March 18, 2023
Dr. Alim came and visited and let us know that Emmy failed her second hearing test. She will need to see an audiologist when she leaves the hospital. They sent out for a Cytomegalovirus (CMV) test to see if she has a virus that could be affecting her hearing. If so, they will give her meds to help fight the virus.
The hearing tests they do in the hospital are pass or fail and are not as specific as one done by an audiologist. Even with the basic hearing test, they feel she has hearing loss as a result of her Down Syndrome. She still has low muscle tone and the Dr showed us how we can hold her to see how she is progressing with muscle growth.
Hold her straight up under Emmy’s armpits and see if she slides through our hands or if she is engaging her shoulders to stop her from sliding.
Lay her in our hand facedown and let her “flop” over our hand. As her muscles grow she will try and lift her head back up.
Lay her on her back and slowly raise her up by lifting her arms. Her head should not flop back as her muscle tone grows.
Emmy de-sated minorly down to 88 when Julie was holding her which was an indication of how low her muscle tone still is. The nurse had Julie move Emmy’s neck to give her more air. The doctor said they are still shooting to discharge on Wednesday (March 22, 2023) and will probably send us home with a medical-grade pulse ox device.
The pulse ox will travel with her everywhere so we will always know how she’s breathing. They want to do a head ultrasound to eliminate any other potential issues they have not seen yet.
They will do the car seat test in the next day or two - which they think she will fail. They want to go ahead and do it so they can see about getting a car seat bed ordered for her.
Dr will look into if Julie can wrap her if we’re on the go, or put her in a swing at home, or if Emmy always has to be flat on her back with neck support. That’s a PT/OT question.
