is a good fit with your child and family. It's been said

many times here, but we must work with audis who are skilled with

fitting and testing babies.

Second, it's so important that we work with audiologists who love

playing with children, especially our kids! If our kids don't have fun

playing with the audi in the sound booth, the test is usually pointless.

An audi can be a great clinician, but if s/he can't play well, you're

sunk. We've now had 6-7 different audiologists assist in the sound

booth and specifically request the 2 that have the best relationship

with Hadley. I have specifically requested that certain audis not

assist in the booth, because of past interactions with Hadley (nothing

bad, they just didn't work well with her). It pays to speak up.

For us, Hadley had two inconclusive ABRs with our first audiologist, but

both pointed to at least a moderate loss in both ears (these were done

at 2 1/2 months and 3 1/2 months). Children's Hospital did her sedated

ABR at 4 1/2 months; her unaided hearing scores have remained the same

since that time, nearly 3 years later. Her aided scores have fluctuated

depending on her interest level, but we keep such close watch on her

development and have such a great team of people working with her now,

that we are able to make good interpretations of the results.

One other tip: Hadley has two audiologists, as our Children's Hospital

only does evaluations, does not dispense hearing aids. We use a

wonderful local audi for her hearing aids and, while the two audis

collaborate on reports, we do booth testing at both places. We see the

dispending audi at least once a month, the Children's audi 4x a year.

Hadley is much more comfortable at the booth at the dispensing audi

because we are there so much and she just has so much darn fun with

them! Plus, they know her incredibly well and can interpret her

reactions very accurately. Her aided scores with them are always spot

on or close to where I expected them to be. It's a lot of appointments,

but we have far fewer questions now about what she hears and doesn't

hear.

Kerry

[Guest guest]

As I've been reading these posts, two things have struck me.

First, it's so important that we work with audiologists who are

experienced with working with young children. We had an ordeal with our

first audi because she just didn't know how to test an infant, even

though she had done it before. It is entirely ok to shop around for

someone who is a good fit with your child and family. It's been said

many times here, but we must work with audis who are skilled with

fitting and testing babies.

Second, it's so important that we work with audiologists who love

playing with children, especially our kids! If our kids don't have fun

playing with the audi in the sound booth, the test is usually pointless.

An audi can be a great clinician, but if s/he can't play well, you're

sunk. We've now had 6-7 different audiologists assist in the sound

booth and specifically request the 2 that have the best relationship

with Hadley. I have specifically requested that certain audis not

assist in the booth, because of past interactions with Hadley (nothing

bad, they just didn't work well with her). It pays to speak up.

For us, Hadley had two inconclusive ABRs with our first audiologist, but

both pointed to at least a moderate loss in both ears (these were done

at 2 1/2 months and 3 1/2 months). Children's Hospital did her sedated

ABR at 4 1/2 months; her unaided hearing scores have remained the same

since that time, nearly 3 years later. Her aided scores have fluctuated

depending on her interest level, but we keep such close watch on her

development and have such a great team of people working with her now,

that we are able to make good interpretations of the results.

One other tip: Hadley has two audiologists, as our Children's Hospital

only does evaluations, does not dispense hearing aids. We use a

wonderful local audi for her hearing aids and, while the two audis

collaborate on reports, we do booth testing at both places. We see the

dispending audi at least once a month, the Children's audi 4x a year.

Hadley is much more comfortable at the booth at the dispensing audi

because we are there so much and she just has so much darn fun with

them! Plus, they know her incredibly well and can interpret her

reactions very accurately. Her aided scores with them are always spot

on or close to where I expected them to be. It's a lot of appointments,

but we have far fewer questions now about what she hears and doesn't

hear.

Kerry