Monitoring Hearing
Description:
Children born with a cleft palate are very susceptible to “glue ear”. Examination of the ears and insertion of ventilation tubes (grommets) is required in many babies. An Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist will be assigned to you and will assess what is best for your child.
Things to talk about:
- How do we know if our baby has a hearing problem?
- If grommets are needed, can they be inserted during another procedure?
- How long is hearing monitored for in children with a cleft?
- How do we know if our baby has a hearing problem?
Important information:
- Hearing issues affect speech and language development. The sooner these issues are identified the better for your child.
- It is desirable that all children with cleft palate have audiological testing and ear examinations as many may need grommets.
- Chronic fluid in the middle ear (called “glue ear”) may be difficult to recognize without audiology and ear examination.
- Acute ear infection (acute otitis media) usually presents in the same way as it does with non-cleft children and would be suspected if the child has apparent ear pain or fussiness and disturbed sleep associated with fever, or if there is discharge from the ear.
Hearing issues affect speech and language development. The sooner these issues are identified the better for your child.
November 9th, 2007 21:46
My son Kazin had grommets put in a while ago and one had come out a while ago I am abit concerned because the audiologist and my old Dr had told me that he had already lost a percentage of his hearing. I moved from Whangarei to Auckland and could not go to our audiologist appointment in Whangarei shall I get another Dr to refer my son to the audiologist? Will he need another grommet put in that ear?
Also I have not been given any information on swimming etc is it okay for kids with grommets to go swimming and get water in there ears? I have been told they cannot but am still not sure. I have a clinic in the New Year so I suppose I could wait until then to ask all the questions I need to.
Thanks from Monique (Kazin’s Mum)