ENT visit - what to expect?

MrsWindyCity

DS has an appointment with an ENT tomorrow to discuss whether or not we should consider tubes. He has had MANY ear infections, but we (and his pedi) are torn right now because it's (hopefully) nearing the end of cold season and I know as he gets older, his ears will naturally develop/drain better on their own.

Anyway, I did request a referral from our pedi, to get a second opinion and we're going tomorrow. What can we expect? DS hates the doctor, so it should be fun. :- 

memali26

DD1 got tubes at 14 months. Best decision ever, she's been ear infection free for almost a year now. At our ENT consult, the ENT basically looked over the info sent by the pedi, looked at DD1's ears, nose and throat, and said based on her history of ear infections and how they responded to treatment, and the large amount of fluid built up in her ears, she was a perfect candidate for tubes. Surgery was scheduled for two weeks later and was a breeze.

Our ENT is FABULOUS, and so good about trying to put kids at ease before examining them. Our exam was just like any the pedi would do if we went in for a suspected ear infection, so it will hopefully at least be a familiar routine for your DS. Good luck! 

segerama

Our first visit was really quick.  I filled out some paperwork while we waited, talked with the nurse about her medical history, then the doctor took a look at her ears.  He saw fluid and said she was a candidate for surgery.  Next, we went to his office to discuss and schedule the procedure.  One week later, we had the procedure at our local children's hospital.  Her surgery was scheduled for 8, we got there at 6:30 and were home by 10:30.  She was only out of our sight for 10 to 15 minutes at the hospital.  She was a little cranky afterwards, but fell asleep on the drive home and stayed asleep until 2/3 in the afternoon.  When she awoke, she was back to her normal self.

The hardest part for me was not feeding her for 12 hours prior to the surgery.  She was only 11 months at the time, so it was hard to not just nurse her in middle of the night.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Arcadia1114

The visit was easy and quick. Ent looked at his ears and asked about the history of eat infections. We made the appointment for the tubes ad went ovet what to expect The procedure itself was fast. When we got home, Liam jumped out of the car and played in the backyard for awhile. He was talking more and clearer within a few days. I am glad we had the tubes put in. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

SailorGray

If he has a history of infections, get the tubes. It's not only about infections, but he may have a lot of fluid in there and it could be affecting his speech and hearing.

At DS's first ENT meeting for the tubes, they just looked at his history and determined he needed them (7 infections in 3 months). They also looked in the ears and gave him a hearing test, but they had already decided he needed them.  

He just had his 2nd ones put in and his tonsils and adenoids taken out.  He will soon be evaluated by a speech therapist. I am almost pos he will need therapy.

MrsWindyCity

SailorGray:

If he has a history of infections, get the tubes. It's not only about infections, but he may have a lot of fluid in there and it could be affecting his speech and hearing.

At DS's first ENT meeting for the tubes, they just looked at his history and determined he needed them (7 infections in 3 months). They also looked in the ears and gave him a hearing test, but they had already decided he needed them.  

He just had his 2nd ones put in and his tonsils and adenoids taken out.  He will soon be evaluated by a speech therapist. I am almost pos he will need therapy.

He talks a TON, so I'm  not concerned about his hearing/speech at all, but we will definitely get a test done if the ENT recommends it.

He had a lot of ear infections last year but has "only" had 2 this year, so I'm curious to see what he recommends (though part of me wishes we had done this last year and just gotten tubes).

Thanks for the replies, everyone! 

waTracy

The ENT visit for us was pretty easy. The doctor looked at my daughter's history and looked at her ears. My understanding is that when a pedi gives this referral it's b/c our kids have had too many ear infections and being on antibiotics so frequently over a 6 month period was not good on the system. It was a done deal. Abby got them. But...she's had them for a year and has had countless colds since then, but has not had one ear infection since. And once she got the tubes, her language sky rocketed b/c she wasn't hearing us talking to her all garbled.  We go every 4 months to get them checked. One tube already fell out, but each time they test her hearing which is so important at this age because of speech development. It's scarey. But the surgery was so crazy quick. It was a lot harder on us as parents than the kiddos...but it's just so darn routine these days.

mandyjn16

waTracy-

Did you have to get the tube put back in? DS had tubes put in about 6 months ago and he has a nasty ear infection that pushed his tube out. Just curious what the reccomendation for your DD was.

Worcbride

DD had tubes put in in Jan...she didnt have chronic ear infections;  in fact only had 1 but her ears never drained (infection was in Oct);  insurance made us wait 3 months before we could tube her--and the girl could barely hear;  not fun!   We saw 2 diff ENTs (second opinion);  the first just looked in her ears;  the second did a hearing test (both auditory and thru the bone) as well as looked in her ears.  Her hearing was down 25%.  Both were excellent with her so they caused no stress. 

The surgery wasn't as easy.  I cried when they put her under cuz she fought them.  She had a difficult time after the surgery with the anesthesia--vomitted a few times and very groggy.  By the afternoon she was herself and even commented on how loud it was when she pee'd :-)   I knew then that it worked!

Best of luck!