Tuesday, March 15, 2011

I thought my kids didn't want to listen to me but it turns out... (long post)

     We took the girls in to the ENT (ear nose throat doctor) today for their pre-op visit. There surgery is in 10 days and now I am getting nervous. I know it is a routine surgery but I am still worried. The girls had strep again 2 weeks ago and ear infections a week ago. Because of the 2 occurances of strep in February and the massive ear infection Piper missed a lot of school (preschool). I received a letter last week that she had been withdrawn from the school. She is very upset and misses her friends. I have been working with her since then to make sure she is completely ready for her Kindergarten testing next week. 

     So when we went today I addressed the ear issue with the doctor again. They looked in the girls' ears and sent us over to the next office to have some tests done. I am not sure exactly what they did but first they put a thing in their ears and it printed out a report about their eardrums then they went into a room and had their hearing tested with the beeps and hand raising. We were then taken back into the ENT office for the report.
    
     I have brought up my issues with Piper being very loud and speaking with a slight lisp many times in the past to her pediatrician and the ENT and they assured me it was due to access way in her ears and gave me drops to help dissolve it. Here is an example of todays words: (squitched=switched, limo=hippo, waanding=landing) It may sound cute but it makes it difficult sometimes for people to understand her. She has complete conversations with you and a lot of the words are odd. She has used her "outside voice" full time for a year now. I am always telling her to tone it down, and she gets embarrased or upset. A lot of the time I will talk to her and she will ignore me on purpose (or so I thought).

     They brought in the results and I was floored. Piper at this point due to the ear infections and fluid behind her drums has 40% hearing loss. I can't believe she has done so well up to now when she can only hear 60% of what is going on. A lot of things make more sense now. Now Paige on the other hand has never had problems hearing or speaking. She lately has been sitting closer to the TV and I actually had to give her a point that she was not allowed to go past when watching. I thought it was her eyes and made her an eye doctor appointment. At night we have been having to go in their room and turn the TV down because it is too loud. Her results were that she has a 20% hearing loss. I thought she has been ignoring me when I call her and turning her back when I am talking to her because of her "I think I am a teenager" attitude that she has acquired lately. I feel horrible that they both were having problems and did not tell me. It may also explain why she has been getting in trouble for not paying attention in class. Tonight I apologised to both of them and told them that if they are having trouble with anything they need to tell me.

     They hope that their hearing will be restored with the addition of tubes to their surgery schedule. So now they are having their tonsils and adenoids out and tubes put in. It will be a very long and worrisome day for all of us. If you are still with me at this point thank you so much for reading I know it was a long one, I just needed to vent!

8 comments:

  1. I know how ya feel hun. Tyler had to have a hearing test today....He has 50 percent hearing loss cuz the fluids on ears. I cried. So I know how ur feeling. Tyler goes in on April 15 to get his tonisils, tubes, and possiably ateniods again if there is any regrowth. I will say a prayer for both of them and yourself. I am here if you need to talk.

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  2. I just keep going back to times when I scolded them for not paying attention, or ignoring me. Cranking up their game systems or the TV. Stuff like that. Thanks Michelle I hope all goes well for Tyler too!

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  3. i know you are going thru a lot remember one thing though you are an awsome mom and even though sometimes you find things out that are like WAM and then everything comes to light just remember its not your fault you didnt know . what happens in life on a day to day basis is like being in school if you learn from the lessons then you will have no problem passing the tests when they come about.

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  4. I like that Freckelz :) Thanks!

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  5. just stay stong and keep us all updated when your daughters have thier surgery.

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  6. This is the second blog I have read today with children having hearing loss because of fluid in their ears. Suppose it's the weather?

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  7. Piper's has been going on for a while but I don't know with Paige

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  8. Jeni, I am taking my daughter to the ENT next Friday for her tonsils...know what you are going thru. (My son had tubes and tonsillectomy, also.) Good luck!

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