drumming through treacle

Apart from a slightly increased tendency to nap, there has been no sign of an infection-based possible cause of ear-malfunction but there's something stopping much being conducted through these, though it wasn't until he started noticeably favouring one side that it became obvious that he wasn't entirely deliberately ignoring us whilst under the influence of new things and excitement. Speaking very close to this side seems to work and he's been significantly better-behaved since we realised and adapted.