Tell me about ear tubes please

abergale

My DD has been having a rash of ear infections. She now has a double ear infection and this season alone she has had 4 other ear infections. Last year she had 5 total. We have had it recommended from 3 different drs now but I am really scared. My Dad had them done as a child and lost 90% of his hearing due to scare tissue from the surgeries. I told Dr that I wanted a referral to a specialist and I wanted to do some of my own research first.

I am just starting but I am hoping you can tell me why you decided to do it or not do it? Also if you know any good reliable research. TIA!

lhuttlinger

Ds is getting them in two weeks. It is starting to affect his speech because he can't hear due to the ear infections.

I had tubes 2x as a child and I have hearing loss from damage to my eardrum from the constant infections and fluid being there. I am a strong supporter of them becuase I have had two succesful experiences with them. It is a very minor surgery. They are only under anesthesia for 5-10 minutes. It isn't even an IV, just a mask.

Michael-N-Susan

DS got his done 1 week ago Monday. So far he is doing great! The doctor said he had so much jelly-like fluid behind his ear drums. I can't imagine how difficult it made his hearing.

Our pedi recommended them after 8 EI's in 8 months but we saw a specialist first. I was extremely scared. Most about him being put to sleep. But the surgery was literally 10 minutes. He woke up screaming because he was very scared. And cried for over an hour.

All is well now. We have our follow up on the 16 with another hearing test to see how much his hearing has improved.

There is risk with every surgery. You have to do what you feel is best for your LO. My mom told me that my sister and I had EI's all the time and we did not get tubes. Our hearing is fine. Tubes these days are much more common. I did not want to take any risks with DS's hearing. It's a personal decision. It was a hard one but I would  not change it at all.

GL and sorry to ramble on!

DG1

Hmm. I'm not saying your kid doesn't need it, but I do agree that it's overprescribed.

This might be worth a listen as part of your larger research effort:

 Ear Tubes in Children May Be Over-Prescribed : NPR

 We went to an ENT a couple of months ago to have excess earwax removed from DS's ears.  I mentioned that he'd had a couple of ear infections (like two in the 6 months he'd been at daycare). The ENT was very quick to tell me "tubes are inevitable if they're in daycare."  Um, huh?  He hadn't even looked in DS's ears at that point, and I don't think that 2 infections in 6 months is cause for such alarm.  Definitely skeeved me out, and, like you, I'll be getting multiple opinions and doing a ton of research if we ever get to that point.

I'm sorry she's had so many infections.

 

gretchenh

DS had 8 infections from January to July.  Any time he was on a penicillin antibiotic, he got a near immediate re-infection.  Twice they were fine on a recheck and 36 hours later he had a fever.  They rotate antibiotics, and he always takes them fine.  But, by infection #6, he was having side effects.  On the prophylactic antibiotic, he ended up with a nasty yeast infection diaper rash, skin was peeling off.

We spoke to a ENT and they were recommended.  He made two points that solidified it for me

1. You can develop allergies to antibiotics the more often you take them, not just resistance.  And DS was already developing resistance to penicillin.

2. We can easily see if he has an ear infection by drainage, and can treat with antibiotic ear drops.  No more stomachaches and yeast infections, plus we can just call the ENT and he will call in a rx, no visit needed.

Surgery was very quick.  DS cried being put under, but was fine when he woke up.  He made silly faces for a few minutes, then opened his eyes, said hi, and put his arns out to be picked up.

He's had some issues with the right ear tube, there was bloody drainage and when we went for the followup he saw it was clogged so we are still continuing the ear drops.  DS HATES them.  We have to give them to him while he's sleeping. 

llk08

At 14 months and after 6 ear infections, DD got tubes put in about 3 weeks ago.  She is doing great, no problems whatsoever.  Since the tubes went in her speech has taken off and her hearing, although good before, is fantastic now.  I think she feels more confident too.  She had a checkup after two weeks and although she had a cold at the time, her ears were unaffected by it and were draining properly. 

We decided to go forward with it because we didn't want her to have chronic ear infections and constantly be on something.  Also, the ENT we were referred to was very experienced and made us extremely comfortable with his ability.  Keep in mind the advances in medical technology since your dad had them done too.  Your DD will be fine! 

Mrs.tlcS

DG1:

Hmm. I'm not saying your kid doesn't need it, but I do agree that it's overprescribed.

This might be worth a listen as part of your larger research effort:

 Ear Tubes in Children May Be Over-Prescribed : NPR

 We went to an ENT a couple of months ago to have excess earwax removed from DS's ears.  I mentioned that he'd had a couple of ear infections (like two in the 6 months he'd been at daycare). The ENT was very quick to tell me "tubes are inevitable if they're in daycare."  Um, huh?  He hadn't even looked in DS's ears at that point, and I don't think that 2 infections in 6 months is cause for such alarm.  Definitely skeeved me out, and, like you, I'll be getting multiple opinions and doing a ton of research if we ever get to that point.

I'm sorry she's had so many infections.

 

Certainly some doctors are more judicious than others with recommending tubes - and being an allied health professional to ENT, it appears that we're currently on a bit of an upswing - but there's a very large body of evidence right now that the bacterias causing ear infections are becoming highly resistant to antibiotics, and so it's a tough call right now when to recommend the surgery vs. treating with antibiotics.

abergale

Thank you ladies so much! I read the article and it seems that they are over recommended when you are doing it strictly because of a speech problem if I am reading this correct. I actually hadn't thought of speech because DD is very verbal and says many words but now they are particularly clear but I can understand them. I am wondering now if the ear infections and constant fluid is causing this.

My Dr is talking about it strictly because of the chronic ear infections and the fear of the problem being resistant to antibiotics. I am so glad to hear that if DD needs them it is a simple easy procedure. I am feeling a little more confident about the meeting with the specialist also because I have some good questions I didn't have before. Thank you so much and I look forward to reading more from anyone else!