Snap, Crackle, Pop!

We have had some rough moments, evenings, and days with this little one.  We've had ignoring, not listening, lots of yelling, crying, frustration, anger, sadness, and madness.  She is so exhausted by 6:30 and can barely stay awake past 7:00.  Sometimes too tired to eat dinner.  Last week we had a really bad night.

We've also had requests for louder music and T.V.  We have had to repeat many things, and lots of times she did not hear quite right.  We repeated louder and she became upset that we were yelling at her.

We started wondering what could be wrong or what was going on with this little girl.  Putting the pieces together and one apparent moment, we had an ah-ha moment that perhaps she is not hearing well.

She has had a total of 1-2 ear infections in her whole little life, we cannot recall her last cold or illness. Pain or fever have not accompanied any of the above symptoms.  Why go see the doctor?

An appointment was made to see the audiologist.   I was asked if I had a referral, to which I responded that we have a PPO, and  I believe we can make an appointment to any doctor.  I mentioned that I could go see our pediatrician, but she is not sick and he would probably send us to the audiologist anyways.  The receptionist asked me for my concerns, I relayed the above.  She responded with "yeah, that is not normal".  We had an appointment for 3 days later.

A tympanogram was the first order of business, and Norah's ears flat-lined that test.  Pretty cool test, a tip is inserted in her ear and a puff of air will measure the movement of the ear drum.  The graph was supposed to be peaked, hers was a flat line.  A strong indication that fluid has hunkered down behind her eardrums.  Crazy thing is, it's probably a total of 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of fluid.

Next order of business was a hearing test.  Due to the fluid, she has a 20% loss in her right ear and a 30% loss in her left ear.  Her bone conduction is perfect.  If you were to put your index fingers in your ears, I am sure that is how she is hearing.  Sort of muffled and under water-ish.  No wonder we have had some not-so-fun moments, that have challenged all of us to the core of our threshold.

Next day appointment was made with the ENT, no ear infections.  Since no illness, ear infections, and relatively new complaints, he is not keen on putting tubes in yet.  Some bacteria could be present in that fluid, but not enough to cause an obvious infection.  Norah is on an antibiotic for 10 days and a nasal spray for a month, to help loosen up the fluid to re-establish the pressure equalizing function of those eustachian tubes.

I am so hoping and praying to hear Norah complain of hearing snaps, crackles, and pops.  Then I'll know that her ears are working.  In a month, if there is no change, discussion about tubes will be had with the ENT.

While we are in the dead of winter, spring is not far away and summer will arrive.  This little one needs to jump in the deep end and spend more time under water than above the surface.  I don't want tubes, that require plugs and extra special care when the head is dunked underwater.  Come on ears, bring on the snap, crackle, and pop!

(Don't worry, her curls have not disappeared.  Winter hats, dry air, and bed-head are not kind to her curls.)