https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 20:54:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2132651 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 08:44:15 +0000 Mamasig 2132651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kelley_lovelikecrazy: He did great! Back to normal within the hour. He had his adenoids taken out last time which made it a little worse. @PurplePeony: My nephew got tubes when he was about 14 months. At the time, he wasn't walking yet. The doctor said it was because of the fluid. He said he should walk within 2-3 weeks of getting the tubes. He did! It can totally affect balance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2132544 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 00:05:43 +0000 PurplePeony 2132544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kelley_lovelikecrazy: thank you for posting this. My DD has had fluid in her ears pretty much every time we've gone to the doctor this winter and has been on four rounds of antibiotics since December. Her ped said they usually refer to an ENT after five infections but it can take awhile to get an appointment so she referred us now and we go for an evaluation in about four weeks. But I don't know if I would have thought to mention the fact that my DD also falls over a lot and mainly says "b" words (ball, bear, baba) or "d" words (dog, duck, dat (that)). She also calls a bunch of things "mama" but with different inflection so I can tell she registers them as different words but either can't hear or can't pronounce the differences. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's related to her ear issues...I was sort of chalking her slow speech up to being sort of bilingual (DH speaks to her in his native language and she seems to understand but hasn't said any words yet) but I'm not sure. Anyway, it at least gives me more to think about and bring up when we see the specialist! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2132493 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 20:19:26 +0000 Crisark 2132493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kelley_lovelikecrazy: sounds like it was the best thing for her! So glad she's already seemingly feeling better. Thanks for the info. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2132491 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 20:17:19 +0000 Kelley_lovelikecrazy 2132491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crisark: She was having a bit of vertigo, especially when we laid her on her back for a diaper change, her eyes would look like she was dizzy (probably from the fluid). She'd be walking and then kind of stumble over (not like normal toddlers, but like she all of a sudden got dizzy and lost her balance.) </p> <p>She never really breathed through her nose (adenoids) - I knew that babies are usually mouth breathers, but never thought through the fact that she still was as a toddler. </p> <p>Almost all her words sounded the same. Dad, dog, our dog koda, all were "duh-duh" - they said she was probably hearing like she was underwater, so those words all did sound the same to her.</p> <p>That, plus the ear infections, plus not being able to tell where sound was coming from all added up to being a good candidate for tubes and adenoidectomy. </p> <p>They drain the ears prior to tubes, and after the surgery, that day I saw a difference. When I said her name, she looks directly at me now, instead of kind of spinning around until she sees me - like she's not quite sure where the noise was coming from. </p> <p>Keeping our fingers crossed that this was a good decision. It was the advice of our ENT and the ped once they spoke. But still hard to choose elective surgery for a little one who can't talk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2132480 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 19:57:43 +0000 Crisark 2132480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kelley_lovelikecrazy: if you don't mind, what other symptoms?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2132354 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 16:30:41 +0000 Kelley_lovelikecrazy 2132354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamasig: sorry mama! Olivia just got tubes and an adenoidectomy on Monday. Turns out there were quite a few symptoms that we never really connected. I can tell she's already hearing so much better! How's your son? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2100343 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 09:16:41 +0000 Mamasig 2100343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kelley_lovelikecrazy: and we're going back to the ENT. Looks like DS1 will need a second set! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2100265 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 08:49:25 +0000 spaniellove 2100265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: Oh wow, that is awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2100226 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 08:33:44 +0000 CakeLady 2100226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with previous posters about seeing an ENT and the benefits of ear tubes. DS, now 9 months, had them put in last month after 5 consecutive rounds of antibiotics. Not only is he a much happier baby since he's not in pain from the ear infections, his speech development took off after the procedure. Before it he was only making a few different babbling sounds, now he has 3 or 4 words! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2099972 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 21:10:56 +0000 Kelley_lovelikecrazy 2099972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow - you guys have been so wonderful! I'm sorry my reply is so delayed, I thought I was supposed to get emails and am an idiot and never subscribed to this thread.</p> <p>I think you have all convinced me to ask for a referral for an ENT. Her most recent ear infection has cleared, but she now has croup, so I'm sure ear infection is next. </p> <p>@earinej: Thank you so much for coming out of lurking to tell me all of this! That makes sense on why she can't find us. Is there a better time to see an audiologist - during an ear infection, when she's not sick, etc?</p> <p>@Mamasig: @SeptMomma12: @brownie: I"m so glad to hear such positive experiences with tubes. </p> <p>@Smurfette: I completely agree - I'm going to schedule the ENT</p> <p>@Mrs. Toad: Did you guys end up with tubes? Or was it something unrelated? I'm glad he's back to where he needs to be, but I'm sorry you guys had to go through that!</p> <p>@spaniellove: Poor guy! I do wonder about her hearing. Scary how much it can drop just from fluid. With my ear infection (what am I, 5?) I couldn't hear anything out of that ear. My husband was going nuts.</p> <p>@sarac: I wonder about this. Olivia's uncle is like that in classrooms. They've had his hearing checked and he has a similar disorder. I didn't think about ear infections leading to that. More proof that I need to see an ENT.</p> <p>Thanks everyone for all of your help!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2089311 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 01:12:56 +0000 sarac 2089311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, recurrent ear infections caused me to have a subtle but tricky auditory processing disorder. Basically, I have trouble understanding sounds when there are competing sounds around me. Like, in big lecture courses in college I always needed to sit up front, and I was rude about shushing talkers. I have trouble on the phone if the connection isn't perfect. I prefer to socialize in small groups, because I have trouble understanding conversation at parties. </p> <p>It isn't a huge deal, and I work around it ok. But it's one of the long term consequences of suboptimal hearing (due to fluid buildup) during that sensitive developmental period. I don't love it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2089292 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 23:50:16 +0000 spaniellove 2089292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@earinej: And that's why I'm adamant about having the ped, audiologist, and ENT look carefully in his ears at least once a month - he's dropped to 85-105db and I don't want to go any lower! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2089291 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 23:47:24 +0000 spaniellove 2089291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like you have gotten a lot of great advice. I can only tell you from our experience with hearing loss (none of it related to ear infections) that pediatricians often don't know enough about hearing and ears, so if you're at all concerned you should ask for the referral to an ENT who can give you a more knowledgeable take. DS was a couple months old when he had only the slightest infection in one ear and a solid wax blockage in the other and that alone was enough to stop all his babbling for a while, so I wouldn't agree with a ped who wanted to wait it out with chronic infections. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2089267 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 22:31:12 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2089267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH had multiple ear infections. He actually had the fluid turn into gel in his ears and lost hearing for over a year. With that, he had speech problems, but once he could hear again, he did start speaking okay. However, it was over 2 years before he could hear at the age of 3. He had multiple speech therapists for years. If we have a daughter, I will be watching for the ear infections. (His ear infections have to do with a genetic issue that will only affect a girl.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2088927 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:44:19 +0000 brownie 2088927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From my personal experiences, I do believe that it can hurt speech because I believe it did for my son. I had worried about his speech since before he was 2 years old. 1 month before his 2 year old birthday we did a speech and hearing test at a local college (students practicing). They said he was just on the borderline and it could warrant follow up. We didn't just then because he was getting therapy through school. At 2 1/2 I was more concerned and started private therapy. We did more hearing tests and tympanograms (they measure if the eardrum moves appropriately). All hearing tests were low normal but the tympanograms were slightly abnormal. We did tubes at just before 3 years old strictly because of his speech issues. We are almost 1 year out of tubes and therapy for apraxia. He has made huge improvements from 40 sound errors and 50% intelligibility a year ago to 9 sound errors and 75% intelligibility now. I think you need to follow your mommy instincts in either direction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2088923 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:41:02 +0000 SeptMomma12 2088923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that you should just go see an ENT. Our pediatrician wanted to take a "wait and see" approach but I decided to go for it anyway. (He was almost 1 and barely even babbling.) The ENT did one test and found the fluid in his ears so bad that he scheduled tubes for later that week. Said with that kind of pressure the whole world probably sounded underwater to him. It had an immediate impact on all areas of his development - walking, talking, happiness. Best thing we could have done for him! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2088900 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:24:12 +0000 Smurfette 2088900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely go see an ENT. They will test her hearing. Tubes can help her hearing and speech. It sounds like she needs them. I don't know why the doctor would put them off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2088882 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:15:41 +0000 Mamasig 2088882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like @earinej gave you a lot of good information! </p> <p>Ok so here is what I know from experience. DS1 got tubes last year at 17 months after 4 infections including one that required two rounds of antibiotics. Also, the infections were clearing but fluid remained in his ear. So the pediatrician referred us to the ENT. She recommended tubes as well as getting his adenoids taken out. She said it could definitely affect his speech because he was basically hearing everything muffled as if he was under water. Once he had the tubes in no more infections and he definitely started talking more. The doctor mentioned it was at an important time when speech generally takes off. I'm glad my pediatrician was more aggressive about it. It's been a year and the tubes have now come out. So it's wait and see if he'll need another set! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2088837 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 15:52:02 +0000 earinej 2088837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! I'm a lurker here but I'm also an audiologist! I'm sorry that your daughter is having so many ear infections! I am a huge proponent of ear tubes for kiddos with chronic infections. It's a simple procedure that can have a large, immediate impact on her hearing and speech/language development. I've seen 40 dB hearing losses in kids with fluid in their ears - that's a significant reduction in hearing! As far as not being able to find you in the house, to "localize" sounds we need two ears that are hearing at approximately the same level. If your daughter has fluid in one ear or worse in one ear that could definitely have an effect on her localization of sounds. Her speech development could definitely be affected, though that usually catches up once the middle ears are clear, though this is an important window for speech/language development overall. </p> <p>Have you seen a pediatric ear-nose-throat doctor? That's my recommendation for a next step- let me know if you have any questions and good luck!! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-hearing-verbal-communication#post-2088825 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 15:41:28 +0000 Kelley_lovelikecrazy 2088825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know you guys aren't doctors (well not all of you :) ) but looking for anyone's experiences.</p> <p>My daughter (17 months) has been having ear infections almost constantly since October. Her ped doesn't want to talk ear tubes until spring when the weather is better, to see if its just all these germs (and she's in daycare) or if it is her ears. </p> <p>I don't love her being on antibiotics, but I trust the doctors in waiting. My only concern is if we say "Olivia come find me!" she can hear us, and she knows we want her to find us in the house, but for the life of her she cannot figure out where the sound is coming from. She'll wander around the house, in circles, look everywhere as we are saying it to her until she finds us via process of elimination. (We don't have a big house haha).</p> <p>Is this normal for a 17 month old? I'm wondering if she's having trouble hearing with all the ear infections / fluid / etc. I randomly got an ear infection and couldn't hear much out of that ear for a month.</p> <p>And if she is having trouble hearing, could that affect her language skills? </p> <p>I'm not concerned about her development, but I want to make sure we aren't ignoring an issue that could have longer affects. </p>