What kind of a doctor would be the best specialist for hearing problems?

[Radio_Lady]

I'm thinking otolaryngologist, but not sure. Our little grandson in Utah was born with one ear perfect, but the other one has a missing or deformed cochlea.

He's alert and bright, but he isn't speaking very well in second grade.

What seems to be the problem is that the deformed ear is supplying some kind of distorted sound, and the perfect ear is unable to work properly. His brain seems unable to focus on the good hearing.

Someone must have information on this condition, but I don't know where to start. Can imperfect hearing be disabled? The child is very frustrated as he tries to talk to us, but only his parents and his brother can understand and "translate" for him.

He is receiving speech therapy one day a week. We can see no improvement from last December when we were in Florida until now, almost a year later. We think he needs to be worked up once again (last work-up was three and a half years ago)!

I told my son and daughter-in-law that Stephen Colbert, the comedian, also has hearing in only one ear. But his speech is perfect!

Whatever guidance you can supply -- but I'm not looking for medical advice, you understand. PM me if you want to. That would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Respectfully,

Radio_Lady and Audio_Al

[sniffa]

1. speaking as someone who's Lived through this

if anything, i'd initiaLLy recommend fLying him to Boston to go to "mass eye and ear"; there a great hospitaL for both. i spent a huge chunk of my chiLdhood in it.

the cochLear impLant is onLy an option when it's first discovered (or at Least that's how it was when impLants were "invented") and onLy for certain kinds of deafness.

as for the speech, it's pretty much never gonna get better. he can go through therapy, but it won't sound naturaL. i was Lucky enough to Lose my hearing at age 4-5 (i think 4, but i couLd have turned 5) so i don't have a speech impediment... though anyone outside of boston wouLd say my accent is a speech impediment.

assuming there's no actuaL cure for him, then he has to Learn how to go through Life with out fuLL hearing. he'LL do fine, but everyone in his Life has to recognize the troubLe he has hearing, and how any sort of background noise wiLL either bLock out what someone says, or distort it, and that facing them whiLe taLking wiLL heLp them so much in hearing you. i don't read Lips necessariLy, but if i'm not Looking at the person taLking to me, i usuaLLy misunderstand what they're saying. it's reaLLy hard, and pLease remember that, and pass it on to his parents if need be.

[sniffa]

2. oh, and ps:

i know she has me on ignore, and i don't care one iota, but i posted my response to heLp everyone facing this situation... and actuaLLy, that one of her DU friends wouLd at Least copy and poste it to her. as someone who went through what her grandson is going to go through, i just want to make it known that a having a "deformed ear" wiLL not hoLd you back if you're motivated and your famiLy is supportive.

[johnnie]

4. I'll post it for her

I think this is pretty helpful and informative.

speaking as someone who's Lived through this
Posted by sniffa

if anything, i'd initiaLLy recommend fLying him to Boston to go to "mass eye and ear"; there a great hospitaL for both. i spent a huge chunk of my chiLdhood in it.

the cochLear impLant is onLy an option when it's first discovered (or at Least that's how it was when impLants were "invented") and onLy for certain kinds of deafness.

as for the speech, it's pretty much never gonna get better. he can go through therapy, but it won't sound naturaL. i was Lucky enough to Lose my hearing at age 4-5 (i think 4, but i couLd have turned 5) so i don't have a speech impediment... though anyone outside of boston wouLd say my accent is a speech impediment.

assuming there's no actuaL cure for him, then he has to Learn how to go through Life with out fuLL hearing. he'LL do fine, but everyone in his Life has to recognize the troubLe he has hearing, and how any sort of background noise wiLL either bLock out what someone says, or distort it, and that facing them whiLe taLking wiLL heLp them so much in hearing you. i don't read Lips necessariLy, but if i'm not Looking at the person taLking to me, i usuaLLy misunderstand what they're saying. it's reaLLy hard, and pLease remember that, and pass it on to his parents if need be.

[Steven_S]

3. An ENT....

It stands for Ear, Nose and Throat. Otologist will also get you there.

[Radio_Lady]

5. Thanks for your responses. Sniffa, I can read your posts...

and do not have you on "ignore".

Respectfully,

Radio Lady Ellen

[Radio_Lady]

6. My daughter-in-law is planning to have our grandson seen for both hearing and psychological stuff.

We really think he needs more care at this point.