Do I need to be concerned or what?

Tefila

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 9:31 am

My son one of the older ones has a loud voice, but not just that but his friends have complained he doesn't hear. Confused

The teachers plus myself says he does. Exclamation

Proof is when I speak even qiueter he hears and answers. Confused

The problem is his friends are tormenting him "You needs to see a hearing specialist and get hearing aids Sad

"

I know he tends to switch off if he's been reading or learning then he won't neccesarily hear you (and I have to repeat myself but no louder) because imo he's focused on other things Exclamation

sometimes and when there are alot of people talking it's hard for him to hear, well the same is with me Confused

My question to you moms is this. When one gos to a hearing specialist it's like going to an optometrist no? They will find some way to convince you that you need a certain item after all thats their job, I have little trust for them. Sorry I had a bad experaince in the past Exploding anger

Will they ever tell you it's nothing Confused

Or what else could I do Confused

is there any other choice. Please can anyone help me with advice asap. Thank-You Tongue Out

cindy324

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 9:40 am

I 've taken my 4 year old for a hearing test as part of an evaluation done for the board of ed for speech therapy(whicj she was denied for).

I live in Brooklyn, so it was easy for me to see a frum woman who tested her and she was fine. I would think that someone trained in this field would have enough scruples to not falsely diagnose just to sell an expensive hearing aid. If at all possible try to find someone who has a great rep, by asking around. Good Luck and relax, he's probably fine.

realeez

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 10:25 am

take your son to his ped. he can give you a referal to whomever necessary.

an optometrist sells glasses so possibly could be biased. an opthamologist is an eye doctor who went thru med school (unlike an optometrist who does not) so does not get commission from eye glass sales. where I live they do newborn hearing tests that are not biased. they aren't trying to sell things. I am sure that there are pediatric audiologists who are not biased as well.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience in the past but I don't think you should not get your child the treatment that he could possibly need b/c of that.

Motek

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 12:10 pm

mommyabc123 wrote:

an optometrist sells glasses so possibly could be biased. an opthamologist is an eye doctor who went thru med school (unlike an optometrist who does not) so does not get commission from eye glass sales.

correction: an optician makes and sells glasses and is not an M.D.

both optometrists and ophthamologists are drs. who diagnose, manage, and treat the eyes buth the ophthamologist can also do surgery; they may or may not hire an optician to sell glasses in their office

tefila - I wonder if this exists in your area - a phone number you call to get a hearing test over the phone!

realeez

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 12:44 pm

Motek wrote:

both optometrists and ophthamologists are drs. who diagnose, manage, and treat the eyes buth the ophthamologist can also do surgery; they may or may not hire an optician to sell glasses in their office

sorry motek but an optometrist is not an MD

Quote:

Optometrists require a minimum of five years of post-secondary education to obtain their professional designation, Doctor of Optometry (OD).

and

Quote:

The prescribing, fitting and application of glasses, contact lenses or other devices to correct, relieve or treat the eye.

taken from the canadian association of optometrists website
http://www.opto.ca/en/public/0.....uote]

Motek

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 1:12 pm

[quote="mommyabc123"]sorry motek but an optometrist is not an MD

Quote:

Optometrists require a minimum of five years of post-secondary education to obtain their professional designation, Doctor of Optometry (OD).

okay, Doctor of Optometry (as opposed to MD)
I meant to say that an optometrist is a dr.
an optician is not a doctor

maybe it's different in Canada but in the U.S. optometrists don't (necessarily) sell glasses

I've been to both an ophthamologist and an optometrist. For many years, the ophthamologist did not sell glasses in his office. In later years, he did (not that he personally dealt with the frames, someone was hired to do that).

And the optometrist I've been to did not sell glasses! He examined eyes and prescribed glasses (or lenses) which you had to get elsewhere.

realeez

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 1:22 pm

I guess it is a canadian vs us thing.
in canada there are a number of glasses stores that have optometrists working there to give glasses prescriptions. opthamologists don't sell glasses at all.
incidentally anesthesiologist and anesthesist have different meanings in canada and the US too.

chavamom

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 1:47 pm

Incidentally, in the US you can often find opthomologists that sell frames (and are making a commission) in their office as well. Esp. once you get out of the big cities.

And some of the big frame store have staff opthamologists, not just optomotrists!

Tefila

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 1:54 pm

Thank-you all for your advice. Smile

Motek I will look into that telephone number sounds cool but unsure on accuracy Confused

Ok I was also speaking to my mother who said it could just be wax and drainage in the ear too Confused

So I guess I will bite the bullet and first take him to have his ears cleaned and then consider the next step. Confused

happyone

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 3:41 pm

I wouldnt trust an over the phone test. There are different levels of testing, as there are different levels of hearing loss, if any. An audiologist does not make money off diagnosing hearing loss. They'll give you a report, which you can discuss with any doctor regarding treatment if necessary.
Good luck.

mommy2

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 4:51 pm

SinceI've been to audiologists for 2 of my children, I do have some experience with this. If your child's hearing is blocked b/c of fluid, an audiologist has a device to test their hearing to see if tey could hear if the fluid isnt there. Also, when they did the testing with my children, It was very obvious that there were sounds that I was able to hear and my children weren't, so I honestly dont believe they are out to get u to buy hearing aids.
On a side note have you ever heard about auditory discrimination?

realeez

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 4:56 pm

mommy2 wrote:

On a side note have you ever heard about auditory discrimination?

Are those the people who are against cochlear implants b/c they see "deafness" as a culture? I work with students with cochlear implants and I see what wonders they can do!

realeez

Sun, Apr 09 2006, 6:00 pm

Thanks for the info.
I took "discrimination" too literally! One of hte mothers of my students was telling me about what I was saying and I had that on my mind.

shanie5

Sun, Apr 23 2006, 9:56 am

my sons teacher requested that I have his hearing tested. I did, and was told that because he is congested alot (allergies or sinus infections on a regular basis), he hears fine, but more as if we were whispering, and therefore its easier for him to get distracted. all that was reccommended was for him to sit front and center-less distraction-and definitely no need for hearing aids.
good luck!

Tefila

Sun, Apr 23 2006, 10:44 am

SO we took him to one Dr who confirmed a) no cleaning needed if anything his ears were too clean Confused

b) Recommended another Dr but told us true he doesn't seem to have a hearing impairment however when he put his watch with beeps on it low, my son could not hear it. But we could. SO we will get a second opinion though hearing aids are imo for people with really bad hearing not for my son b/c he can't hear beeps there must be an alternative Confused

Tue, Apr 25 2006, 7:57 am

It would probably be worth him having an audiogram done to see at exactly what level he is hearing with both ears at differerent pitch sounds.
Very quick and easy to do ( I do them myself at work....) Also there is an easy test to see if there is fluid in the middle ear which can cause hearing loss. If the tests are normal, then you will know that there is no problem

I do a lot of audiology work. I always give an honest answer. If hearing is fine, I will say so. if not, we deal with the problem!!! From what you are describing it seems very unlikely that he needs hearing aids.