Lydia Re: Ricky's hearing test questions & ENT update

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Once they do the ABR, you will know better the degree of loss. At

this point, you haven't really had enough tests to determine that,

so there are lots of possibilities. I don't know, for example, if

there was fluid behind the eardrums, what that would do to the OAE

results. I would have to think that the results would not be

reliable.

If there is fluid, it produces a temporary conductive loss, and

depending on how thick and gooey the fluid is, could be quite

significant (like at as much as 25-30dB worth, I think.) If he

needs tubes, it is a literally a 10 minute surgery under general

anesthesia. They suck out all the fluid with a vacuum when they put

in the tubes. (The tubes are also called " grommets " by some doctors

and they are very tiny and sit in the eardrum -- you can only see

them if you look using an otoscope. My son's were blue.) If your

son's hearing loss is all because of fluid, the tubes alone should

fix it.

I don't know a lot about conductive loss, since my son has

sensorineural hearing loss due to connexin-26 mutation. (He has

very few working hair cells.) Yes, I believe some types of

conductive loss are repairable. My son's loss is severe-profound,

and he has done wonderfully with a cochlear implant which has given

him near-hearing-sounding speech and has let him learn complex

spoken language. So hang tight -- even in the event that the loss

is worse than you thought you'd be able to deal with, with today's

technologies of high-tech hearing aids and cochlear implants, you

would be amazed at what can be overcome. I hope this is of some

comfort and doesn't make you worry more! Just hang tight and wait

for the ABR. After that you will know more. It's good you are

getting all the information you can. Tests are good!

Take care,

Lydia

Boston area

, almost 8, cochlear implant at age 4 and HAs before that

starting at 13 months

Colin, 11, hearing

[Guest guest]

,

Ian's hearing loss is mild/moderate and he uses Hearing Aids. =)

Tawnya

Lydia Re: Ricky's hearing test questions & ENT update

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>Hi Lydia,

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>thank you for your very informative reply

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>Another question, is conductive hearing loss repairable? Like if he

>does need tubes in the one ear it would mean he can hear ok after?

>But I dont get it when the OAE was absent in both ears and he had

>fluid in just one.... maybe I am just too confused to get it LOL....

>

>From what I understand thanks to you guys and the websites I've found

>and you all referred me to, I think he may have neurosensory loss,

>just don't know to what degree yet.

>

>If it is mild will he be able to not need a hearing aid?

>

>thanks,

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