Today we went to an audiologist in Richmond for another hearing test. Their equipment can filter out the sounds of his breathing. Of course, he was wide awake when it was time for the test, so we had to hang out until after lunch so that he would go to sleep.
Unfortunately, the test was not able to verify that his ears are working correctly. The audiologist also tried a “brain scan” test, but that didn’t work either. Finally, she tried some “behavioral testing”, where we pressed a noisemaker against his head behind his ears.
All of these failed, but it doesn’t mean that he’s profoundly deaf. First, he could have fluid in his ear that is preventing the first kind of test from succeeding. Second, he was awake during the second test, which works better if he is asleep. Finally, he’s too young for behavioral testing.
Luckily, we were able to see the ear, nose, and throat doctor the same day. He suggested that we first make sure that there’s no fluid in there. So he prescribed some antibiotics, and said that he may put tubes in Christopher’s ears after the antibiotics are done. (I’m not sure why we need to take the medicine, since he doesn’t have an ear infection…)
I suspect that there’s fluid in Christopher’s ears, but not enough to be the only problem. I’m betting that he has an inner ear problem. The good news is that something like cochlear implants is covered by insurance, and can be installed soon, before he starts to form language skills.
