I am reading all the threads both new and old about fluid and tubes. Everyone seems to agree if there is fluid then tubes. That sounds right.

Justin had his ent visit yesterday because his eardrum test was basically flatlined. They couldn't get good readings for the other tests cause he was moving so much but I know he does hear. If I whisper something he will look at me though I know that doesn't mean that he hears clearly. He has had no infections.

So the ent looks in there and says he can't see any fluid but because he has DS that even without fluid the anatomy is slightly different and that causes the flatline test and there could be fluid that he can't see and that we should do the tubes. He said for a fact that because of the flatlined eardrum test that he does not hear clearly. Do all you ear experts agree? Should we do the tubes? Thank you so much for any responses.

We saw the ENT last week too. Cameron didn't do so well with the tests, he didn't pass. They think there is fluid behind his right ear drum, however couldn't see inside well enough to know. Our ENT wants to see him back in 6 weeks to again clean the wax out of his small ears, and then to retest his hearing. He pretty much thinks it is a good idea to go ahead with the tubes if he doesn' t do well on this next screening.

We got a flatline as well. So our ENT suggested tubes but when he tried to put them in, Finn's ears were too small so he just cleaned out the wax ( he said he had a lot and it was impacted). We just had his hearing tested a few days ago and it was in the normal range and his timpanagram was normal too. So sometimes wax can be a cause for the flatline, but I was totally for the tubes anyway as a preventitive measure.

I agree too. If it can prevent fluid later and hearing issues, why not do it. I am hoping the with Cameron's wax removed, he will pass the test. I think he hears, he sure responds, but how well, who knows.

Luke had tubes at 10 months. The ENT was able to see the fluid. He waited 6 weeks and the audiologist did a tympanogram. It showed a reduction in the movement of the membrane when air was pushed in. When he had the tubes put in a few weeks later the doc said he anticipated more fluid but there really wasn't that much. His bottom line was that he needed the tubes because even a small amount of was having a big effect on his hearing.

This is our adventure for the month! Hunter's ENT wasn't sure if he had fluid or not, but when the tympanogram flatlined she pulled out the BIG microscope to dig deeper, and he was completely full of fluid. She said when she first looked in there she couldn't tell-suspected it, but wasn't sure. We were shocked! Hunter can seriously hear the Tivo beep from down the hall and comes speed crawling to see if you put his show on! I never would have thought he had issues. Everybody on here gave me great advice, and we'll be getting our tubes in 2 weeks...

This is our adventure for the month! Hunter's ENT wasn't sure if he had fluid or not, but when the tympanogram flatlined she pulled out the BIG microscope to dig deeper, and he was completely full of fluid. She said when she first looked in there she couldn't tell-suspected it, but wasn't sure. We were shocked! Hunter can seriously hear the Tivo beep from down the hall and comes speed crawling to see if you put his show on! I never would have thought he had issues. Everybody on here gave me great advice, and we'll be getting our tubes in 2 weeks...

I posted a link to a REALLY good site that discusses tubes and hearing loss in our kids on the other post. Let me grab it:

http://information.downsed.org/library/periodicals/dsrp/07/3/093/DSRP-07-3-093-EN-GB.htm

if you have a kid with DS, I suggest reading this page. Most kids with Ds DO hear, and they respond or turn to someone speaking to them. But HOW they hear is more the issue. For kids with lots of fluid, or glue ear, it sounds like they are underwater. Things are muffled, distorted. Ever had an ear infection? I have, and you cant hear right, and it is TERRIBLY distracting. Imagine being cognitively delayed AND not hearing well? You have to try so hard to learn words that your mouth doesnt want to make, and then you hear them wrong. Tubes tubes tubes. Really. They arent for everyone, but I absolutely believe in them for "us".