Signs your child may have....

[lauraslefthook]

I get so tired of little checklists that start like that.  They seem to be very popular for autism right now and about ten years ago they were very popular for ADHD.  The problem is, most of the checklists will have the same answers if your child has hearing loss as well. 

My daughter has a moderately-severe hearing loss.  If I go to the Mayo Clinic web site and look at the list of autism symptoms, she would have had most of the language and social skills issues if I had not found out she had a hearing loss and dealt with it.  For example, the web site has this list, which I am adding comments to about how it relates to a child with hearing loss:

Social skills

• Fails to respond to his or her name -- depending upon the severity of hearing loss this won't happen
  
• Has poor eye contact--cannot have eye contact if you cannot hear to know to look
  
• Appears not to hear you at times--with hearing loss, cannot hear
  
• Resists cuddling and holding
• Appears unaware of others' feelings--hard to be aware of other's feelings without communication skills
  
• Seems to prefer playing alone — retreats into his or her "own world"--frustration of communication difficulties can result in this
  

Language

• Starts talking later than other children--if you cannot hear, you cannot learn to talk without help
  
• Loses previously acquired ability to say words or sentences--progressive hearing losses can result in this without intervention
  
• Does not make eye contact when making requests
• Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm — may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech--children with hearing loss tend to sound like what they can hear
  
• Can't start a conversation or keep one going--cannot communicate if you cannot hear
  
• May repeat words or phrases verbatim, but doesn't understand how to use them

I get very frustrated because I have heard from parents who had their children diagnosed with ADHD or autism and then found out later that the problem was really hearing loss.  Why don't medical professionals take hearing more seriously and follow up with an accurate hearing test with an audiologist as well as a referral to an ENT before a diagnosis such as ADHD or autism is given?  I mention having the test with an audiologist because I have also heard from people whose children's pediatricians gave inaccurate old fashioned tests and told the parent that the child could hear when it was not the case.

Okay, off my soapbox for the day.  Thanks for reading.

[Kiter]

Mar. 19, 2009 at 12:17 PM

my middle son had hearing loss AND high funtioning autism..LOL

I think all kids who 'might have ADHD/AUtism/SPD/ETC" should have their ears and eyes examined fully. (with an audiologist, not just the school screenings)

 

good post