Hi, I have some questions that I was hoping to get answers for. My four year old son has had multiple ear infections (I can't even count, at least 4 this last year) it seems like everytime I turn around I am talking him to the doctor for another one.
So, you would think that those ear infections would take a toll on the ear right? He is constantly saying "What?" (which I know that children do this to an extent) Sometimes I know that he dosen't even hear me. Also he talks loud ALL the time. Even his wispering is loud! Allthough, he does hear me wispering sometimes.
Okay, so I ask his doc about it. She just says that I am overreacting and that it is nothing. Am I? The other day we went in for, yet another infection, and the other doc in the same office had to see him, because she was gone. I asked him about it and he said there was a possibillity that something was wrong. So... he did this pressure test on his ears and there was a box on a graph that the line was suppose to hit in if it had normal pressure. His right ear, the line went up and into the box and was compleatly normal, however the left ear, the line was almost compleatly flat and was nowhere near the box that it is suppose to hit in. Which means, I am not sure, too much pressure or not enough?
I so new to all of this? Does anyone have some advice or answers for me?
Also, we have an appointment with an ENT doctor next month. I know that we will get more answers there, but I wanted to be a little more prepared for what might happen. Any specific questions that I should be asking the ENT doc?
I guess that any advice or suggestions would be helpful.
Thank you,
Mollyrae

The flat line for the left ear is called a type B tympanogram and indicates fluid in the middle ear cavity. The thing with ear infections is that long before and long after the actual "infection" is present, there may be an accumulation of fluid in the middle ear. This fluid is not painful so the child does not complain but the fluid will cause a mild to moderate, temporary, hearing loss. Generally, the parent and doctor are only aware of a middle ear problem at the peak of the infection, when the child has an earache and fever. Thankfully, your pediatrician has the ability to perform tympanograms in the office to check for middle ear fluid any time. Rest assured, ear infections can cause no long term hearing problem, BUT!!! they do cause long term speech and language problems. The ENT will cover all your options. If this is a chronic problem, expect a recommendation for PE tubes.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Jim
Audiologist

So...He performed the tympanograms while he was in the office to see if the ear was still infected, only 11 days after taking the antibotics and only one day after finishing them. Do you think that the test was possibly done to soon and showed left over fluid from the infection? I guess that really wouldn't matter if he needs tubes put in to fix the fluid problem right?
Also I have heard that there are different types of tubes and that if I have a good Audiologist that he will know this and explain it? What is that about?

Yeah, you're right, it doesn't really matter when he does the tympanogram. If the problem is chronic, then it's chronic. Clear one week, fluid the next. There are a few different types of tubes and the ENT is the one that will decide what is best (not an audiologist).

Right! Thank you so much for puting my mind at ease a little. It is great that you take time out from your probably already busy schedual to help people like me out. Thanks again!

MY son has had well over 28 dbl ear infections is on his 3 rd set of tubes.. had mild to moderate hearling loss ..and is also classfied under speech and hearing impearment.. this is nothing to fool with aintibotics dont seem to help him all that much..he usually need 2 rounds of an anitbotics the tubes help alot.. this all started in my son at 9 months old...good luck and best wishes

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They saw a child "in a world of his own". I see the most the most brilliant star. They saw a child "who may never speak". I see a gift that didn't need words. They saw a child with "limited possibility". I see a child, my child, who can soar past the sky.

mommy to Ryan and countless foster children...

Hi Mollierae!
Sounds like he might have a frequncy loss. It's pretty rare to have a totally flat audiogram. Even people who are "deaf" usually just have a loss in a specific frequncy. I have a moderately severe loss but can and have survived without hearing aids. As a matter of fact I did my senoir year of high school without hearing aids!
(and I made honor roll!) My advice if he does turn out to have a hearing loss: Get the cool colored hearing aids....experiment with the aids...don't just go with digital aids just b/c your audi claims that they are "better" Some people find them better, some people notice no difference and so on.
If he does turn out to have hearing loss, teach him ASL. It can't hurt him and will probaly help him a lot!(and no, ASL isn't just for people who can't speak. Knowing it is as useful as knowing any other language and it may reduce frustration and ease commuication) Expose him to other kids with hearing aids so he doesn't think he's the only one in the world with hearing aids! Last of all, be VERY positive about his being HOH and his hearing aids and everything! '
Please keep us updated on how he's doing!

Originally posted by Biblophile:
Hi Mollierae!
Sounds like he might have a frequncy loss. It's pretty rare to have a totally flat audiogram. Even people who are "deaf" usually just have a loss in a specific frequncy. I have a moderately severe loss but can and have survived without hearing aids. As a matter of fact I did my senoir year of high school without hearing aids!
(and I made honor roll!) My advice if he does turn out to have a hearing loss: Get the cool colored hearing aids....experiment with the aids...don't just go with digital aids just b/c your audi claims that they are "better" Some people find them better, some people notice no difference and so on.
If he does turn out to have hearing loss, teach him ASL. It can't hurt him and will probaly help him a lot!(and no, ASL isn't just for people who can't speak. Knowing it is as useful as knowing any other language and it may reduce frustration and ease commuication) Expose him to other kids with hearing aids so he doesn't think he's the only one in the world with hearing aids! Last of all, be VERY positive about his being HOH and his hearing aids and everything! '
Please keep us updated on how he's doing!
Just to inform you, the "flat line" she was talking about was on a tympanogram, not an audiogram. Her child has middle ear dysfunciton, not inner ear dysfunction. He will have no need for hearing aid and/or ASL. But, if the middle ear problem persists, he may need speech/language therapy.

Her child has middle ear dysfunciton, not inner ear dysfunction. He will have no need for hearing aid and/or ASL.
Excuse me, but I have middle ear dysfunction and wear hearing aids, and have worn them daily since I was three! Her son may need hearing aids. You cannot state whether he will need aids without knowing his exact dx. Also, I am hard of hearing. I don't *need* ASL, the way an "oral failure" who cannot speechread or orally speak,does but it has significently enhanced my life. I am PROUD to be a Deaf (Visual/Seeing) woman rather then a frustrated depressed always on the outside looking in hearing impaired woman!