To check things off the list of possible factors for speech delay, Elliott had a hearing exam today. Unfortunately, it wasn't as simple as checking the box for hearing impairment:
o NO
The hearing exam was well set up for a little guy, so I was glad to have chosen the children's hospital over the local audiologist from the town rehab hospital (who, I am sure, excels at hearing aids). They had a special room for Elliott to sit in my lap and play with toys while speakers played at various frequencies and volumes. When he looked up to see from where the sound was coming, he was rewarded by a TV screen or animatronic pig turning on. It was enough to keep my interest, let alone a toddler! Add to that the technician, who played with toys to keep him focused between the audio distractions - but not so focused he would miss the cues from the speakers. Not a very controlled scientific endeavor, but well orchestrated to minimize the random chaos inherent in the test subject.
So the troubling part was that Elliott appears to be missing some mid-to-high range of sounds in both ears. Possibly a fluke, whim or the day, fluid obstruction, etc... but left the results inconclusive. Even more strangely, I remember having similar results at a hearing test when I was young.
Now because his ear drums were restricted we have to follow up with our primary to check for water in his ears (why no one at a children's medical center is qualified to do this is beyond me). And we get to do the hearing test again in a couple months. Sigh.
