Alan Smithee, any news that you want to share?
Wasn’t it last Friday (the 23rd) that Babysis went to see the ENT? If so, then I’m also interested in knowing what happened. That is, if Alan would like to tell us, of course.
You say that like he actually has a choice. He must tell us, he just has to!
I hope your sister is doing well Alan, we’re all thinking of her and you.
My apologies to everyone following this thread. I didn’t mean to leave you hanging.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a lot of information last Friday. The ENT doc ordered several tests to look for a genetic or auto-immune cause, but we still don’t have results for those yet. Babysis still has to get another hearing test from the audiologist to see if her hearing is deteriorating or not, and then she has to go to Little Rock to get a CT scan and some more tests.
The one thing the doc told us that was interesting is that her hearing loss is not as recent as we’d believed. The audiologist who administered the tests two years ago told my mom and step-dad the results were normal, but in fact they showed a hearing level that is normal for adults.
Despite all this, life is going well for Babysis Smithee. Last Saturday, she received a score of “Excellent plus” at a piano recital. Her piano teacher told our mom she’d never seen a judge give an “Excellent plus” before! I really hope she is able to continue playing at this level. She absolutely loves performing, and told the judge she never feels nervous. She’s good at lots of things, but I don’t think anything else will hit that “You like me! You really like me!” button like playing piano for an audience.
This past weekend, she and my mom visited Othersis Smithee in LR and went to a garden show. There was a booth with a professor of entomology and a grad student answering questions about garden bugs. Babysis looked at all the insects they had on display and then introduced herself to the professor. Last year she won a ribbon for her science fair project on solitary bees and wasps, which she described to the professor. (Our uncle works with solitary bees to fertilize crops in California.) The professor was very impressed with her project, and told the grad student, “She knows more about solitary bees than you do”! He invited her to visit his lab at the university. He also said that if she continues her project (which she plans to do) she could receive a grant in high school for her research, and that if she wanted to participate in a professional research project (he mentioned collecting insects in the Amazon) when she turns eighteen, he’ll be happy to write her a letter of recommendation!
I’ll try to keep you updated on any other news about her. I think her second hearing test is this week, and we should get the test results from the ENT when they go in to discuss the hearing test.
Sorry again about being negligent. I really appreciate everyone who’s responded to this thread. I may not have replied right away, but I did read your comments and they’ve meant a lot to me.
Alan Smithee - Wow, your sister is impressive! Makes me feel like a schlub.
StG
Hmmm. Now I’ve got to do some reading up on “solitary bees”. My FIL was a beekeeper, but I’ve never heard of solitaries.
I’ll second that…your sister is impressive. Thanks for the update. Please keep us posted.
Well, for what it’s worth, I asked my wife about the barrage of tests, and her response was that under the circumstances, such a regimen–and the time necessary for results–is normal. Again, if you’re willing, could you let us know what happens?
She is wondering though–why did Babysis see an audiologist two years ago? Did you or her physician suspect anything then, or was the hearing exam just done as a matter of course?
Good to hear that Babysis is continuing with the things she likes though–well done on the piano recital! And the interest in insects. It sounds like she’s not letting all these doctors and such bring her down. I hope all goes well for her.
She’s definitely an amazing kid. She makes all of us look like schlubs too! Without a doubt, she’s the coolest person I know. Missing her is the only thing I regret about leaving Arkansas.
I’ll definitely let you know what happens with her tests. I may even do so in a timely manner, though I make no guarantees!
The testing two years ago was based on her complaint of hearing trouble, but was only in the context of her claiming not to hear her parents hollering at her to come inside or telling her to turn the TV off. When the test results were reported as normal, it was chalked up to “selective” hearing like most kids have.