Second verse same as the first: hearing loss

Last week I took Dariya back to the audiology clinic for further testing to see if they could pinpoint better her hearing loss on her left side.

Unfortunately, the results were the same as 6 weeks prior.

Right ear is in the normal range.

Left ear is profoundly deaf.

No aids would benefit her at this time.

Our main concern right now is educationally how this will effect her.  We know that her kindergarten class will be double the size of her PreK class.  With her type of unilateral loss it is hard for her to hear speech with background noise and to localize sounds.

It will be harder for her to hear and tune in to what the teacher is saying with a crowded classroom of kids.

The bonus is Dariya loves school and does compensate really well with her right ear.

We will just have to keep an eye on that right ear to make sure it is always hearing well so that she can continue doing so well.

Finally an accurate hearing test

Today Dariya and I went back to the audiology clinic as we have been unable to get a proper hearing test completed on her since bringing her home from Ukraine.  She has been unwilling to allow anything in her ears or headphones.

We know that her left tube is out now so her ENT wanted a hearing test completed to see if having a tube will make a difference or not with her hearing.

Dariya was SUPER cooperative and such a big girl today.  She didn't cry or throw a fit for the headphones or anything.  That part was amazing.  I mean TRULY amazing.  You have no idea how big a fit she threw last time we did this.

Thankful for Susie, her private OT and listening therapy.

What wasn't so amazing were the results....although it is what I suspected all along.

She is hearing well in her right ear with both voice and tone tests she passed with flying colors.  However, in her left ear once the audiologist put "noise" in her right earphone to block her from cheating Dariya didn't respond to anything.  Not voice, not tone, nothing...

They tried the conductive bones behind her left ear and got no response either.

Dariya even allowed them to do a tympanogram and her ear drums were vibrating as they should be so placing a tube back in the left ear isn't needed as it won't improve her hearing.

We will do more testing in 5 weeks (and forever) but at this point the audiologist is classifying her left ear hearing loss as profound.  With the results of today's tests a hearing aid would not benefit her.

The audiologist did say that as Dariya gets more used to the tests and they can test more in depth and over more testing dates we could fine that her hearing loss is not as profound and a hearing aid might benefit her in the future.

I won't say I am not a little disappointed for her.  With such poor vision I was sure hoping her hearing would be great!  But, no matter what the outcome she always continues to amaze me with how far she has come and how much she has overcome in her short almost 6 years!

So proud of you Dariya!!!

I can hear, I can cry...

I take the girls to the ENT every 6 months to keep current on their hearing tests and to check their tube placement.  Mondayy was the lucky day where we had to be out of the house at 8 for the doctor.  Still questioning why I make appointments so doggone early when I can hardly drag myself out of bed these days...

Alayna was first up as she is always the easier of the two when it comes to anyone touching or checking them out.  Alayna did the sound booth test and her hearing was declared perfect.  Her tubes are working their way out and the doctor didn't think either one was working at this point so with a perfect hearing test we were pretty excited.  We won't schedule more tubes unless she starts having issues.

Then it came to my sweet Dariya.  This girl has come a LONG way in being tolerant of doctors and such but, she still hates to have those things put in her ears.  She allowed the tech to look in her ears.  One tube is working it's way out.  She played the little where is your nose, eyes, feet etc game with the tech.

Then for the sound booth test and even with me kneeling in front of her she began to cry.  She wasn't crying hard or too loud but, it was loud enough that she couldn't hear the tech tell her the directions (where is your eyes).  Dariya pointed to her nose correctly once and just sat and wept for a little while and the tech ruled it yet another non passable test.  UGH.  I swear Dariya will be 20 when we finally get an accurate hearing test on her.  I know Dariya can hear at a whisper so I am not too concerned about her hearing at this point.

Although I do have to remember how far she has come.  She doesn't mind trying on shoes, going to the pediatrician or even fuss too much for shots or blood draws anymore.

We will follow up in 4 months this time as the doctor was pretty sure their tubes would be out by then.  Maybe then I will take backup (daddy) and we can get a good hearing test.

Wish us luck.

The girls dance troop performed at our town's weekend celebration.  

ENT follow up

This morning Dariya had her 2 week follow up at the ENT's office to check her tube placement and to do another hearing screening.

We have noticed a dramatic change in Dariya's hearing.  She can hear at a whisper level which prior to surgery she wouldn't have responded.  So, I was so ready for the "all clear" and her hearing is great news but, didn't really get that.

She wasn't particularly a happy patient this morning as we left for the doctor's office at the same time Alayna was boarding the bus for preschool.  Oh my, Tasmanian devil came out for sure.  But, once on the road she was ok.  However, she wouldn't sit still and allow the audiologist to do all the testing that needed to be done so we aren't super sure of the validity of today's testing.

We got good readings from her right ear but, her left ear is still showing some hearing loss (hmm maybe all those years with fluid sitting behind her eardrums, you think?)  They checked her tubes and they look clear.  I was so hoping for a large amount of wax to be the problem but, it doesn't appear to be.

We will follow up again in 3 months to hopefully get accurate readings then we will go from there as to what to do next.

If you have a child with down syndrome, I can't stress enough to have their hearing checked regularly (at least every 6 months).  Alayna's ears were fine and she had no fluid behind her ear drums for the first 18 months then all of a sudden fluid appeared and stayed which limited her hearing tremendously.  Once she had tubes placed her hearing was back to normal and her language was again on the increase.

Ear tubes are done

Dariya had ear tubes placed this morning and was home within 45 minutes of the surgery.  The doctor looked at her adenoids but, didn't think they were enlarged enough to warrant removal.
I can definitely tell Dariya is hearing better as every door creaking or quiet voice in the recovery room woke her up.
They whisked her away and back so quickly I didn't even have time to snap a picture.  They let her drive back to surgery in a little tykes car and she was happily waving goodbye.
She is really tired and sleeping now.  Praying that after she sleeps off the anesthetic she will be good as new!
Thanks for the prayers!  Sorry for no pics of Dariya, but stay tuned the amazing Sophia from Soma photography is taking family pics of us tomorrow so I will post those asap!

Thankful Dariya isn't a sweets eater otherwise she would be SUPER jealous of what her sister enjoyed today at preschool! (Thanks Ms. Juanita for the great pic of our girl!)  Alayna is finally starting to talk at preschool!  YAY!

Cupcakes are the BOMB!

Have a great weekend.