Our Visit with the ENT: What to Expect At Your Child's First Visit

So, after taking Froot Loop to the doctor a couple weeks ago for yet another ear infection, and after his 4 year checkup where his ears were still inflamed 2 weeks later after antibiotics, our doctor referred us to an ear, nose, and throat doctor. Our visit was today. 

We had about a 35 minute drive up to the clinic. We had a visit with the ENT first and then a hearing test with the audiologist about an hour later. I've been meaning to schedule a hearing test since we need one for his early intervention visit, so this served two purposes today. 

Anyway, check in was easy and it was a $50 copay since he's a specialist. Fortunately, we had only a few minutes' wait and then we were in. They took all the vitals and we went into the room. The very sweet nurse did a quick medical history regarding his ears, which really was quick because my doctor sent over all his info. 

The doctor came in and asked a few questions about his ear infection history and did all the looking he needed to. He looked in his ears and noticed another mild infection. There's also a TON of fluid in there. Ugh. He looked in his nose and down his throat and noticed a LOT of drainage. He felt around his neck and stuff and ordered a set of X-Rays to check out his adenoids. Then he was gone. 

We went to the other floor where the X-Rays are done (actually the same place where we had to take him to get his eyebrow stitched up a few months ago) and fortunately, we had another quick wait. I was not looking forward to this because I didn't know how he'd react to the X-Ray room. Fortunately, I was allowed to go in with him. The Radiologist was amazing and invited me in. I grabbed a lead vest and stood just outside of the X-Ray machine. The Radiologist explained all of the pieces of the machine to Froot Loop and what she was going to do. Froot Loop was not impressed and did not like the dark room or the machine. 

We got him set up for his first X-Ray (forehead to the platform) and told him to stand still. The machine makes a pretty loud noise and that freaked him out because he thought something was going to come hit him from behind. So, he moved and we had to redo that one. No big deal. Then, she moved him around some more and he was really good for the rest of the X-Rays. When I was able to, I held his hand and kept reassuring him and telling him to stand still. We were done! The radiologist thanked me and said I did a great job keeping him still so she could get his X-Rays done quickly. Phew. Done. 

We went back upstairs to the ENT's office to check in for the audiologist. We had quite a long wait this time and Froot Loop got annoyed very quickly and started acting up. Up until that point, he had been amazing. 

Finally we got to go in. The audiologist was not friendly and was not very nice. We went into the soundproof room which was kind of jarring. My ears were ringing the whole time. I got to sit in the corner and Froot Loop got to sit in the special chair. 

The first step was to do the puff of air test where they check to see how the ear drum reacts to a puff of air. I could tell on the computer that his right ear definitely was not as clear as his left. 

Then, we did the hearing test. She (grumpily) put earbuds in his ears and left the room. She gave him instructions that I couldn't hear, but I'm assuming he was supposed to repeat the words he heard since he said words randomly. Then she came in and put a different headset on him. She left and gave him instructions to which he agreed. She kept trying to do the test but apparently Froot Loop was not doing something he was supposed to because she started getting upset with him and he got frustrated with her. I was not too happy about this, but I did not intervene because I didn't want to make her even more upset. Ugh. 

Finally, he followed instructions and she got some data. I started reminding him to put his hands down when the beeping noise went away and it seemed to go much faster. We looked at the results and he's got some very minor hearing loss in his right ear down in the low range, which is a concern, but not a worry. It could be explained by the fluid in his ear and the ear infection. 

So, the ENT got all this info and our history and is supposed to get back to me soon. I really really liked the ENT and I feel like I need to go see him too since I have chronic fluid in my ears and pain. 

So, we will see where this goes. It's possible that if he has adenoid/sinus/fluid issues like the ENT thinks, it could at least partially explain the behavioral issues and some of the sensory issues. Of course, this is all part of what we have to do for the early intervention process, so one step at a time. It will be very interesting to see how this goes. I just hope we get some answers and soon. I just hope that Froot Loop isn't in any pain or anything. 

Have you ever had chronic ear infections?