Quinn's ENT appointment

On Saturday, we went to Children's to see an ENT about Quinn's ears.  I got both kids packed and ready to go and we were there at about 10:30 (appt at 10:45).  We got checked in and sent back to the waiting room.  Got called back at about 10:40.  Nurse asked a few questions, namely why we were there.  I told her primarily due to the fluid in her ears and the delayed speech development.  The doctor came in about 5 minutes later.  He had me sit with her while he looked in her ears, and he said that they didn't look too bad so he wasn't thinking tubes.  He then said that we should have her hearing tested anyways due to the presence of fluid before and the speech delay.  Back to the waiting room we go.

We didn't sit down for much more than 5 minutes when we got called back again.  First they did some Tympanograms which help measure how well sound is bounces off the ear drum.  They should be "spiky", but Quinnie's were flat.  Then they did a hearing test which has someone in front of us sort of keeping her attention while noises are made on either side of her.  I could even tell that her right ear was better than her left ear.  Finally they tested to see if she had permanent hearing loss (they put the sounds under your ear so that it doesn't have to go through the fluid) and luckily, there was no sign of permanent damage.  Audiologist then discussed the results and our options.  She basically said Quinn has what they would call "temporary hearing loss."  But, the temporary could be a couple days, weeks, months or even years depending on how long the fluid remains.  So we could watch and wait or consider tubes.  I am tired of watching/waiting.  Back to the waiting room.

Then about 5 minutes later, we got called back to see the doctor again.  When he came into the room, this is what he said:  "It appears that I'm going to need to change my mind and put some tubes in."  Alleluia!  We have her appointment in early May to get her some tubes!

Quinnie Ear Update

I know I have been MIA lately, there has just been a lot (both good and bad) going on for us.  Today, I will focus on our Quinnie.


As most of you know, Quinn has started receiving some speech help in February and had a hearing test in December.  At the hearing test, her hearing tested "normal" but they found middle ear fluid in her ears (more in one than the other).  Thus, the doctor wanted us to have an ear re-check in a couple months.  Yet, an ear infection came before then, so we had to wait two months after that.  Finally, last Monday we had our ear recheck.  The doctor said that she still had fluid in her middle ears (but it was not infected).  The doctor suggested waiting until her 2 year check-up in a few months to see how it was then since her hearing tested normal.  I then began to wonder the point of this ear recheck (besides the cost of the doctor's visit they are getting).  I asked a question:  "How can we tell the difference between that she can hear a noise vs. distinguishing between sounds?"  She couldn't answer me.  Then, she said that she could refer me to an ENT for "peace of mind."  That is where we will be tomorrow.  Wish us luck!