Hear Hear

After failing his hearing test at the hospital three times in a row Raymond's first three weeks of life, we were referred to a specialist. "Chances are," they said, "he just has additional fluid in his ears from the birthing experience. But better safe than sorry."

Today was the appointed day to find out.

Of course when we got there he immediately began crying uncontrollably. So far I'm not very good at swaddling him while still in my lap. A skill I definitely need to learn, as swaddling is the only consistent trick to calming him down. By the time we got back to the special hearing test room the poor boy was exhausted from all his ranting and raving. Since they needed him calm for the test, I lost all shame and swaddled him on the floor just like we do at home. Lucky for me he calmed right down and was a champion for the reminder of the two hours we were there.

At first it didn't look so good. They repeated the test from the hospital. And he failed again. They did a quick test to see if the cause was excess fluid in the ears. No extra fluid.

That's when they pulled out the big guns. They attached little electrodes to his forehead and both ears. There were two doctors--one who was obviously in training--who sat at the computer whispering and conferring. I sad holding the wee one awaiting the results. Although I know he's not deaf (he jumps at loud noises and responds to shhing and singing in his ear), it was a little nerve-racking waiting for the results.

But, dun dun dun, the good news is, his hearing is in normal range (the right ear was more responsive than the left... but they're both in normal range). Now we will just go back in a year to be sure that he's still on track.

Whew! Our little man is a hearer. Sigh of relief.