If your DC has tubes

mrsmikey

What was their ear infection history?  We have an appt with the ENT on the 16th to discuss tubes.  He's had 3 infections (one of them double) since October.  I know other kids have ear infections for FOREVER before ever getting tubes, so I was proactive and asked for a referral after the 3rd one.  She said normally they refer after 4 infections in 6 months, so I figured 3 in 2 months was enough.

Jess0823

DD had 4 infections in a 5 month period, but it was pretty much like a straight ear infection for 5 months because one was a double and another one took two different antibiotics to get rid of.  My ENT was very proactive about it which I loved and now she is doing so much better.  Personally, I think it's great you are being proactive about it and requested the referral, good for you, and good luck with the appointment!

Erika6504

We were referred to the ENT after she'd had 4 ear infections in 4 1/2 months.  The ENT wanted to hold off to see how things went.  A week later DD had her 5th ear infection in 5 1/2 months.   When DD had her tubes put in, her ear was infected again.

I've heard that they will refer to an ENT in situations where there are either repeated ear infections or there is an ear infection that doesn't seem to be responding to antibiotics.  My coworkers son had one ear infection that, after 6 weeks, was still there.  They referred him to an ENT and he had tubes put in the following week.

indigo91804

It doesn't hurt to go see an ENT. We had about 13 in 10 months or pretty much just one constant ear infection. At 10 mos he was tubes mostly because it was starting to affect his hearing and speech. We waited so long because he was so little and it was over the winter time. They wanted to see if it would clear up after cold and flu season and it didn't. The ENT can do a hearing test. As soon as I heard it was affecting his hearing he was tubed the next week.?

Phillywife

DS had 6 ear infections in 9 months before tubes. Then he had tubes for a year and one of the tubes was not working and he got another infection. They removed the old tubes and put new tubes in and no (knocking on wood) ear infections since the last set was in.

If they are getting chronic infections tubes are the anser IMO.

Pesky

DD had 4 ear infections in 6 mos and we got referred.  While opting to take a wait and see approach with the ENT as we were at the end of cold and flu season, she ended up with 2 more and promptly got tubes.

2bearichards

My DS had seven ear infections from February to July, when he got his tubes.

OnCloud999

My nephew had tubes put in in September when he turned two. It was awful, he had one after another and had 10+ by the time the tube was placed. The stupid doctor kept saying, let's see if he gets another...over and over again. Now my nephew has speech delays becuase of all the ear infections. Even though his hearing is fine, he could not hear properly when he had the ear infections (heard like he was under water) and hence the speech delays. He'll likely need speech therapy.

Good for you for being on top of this. Don't let them tell you to hold off if your gut tells you to get the tube in his ear. 3 is a lot in 3 months. The procedure only took a few minutes and he hasn't had an ear infection since.

jessica1080

Erika6504:

I've heard that they will refer to an ENT in situations where there are either repeated ear infections or there is an ear infection that doesn't seem to be responding to antibiotics.  My coworkers son had one ear infection that, after 6 weeks, was still there.  They referred him to an ENT and he had tubes put in the following week.

Ditto this.  DD had a double ear infection that didn't respond to antibiotics.  They tried 4 different ones and even gave her two anitibiotic shots!  After 6 weeks of this they referred us to an ENT and he saw us the next day and did tubes the following Monday.  It was October, not even in cold and flu season yet so we went ahead and did the tubes.  SO GLAD WE DID!!