Listening skills

[Bananabrain]

We have a three and a half yr old mindee [girl] Her listening is just getting to the point of silly. You may as well just talk to the door. Even mum and nursery are saying the same thing.
She has had a lot of ear infections. I have suggested to mum that she gets her hearing tested. She reported back that she was told the child was too young for them to be able to get an accurate reading.
Anyone got any ideas of games we could play to promote listening skills?

[jo.jo76]

I would get mum to check with doctor or health visitor about hearing test again. There is no such thing as too young. They have a machine that they use in the ear and do not rely on the child responding. My daughter is a risk of deafness and has been tested regularly since only a few months old. She's now three and had this test done several times.

[shortstuff]

My son was given four hearing tests by three yrs old so dont know where that info from. Do you know if they saw the hv or doc? Maybe they should see the other professional?

[lubeam]

Magic word games are good ,

Sit on the floor balance a bean bag on her head and say when I say pineapple u want you to tip your head forward so the bean bag comes off then say loadsa stuff bringing with p , same thing with bubbles - when I say the magic word pop all the bubbles - adapt it to suit her interests etc

Try rhubarb and custard too - you say rhubarb the child then says custard back to your in the same way you said rhubarb , kids love this coz everyone uses silly voices
Lol , hth ?! :)

[phoenix2010]

Sorry but thats rubbish , during my nurse training I sat in on hearing tests for children , including toddlers , the specialists is on one room with a one way mirror and the child is in the other room with mum and an assistant

music and sounds are played into the room as the child plays and it is noted as to whether they turn to the direction of the sound, it was really interesting actually

anyway I digress , mum needs to push for a hearing test because damage can be worse the longer you leave it

[VeggieSausage]

may have glue ear and need gromits - she needs her hearing tested, total rubbish that her hearing cannot be tested....

[QualityCare]

Can you record every day sounds that the children know, tap running door bell phone ringing etc and use these like a bingo game or just naming them, play games with musical instruments hide them in a box and tap/shake /bang one and get children to name which one. Also agree that the info about hearing test is inaccurate, l am minding a 17mth old who failed his initial hearing test with the HV and has since had 2 more hearing tests at hosp still not hearing soft/quiet sounds and there is fluid in the .inner ear so may require grommets, he appears to hear well but as yet not saying any clear words
It could be that she just 'switches off' or enjoys the attention of being called all the time so playing listening games is a good idea.

[RuthJ]

Here in Wales all babies have their hearing screened within 48 hours of birth, so here must be a way of doing it for a 3 year old! Ask mum to push for it.

Love the games mentioned in this thread - some great ideas. I find story time is good for seeing the kids have picked up words, phrases etc.

[Zoomie]

My DD had a hearing test within a week of her birth. This was 5 years ago and one mindee has a deaf parent and new baby mindee was tested within hours of birth.l

[sarah707]

Rubbish! I was an audiologist in a former life - they can test hearing from a few days old pretty accurately and definitely at age 3 1/2.

She needs a test - and the sooner the better - what happened to early intervention? :(

[welshgirl]

My own son had speech problems and had a hearing test at 2 1/2 years. He was referred by the speech and language therapist.

[MessybutHappy]

I agree, grommets only go in post tests, and children get grommets really young!!

[clareelizabeth1]

I just go ds hearing test done 2 weeks after he was born that was only 14 weeks ago so they must be able too