Ashley's Ears

We were disappointed to learn at the end of May that Ashley has hearing loss once again in left ear. The hearing test showed that she has mild to moderate hearing loss on that side due to a fluid buildup. Back in June 05, Ashley failed her hearing tests again due to fluid buildup, so the ENT put in tubes and took her adenoids and tonsils out. Since then, Ashley hadn't even had a sick visit to the Dr and passed several hearing tests over the 1 1/2 years. Then at her well check in December they noticed blood and wax buildup in her right ear. Off we went to the ENT. The left tube was out, but the right was inflammed with some blood. We did a course of antibiotics and ear drops. Then in March, Ashley was up all night complaining of ear pain in the left ear. Yep, ear infection. Back to the ENT we went. Even after a round of antiobiotics, the fluid in the left ear would not clear up. (But the tube in the right ear was now out). He sent us home with antihistimines for a few weeks. Our return visit was at the end of May where she failed the hearing test. He wants to re-tube her left ear at the end of the summer. Since the hearing in her right ear is fine and she is not experiencing any speech delays, he said we could wait a few more weeks. Let her enjoy the summer but have the surgery before she starts kindergarten in August.

This news was difficult to hear for us. Ashley has always been very healthy except her ears. She started her first year of life with 8 ear infections. Its a wonder she made it to 3 before they had to tube her. I know it is an easy surgery - since we don't have to do the tonsils again. But I hate to think of her having these recurring problems with her ears. She seems to be handling it all in stride. In fact, she hasn't complained at all to us about her ears or hearing. I guess that's why it is hard to believe that her ear is so bad.