Re: Our second opinion. Your opinion wanted!

[Guest guest]

> Despite their reassurances, I am worried.

One thing I have learned in my journey with my son, is that if you're gut is

telling you the 'professionals' aren't giving you the right answer, they're

probably not. I hate to tell you how many times my son's docs told me his

hearing was fine, I was just an overly concerned mom - till they did a BSER

on him (now known as ABR or similar acronym). He had a severe hearing loss.

The different kinds of hearing testing they can do is described here:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/hear_p4.html

Hugs,

Kay

[Guest guest]

> Despite their reassurances, I am worried.

One thing I have learned in my journey with my son, is that if you're gut is

telling you the 'professionals' aren't giving you the right answer, they're

probably not. I hate to tell you how many times my son's docs told me his

hearing was fine, I was just an overly concerned mom - till they did a BSER

on him (now known as ABR or similar acronym). He had a severe hearing loss.

The different kinds of hearing testing they can do is described here:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/hear_p4.html

Hugs,

Kay

[Guest guest]

> Despite their reassurances, I am worried.

One thing I have learned in my journey with my son, is that if you're gut is

telling you the 'professionals' aren't giving you the right answer, they're

probably not. I hate to tell you how many times my son's docs told me his

hearing was fine, I was just an overly concerned mom - till they did a BSER

on him (now known as ABR or similar acronym). He had a severe hearing loss.

The different kinds of hearing testing they can do is described here:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/hear_p4.html

Hugs,

Kay

[Guest guest]

I would get a second opinion immediately. When my daughter failed

her newborn hearing screen, we were sent to one ENT who saw her for

almost a year. He couldn't see in her ear canal properly as they

were too small and thought there was a fair amount of fluid in the

ear which was causing her hearing loss. Then we were told that she

had no middle ear in the left ear, which is almost impossible as she

is only a mild to moderate loss. All this time, he kept refusing to

authorize a hearing aid.

We got a referral to a second ENT, who immediately ordered a CT-Scan

and confirmed that there was no fluid in the ears and the left ear

did indeed have a middle ear. She got hearing aids within a month

and here speech has drastically improved.

If we had gotten the second opinion sooner, she would have heard

better sooner. Doctors can be wrong. In my opinion any doctor who

gets upset at a patient requesting a second opinion is the wrong

doctor.

Good Luck,

[Guest guest]

I would get a second opinion immediately. When my daughter failed

her newborn hearing screen, we were sent to one ENT who saw her for

almost a year. He couldn't see in her ear canal properly as they

were too small and thought there was a fair amount of fluid in the

ear which was causing her hearing loss. Then we were told that she

had no middle ear in the left ear, which is almost impossible as she

is only a mild to moderate loss. All this time, he kept refusing to

authorize a hearing aid.

We got a referral to a second ENT, who immediately ordered a CT-Scan

and confirmed that there was no fluid in the ears and the left ear

did indeed have a middle ear. She got hearing aids within a month

and here speech has drastically improved.

If we had gotten the second opinion sooner, she would have heard

better sooner. Doctors can be wrong. In my opinion any doctor who

gets upset at a patient requesting a second opinion is the wrong

doctor.

Good Luck,

[Guest guest]

I would get a second opinion immediately. When my daughter failed

her newborn hearing screen, we were sent to one ENT who saw her for

almost a year. He couldn't see in her ear canal properly as they

were too small and thought there was a fair amount of fluid in the

ear which was causing her hearing loss. Then we were told that she

had no middle ear in the left ear, which is almost impossible as she

is only a mild to moderate loss. All this time, he kept refusing to

authorize a hearing aid.

We got a referral to a second ENT, who immediately ordered a CT-Scan

and confirmed that there was no fluid in the ears and the left ear

did indeed have a middle ear. She got hearing aids within a month

and here speech has drastically improved.

If we had gotten the second opinion sooner, she would have heard

better sooner. Doctors can be wrong. In my opinion any doctor who

gets upset at a patient requesting a second opinion is the wrong

doctor.

Good Luck,

[Guest guest]

Maize " " They did not perform either of these tests. The ENT's audiologist

repeated the same tests we had done two weeks ago...tympanogram, sound proof

booth, and OAE. The tests results were similar. The first audiologist thought

there was a moderate loss in the left ear/mild in the right. She referred us to

the ENT. The ENT had his audiologist repeat the results. She thought that

there was a profound loss in Sam's left ear/no loss in the right. The ENT

discounted both of these tests and said his " hunch " is that Sam hears normally.

He mentioned his age, only recent exposure to english, and developmental delays

for the reasons he does not trust the results. " "

Our 1st audiologist also told us through 2 separate testings that anything but

an OAE and tympanograms were unreliable on young kids - seriously, that's what

she said!! She also told me that Piper had " normal hearing in the right ear & a

mild/moderate loss in her left ear " , then 2 weeks later told me she seems to

have " normal hearing in the LEFT ear & a mild loss in the right. " I ran straight

away from this woman & started finding out on my own what to do next! BTW, Piper

is profoundly deaf in both ears.

I agree with everyone else - get a second & third opinion. Go until your

comfortable & Sam's taken care of. Especially since there is dissenting test

results, they should be pushing for other tests and more of them. He's old

enough (although age isn't really relative) to be losing valuable time - trust

your mommy instincts! Good luck.

mom to Piper, 2, CII implanted 8.9.01 & pacemakered 9.29.01 and to Wyatt, 3,

normal hearing & heart

[Guest guest]

Maize " " They did not perform either of these tests. The ENT's audiologist

repeated the same tests we had done two weeks ago...tympanogram, sound proof

booth, and OAE. The tests results were similar. The first audiologist thought

there was a moderate loss in the left ear/mild in the right. She referred us to

the ENT. The ENT had his audiologist repeat the results. She thought that

there was a profound loss in Sam's left ear/no loss in the right. The ENT

discounted both of these tests and said his " hunch " is that Sam hears normally.

He mentioned his age, only recent exposure to english, and developmental delays

for the reasons he does not trust the results. " "

Our 1st audiologist also told us through 2 separate testings that anything but

an OAE and tympanograms were unreliable on young kids - seriously, that's what

she said!! She also told me that Piper had " normal hearing in the right ear & a

mild/moderate loss in her left ear " , then 2 weeks later told me she seems to

have " normal hearing in the LEFT ear & a mild loss in the right. " I ran straight

away from this woman & started finding out on my own what to do next! BTW, Piper

is profoundly deaf in both ears.

I agree with everyone else - get a second & third opinion. Go until your

comfortable & Sam's taken care of. Especially since there is dissenting test

results, they should be pushing for other tests and more of them. He's old

enough (although age isn't really relative) to be losing valuable time - trust

your mommy instincts! Good luck.

mom to Piper, 2, CII implanted 8.9.01 & pacemakered 9.29.01 and to Wyatt, 3,

normal hearing & heart

[Guest guest]

Here is what Dr. Berlin recommends to help figure out hearing loss.

I would especially look at this comprehensive list if the answers

you are getting are not clear. I printed out this page and took

it to our audiologist to help them with the diagnostic effort. Since

Dr. Berlin is very well known in DHH, they weren't offended. I think

he must be some sort of guru to them. I also almost understood it,

which made me feel better about the testing and diagnosis.

" Fitting the patient's physiology instead of the audiogram: if the

only tool you use is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail. "

http://www.medschool.lsumc.edu/otor/berasihe.htm

Terri , Mother of Kathy, 8, CII BTE 'Jan 02, future geologist

and veterinarian

[Guest guest]

Here is what Dr. Berlin recommends to help figure out hearing loss.

I would especially look at this comprehensive list if the answers

you are getting are not clear. I printed out this page and took

it to our audiologist to help them with the diagnostic effort. Since

Dr. Berlin is very well known in DHH, they weren't offended. I think

he must be some sort of guru to them. I also almost understood it,

which made me feel better about the testing and diagnosis.

" Fitting the patient's physiology instead of the audiogram: if the

only tool you use is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail. "

http://www.medschool.lsumc.edu/otor/berasihe.htm

Terri , Mother of Kathy, 8, CII BTE 'Jan 02, future geologist

and veterinarian

[Guest guest]

Here is what Dr. Berlin recommends to help figure out hearing loss.

I would especially look at this comprehensive list if the answers

you are getting are not clear. I printed out this page and took

it to our audiologist to help them with the diagnostic effort. Since

Dr. Berlin is very well known in DHH, they weren't offended. I think

he must be some sort of guru to them. I also almost understood it,

which made me feel better about the testing and diagnosis.

" Fitting the patient's physiology instead of the audiogram: if the

only tool you use is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail. "

http://www.medschool.lsumc.edu/otor/berasihe.htm

Terri , Mother of Kathy, 8, CII BTE 'Jan 02, future geologist

and veterinarian