Last week my husband said something that really made me stop and think. He asked, “Can she even hear?”
He was talking about this sweet little baby who was only 5 1/2 weeks old at the time.
Janna never startled at loud noises, she didn’t act like she even heard us when we talked to her. When we spoke to her we had to get right in front of her and try to keep eye contact with her before she even acted like she knew we were there.
We started doing some research and prepared ourselves for the fact that our baby may have a hearing loss. She seemed to have all of the symptoms of hearing loss of some kind.
She had passed the newborn screen (ABR), but we felt like there just had to be something wrong. Janna wouldn’t even blink when someone clapped their hands loudly near her ears while she was awake. We did several tests on our own and my parents came over and agreed it seemed like there must be hearing loss.
We all started praying for Janna and prepared ourselves for the worst yet hoped for the best. On Friday night I felt a peace about the whole situation. I knew God was in control and that with Him we could handle anything. (Mom & Dad, I don’t think I told you that.)
We scheduled an appointment with an ENT for yesterday morning. They did two other types of tests that Janna passed. Her eardrums were intact and appeared normal. They even put Janna and I in a special room and the audiologist used a microphone and speakers to try to get Janna to at least blink in response to the noise even if she wouldn’t turn her head.
While she didn’t respond to the noise, the doctor and audiologist said that maybe a wait and see approach was best at this point since there was nothing that should have been wrong with Janna’s hearing. If things were the same in 6 more weeks then we could be referred to a special children’s hospital.
We decided to take the wait and see approach. My husband said he was glad we had taken Janna to a specialist because it gave us hope that she would hear normally.
There have been several times in my children’s lives where I have suspected a problem. A few times we have gone to the emergency room because of those problems like a febrile seizure and breathing issues. I have also had to push the issue to get testing for problems such as food allergies, adenoid surgery, and more.
I am usually a wait and see kind of parent, but I do trust my instincts. I don’t take my children to the doctor for every cold or flu. However, when I suspect a major problem with one of my children I try to get answers right away.
That is what I did for Janna.
Before I go I want to tell you just how awesome of a God I serve. My baby girl startled three times today at loud noises. Janna even smiled at her big sister right away this morning when Julia talked to her.
Whether there was ever a true problem or not I don’t know. I just know that Janna’s hearing appears to be normal today for the first time and I feel like my blessings are totally overflowing.
