Can You Hear Me Now?

I love projects.  Whether it’s preparing for an upcoming holiday or planning the next birthday party, I like having a purpose. Something to focus on. Something I can eventually cross off my "List” as something I’ve done. Only problem being, I can’t multi-task. 

I can’t plan the ultimate bridal shower with an oh-so-clever theme of ‘Cupcakes & Cocktails’ AND create a kick-ass science unit on plants and animals.  I have to choose. Do I inspire the next Steve Erwin but serve boxed wine and Ralph’s cupcakes at the shower?  Or do I throw on a NatGeo video and sit in the back of the classroom attaching red, sparkly “cherries” to the top of each cupcake-shaped place card? 

All of this leads me to my latest obsession.  Unlike birthday parties and bridal showers, this new project was unexpected.  However sudden, my new venture has taken priority over all else.  Google better be ready because Camille is becoming..... wait for it.... a human-ear expert!  H.E.E. :)

Campbell had a follow-up appointment at the pediatric E.N.T yesterday.  She has been several times in the last few months due to her constant congestion, ear infections, and loud breathing.  The loud breathing turned out to be large adenoids (whatever those are) which isn’t a big deal.  The constant congestion is most likely caused by her exposure to viruses at daycare.  And apparently the ear infections are caused by fluid getting trapped behind her eardrum.  From what I’ve been able to understand thus far, there are three main problems with getting constant ear infections at a young age. 

1) It’s not good to be on antibiotics all the time (GI problems, medicine tolerance, etc). 
2) Middle ear infections temporarily impair hearing.  At this age hearing is like the number one most critical tool needed for speech and language development. 
3) Middle ear infections can lead to inner ear infections, which can permanently damage a child’s hearing.  

The last time we visited the pediatric ENT, Dr. Strocker, she said Campbell may benefit from getting ear tubes.  I should say, we were originally referred to Dr. Strocker to investigate the cause of her wheezing.  A few of the doctor’s from our pediatric group had suggested Campbell may have asthma and one doctor even prescribed her Albuteral.  I wasn’t convinced about the asthma diagnosis and I sure as hell wasn’t giving my 1-year-old Albuteral.  So when I was referred to Dr. Strocker for the noisy breathing issue, I was not expecting to begin a discussion on ear tubes. 

I made this perfect, little ear

But that’s where this path has taken us.  Fast forward to yesterday, I am now sitting on a folding chair with Campbell on my lap, staring at a computer screen that closely resembled the Apple I had back when I was playing Oregon Trail.  They put an earplug in her ear that attached to the computer via a cord.  The device measured the waves of her eardrum while we watched a line move across the computer screen directly in front of us.  The bar graph of Campbell’s hearing results from her left reminded me of what my contractions looked like at the beginning of labor.  The bar graph results from her right ear looked like it had been drawn with a ruler.  Perfectly straight. 

So when the audiologist pointed to the bar graph on the wall that resembled a mountain peak and said THAT was what we wanted to see- my heart sank.  For the next test Campbell sat on my lap inside a soundproof box.  There was a big speaker on each side of us and in front of us was a glass window where we could see the audiologist sitting on the other side.  Next to the window was a little toy dog that would yelp and jump whenever the audiologist hit a button.  Once the test got started I realized the dog was to lead Campbell’s attention back to the front after each of the tests. 

Besides the dog and the chair we were sitting on, everything in the box was black.  Noise would start coming out of one of the speakers. Softly and then louder and louder.  When Campbell would turn and look in that direction a box would illuminate and inside was a dancing band of Disney characters.  It was pretty cool, even for the 31 year old in the room! 

Campbell was loving every minute in that box.  She immediately understood the “game” and eagerly anticipated every noise.  Each time I started to hear sound I held my breath waiting for Campbell to hear it too. Every millisecond that went by between the time I heard sound and the time she heard sound was painful.  As the test progressed, so did my tears.  

My baby has a problem.  MY BABY.  And now I need to figure out how to help her. So the phone is off the hook and my scrapbooks have been pushed to the side.  Everything is going to wait.  Project 'Save the Baby' has begun.