Confused Plz Help

[abhay_dogra]

Hi

My son is 2.5 years old . He was speaking well when he was 1.5 yrs old all of a sudden he stopped
speaking . Now we had his hearing tested through BERA test his OAE is fine but there is problem in BERA result
which shows low to moderate hearing loss in both years. On the other hand one child padetrian has said he is having autism that is why his hearing is like this . He listens to few voices like television or music playin but respondes less to people n us when given instructions . The ENT has said he has problem with his auditory nerve so we should go for hearing aid, n the child specialist who has digonosed him for autism is telling us not to go for hearing aid or speach therapy . We are very confused that what treatment we should give. Plz help

[Eric P Wilkinson, MD]

You need to rule out hearing loss before considering other diagnoses.  Hearing loss can cause behavior similar to autism or developmental delay.  Certainly these can be looked into if the hearing is normal.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical
advice - the information presented is for patients education only.
Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your
individual case.

[Eric P Wilkinson, MD]

There are a number of concerns here.  An abnormal ABR with normal OAEs can suggest auditory neuropathy or dyssynchrony, though the ABR might be slighly abnormal due to fluid behind the eardrums, for example.  Usually the ABR is severely delayed or absent in auditory neuropathy.

What you really need is an accurate physical examination.  At that age that sometimes means going to the operating room to get an accurate assessment.  If the ABR was done with fluid behind the eardrums, it could be abnormal.  If he has otitis media with effusion, he may need tympanostomy tube placement.

Demand a second opinion from another ENT specialist, either a pediatric ENT specialist or an otologist (ear specialist).

Hope this helps.  Good luck!

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical
advice - the information presented is for patients education only.
Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your
individual case.

[abhay_dogra]

Thnx Mr Eric P Wilkinson
for your kind concern . Yes we would like to go for a second opinion.
But should we rule out the possibility of autism . As i have heard that childerns with hearing loss mostly seem to show behavioural symptoms related to autism..Is it true Plz Help us out