What caused my son’s hearing loss?

Bodhi (9 years old) came home with a note explaining that a routine screening revealed he may have a hearing problem. We assumed that because our son is quiet, gentle, and shy, he wouldn’t pay much attention to the hearing test. We were not concerned about his hearing, even though he was working with a speech-language pathologist during the foundation stage.

The audiology department was not what we expected. A second set of tests revealed that he had difficulty hearing female voices and higher-pitched tones in his right ear. This can’t possibly be true. Bodhi seemed to have the ability to listen to my husband and me’s “secret” conversations, and he did not seem to struggle at school. The audiologist told us that Bodhi needed a Hearing Aid and more tests with a consultant.

The audiologist made a mold of Bodhi’s hearing aid. He chose the colors from a book with designs for hearing devices. The colors were vibrant and different from the ones his great-grandfather had. Bodhi was a Spiderman fan at the time, so he chose a red mold with contrasting dark blue sections (pictured above). He didn’t seem to mind wearing the hearing aid at all. I was more worried about how people would react. Could he behave the same as other kids? How do we clean it, change the batteries, and replace the tubing?

We met with the consultant a few weeks later to discuss Bodhi’s hearing loss and get fitted. Bodhi did not seem to be bothered by the new object that was placed in his left ear. Bodhi was told to wear it as often as possible and to take care of it.

The consultant began to explain why Bodhi has moderate hearing loss. We were unaware that anyone in our family, except for his 92-year-old great-grandfather, had hearing loss.

They asked me if I was ill while pregnant, but I wasn’t. I was the healthiest that I’ve ever been, and I had no problems at all.

Bodhi had not developed properly? He was born two weeks earlier, but we didn’t notice any problems.

Do my husband and I both carry a defective gene? This could only be discovered by a blood sample taken from Bodhi.

A consultant determined that an MRI would be helpful in determining why Bodhi was suffering from a hearing impairment. The MRI would detect any developmental issues with his ear structure.

The day for the MRI scan arrived. After doing some research, I was scared of what Bodhi might do. He was only five years old and would have to lie still in this noisy machine. Two lovely ladies welcomed us into the room and explained what was to come. Bodhi was given a brown cuddly bear and instructed to close his eyes while holding it tightly. Both of us were given headphones, and I was permitted to sit next to him and keep his hands. It felt like a long time before the machine started, but our five-year-old son remained silent.

The MRI scan showed that the ear was fully developed, but it didn’t reveal what caused his hearing loss.

Bodhi enjoyed using his hearing aid like a spy gadget during Year 3. His friends thought he was cool for having an earpiece. Bodhi’s friends did not notice that he was doing well at school.

The consultant suggested a blood test. This test would determine whether Bodhi’s hearing loss is genetic or caused by me contracting a virus during pregnancy. Bodhi was informed about the blood tests, and we decided in 2018 to have further testing. The blood test results were disappointing, and I could not find the cause of his hearing loss.

I will always be grateful to the NHS for discovering Bodhi’s hearing loss. He has been fitted with a high-tech hearing aid that allows him to hear and learn. The National Deaf Children’s Society is also a great organization. Our audiologist recommended that I visit their website.

Bodhi has adjusted to his hearing aid and is doing well at school. Although we don’t yet know what caused Bodhi’s hearing loss, the guilt is gone. We only ask: What color hearing aid will you select this time? He has currently chosen fluorescent green, which, to me, looks like snot. It’s his decision, and he can wear it as long as it makes him happy.