Cayman had a hearing test today. In the overall recording of the test she failed. It does not necessarily mean she is partially or fully deaf. We feel very confident that Cayman can hear. She responds to her noisy toys, the TV, our voices...she jumps when my cell phone rings, etc.
Hearing tests on babies can be tricky. The baby has to be real quiet and still...asleep preferably. Cayman was asleep...HOWEVER, she is a very noisy breather. I have never had to do that check at night that paranoid mamas do to make sure their babies are still breathing. I could always hear her. It's not quite as raspy as a snore...it's just loud. The Audiologist believes that the testing device kept picking up her breathing. A few times it did record the tiny little echoes in her ears that they test for, but most of the time it recorded bigger noises.
To be honest, it was difficult to sit there and be issued onto another kind of hearing test because she did not pass this one. I felt like someone had their hands around my neck and was squeezing me. It had been awhile since I have had a panic attack. They started after my first appointment with the specialist in the high risk department when I was 20 weeks pregnant. Some of my most trying moments have been when I was sitting in the doctors' offices and having them deliver words that you never want to hear!
So there is a possibility that Cayman's hearing might not be perfect. I had to remind myself of how confident I am that Cayman can hear and if she needs hearing aids to assist her, so what. That is actually quite minor in the overall light of Cayman's situation. It was explained to us like this: think about the eyes, someone can see but might need glasses to make the vision clear. With the ears, someone can hear but might need a hearing device to make the sounds clear. The test she had today did record some positive hearing signs it just wasn't consistent. That could have been because of her breathing or because she could have some kind of hearing issue. It's very common for hearing issues to coincide with some of her other anomalies she has which is why the doctors want to keep looking into it. So now we have to schedule a different kind of hearing test that will be done at a different facility than where we were today. I really am dreading it....for two reasons. One, I always get nervous that new "bad" news is going to pop up, and two, because Cayman has to be completely still and quiet for the test and if she is not cooperative then they will sedate her for it. :o(
Hearing Test
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Posted by Kristen at 5:05 PM
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9 Showin' Comment Love:
Praying for peace for you and that Cayman is a quiet breather at least just long enough for the test to work.
I have so grown to love your little girl. She is very precious.
Ann
Awwws, well if it makes u feel any better, kadyn had 5 hearing screens and failed all five, then he had the test that was computerized and he passed 100%. We were soo happy. He had fluid in his ears also when he passed. I believe she can hear also with the way she reacts to sounds and your vocies, im sure the little doll can hear. Ill pray!
Kristen-
I'm sorry to hear you had a bad appointment. It is no fun to get bad news! Just trust your Mommy instinct. If she is reacting to sounds- she can hear. The technology for hearing aids and cochlear implants is amazing. Like you said the ears (and eyes in our case) are pretty minor things to worry about in the grand scheme of things. Just take a little time to get alone with God and pray about things. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Phil. 4:6,7
Hang in there!
Garrett had a BAER hearing test in Toledo, and he did fine with it. He had to be sedated, but was fine afterwards. He did not have to have an IV, they gave him Versed, which is a conscious sedation drug. It basically relaxes them. He just had some gooey stuff on him when he was done. Keep the faith, I watched her video, and just by watching that, she CAN hear. She knew exactly what to do when that toy stopped making it's music.
Shannon Bavin
Ahhh, the dreaded hearing tests!! I could write a book on them. Ella is almost 2 and still has not fully passed one, but I assure you she hears. We had the noisy breathing thing too. Plus the small ears, which looks like Cayman has too, really effect the test. I know for Ella, her ears were always full of fluid, though no infection. We got tubes in her ears at 15 months and it made a HUGE difference, we could tell she could hear before, but there was no question after, she also became a lot more verbal. The next test, which I imagine is the ABR, they put little electrodes on their heads and it's supposed to be the greatest test ever... Ella failed that one miserably and I was completely freaked out about it. So, just to wrap this all up, do NOT worry too much if she fails the next one, it does not mean she has a serious problem hearing!!!
Sherri took the words right out of my mouth--you have to trust what you know as her mother, think big, remember that Satan wins when you panic & keep in mind all of Cayman's MANY WONDERFUL accomplishments. XOXO!! We love you guys & we're continuing to pray for God to show you at least a small part of His Grand Vision for Cayman...so you can be at peace that she HAS ALREADY & will continue to affect people...even people that have never had the privilege of meeting her in person. You guys are doing a wonderful job with all you have to deal with. xo!
you know my oldest went through probably 20 different hearing screens all saying something different. however he can hear. the fact that she responds to you is key. if she needs a hearing aid than so be it. its one more thing that makes her as special as she is!
My 22 month old had the ABR sedated hearing test this morning. It was not as bad as I had imaged. The worst part was them starting the IV through which the sedation meds are delivered. My son woke up within 10 min after turing off the meds and was was right back to himself. He also failed 2 "regular" hearing tests. The results from this test tell us his issues are not related to hearing, his hearing is near perfect. So, have hope and know the test is not that bad, no needles except the IV and having the end all be all answer on the hearing issue was worth it to me, although I had hoped it was the hearing to explain his speech problems. So we press on for answers and so will you all but rest assured the ABR (if that is test they are talking about) is not as bad as we parents can imagine. Take care, I read this blog everyday and I just love you guys.
My daughter Abby is having hearing test issues too. We just went in the other day for the Bone conductor ABR test. I don't know if Cayman has had that one yet but it requires the complete quite and stillness of sleep or being under. She slept perfectly through the left ear test...the ear we knew she had hearing out of because she passed previous tests, but then she woke up as they started the right ear...the one we need to know about. So we had to reschedule for another day.
I'd rather keep rescheduling and try to catch her sleeping that have them put her out.
Kristin
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