Chronic ear infections - lack of speech development

JennyCraig · June 2010

DS #2 is just about 17 months and says only mama, dada and "done". That's it. He's had chronic ear infections since this past winter and had one infection so bad that the eardrum burst and blood came out of his ear (apparently this is common). Our doc has mentioned that he might need tubes. I am so ready for him to get them because I really worry that he's not hearing me. He seems to sometimes but...I don't know. It's so frustrating. Anyone else deal with this?? TIA

jgilesslp · June 2010

I have been fortunate enough to not have to deal with this but I am a speech therapist and see this with people children I see. A common factor in delayed speech is frequent ear infections. He is most likely hearing you but at that times that he has an infection he is most likely hearing distortions of what you are saying. As you know, this is a key time for speech and language development so if the pedi is suggesting it I would at least get a consult with an ENT to see what they think. Good luck!

SeasideBride06 · June 2010

We went throught horrible bout of ear infections during the winter too. We basically had one double infection that would not clear up, even after 7 rounds of antibiotics. We finally saw *some* improvement with Bactrum, but the fluid was still there after 10 days of being on it. My pedi felt that she needed to go ahead and have tubes put in to prevent any problems with language development. He said this was a crucial time for it and she needed to hear clearly.

Also, my brother has permanent hearing loss from ear infections as a toddler. His mom (we're half bro/sis) did not want him to get tubes because she was scared he would die in surgery (crazy woman!)...so now he has life long efffects from it. He could not even get into the Marines because he failed their hearing test.

Tubes were the best thing that we ever did! I would BEG for them!

DEBBIE33CASEY · June 2010

A child from my church had this problem. She had tubes placed in at 16 months and is now talking up a storm only two months later. It made a HUGE difference for them and was totally worth it. They said that the ear infections were prohibiting her from hearing, aka speaking. Now she's hearing things she never heard before and is developing much more on schedule. For them it was the right solution. GL!

luna49 · June 2010

Ditto all of the above. We got tubes relatively early (13 months - but only after 7 ear infections and bouts of antibiotics) but one of the big tipping points was the threat of impaired language development. Once we went into the ENT office and did all the hearing tests (far beyond what they do at the ped's office), and saw how the fluid in his ears prevented his little eardrums from reacting properly to sound, we knew that there really was no choice.

The surgery was a breeze, T was fully recovered within a few hours, and we haven't had any infections since. At not quite 2 years old, he uses full sentences.

Get the tubes! or at least a consult. Good luck

laurenbug · June 2010

Ok, on the flip side (although I know that speech delay due to EIs is common), DS had tubes at 11 months. The ENT did extensive hearing tests and said he was well within the normal range. He's now 17 months, and has very few words (mama, bye, ball, uh-oh, pasta). The pedi isn't concerned, though, because he responds to commands and uses sign language.

Just my experience...although I would definitely look into tubes, for no reason other than to hopefully finish off the EIs!! GL!

preg_amy · June 2010

My DS got tubes pretty early too. About 10 months old. His problem wasn't ear infections, it was fluid build up. He constantly had fluid in his ears that didn't always turn into infections.

He had his hearing tested before the tubes and it was very poor.

After the tubes, it was perfect.

It's hard to tell with language, because that's when he would have started talking anyway, but he really did start talking a ton after the tubes.

I agree that you should at least have a consult with an ENT and get your LO's hearing checked. That can't hurt anything.

Caroline&Stephen · June 2010

It's not the infections that is the problem but the thick gluey fluid left behind in the ears that can not drain. My advice would be to see a pediatric ENT. Most Pedis & ENTs do not have the tools & expertise to test for fluid in infants & children. You can not see it by just taking a look. My pedi & ENT kept telling us "wait & see" and after 3 ear infections I was done! We went to a pediatric ENT & she scheduled surgery a week later. You would not believe how even a little fluid can cause hearing loss. We are in a different situation because my DD was born with permanent hearing loss - so with fluid on top of that she was at a severe loss. Her hearing improved back to a mild/moderate loss after the surgery but she also is sleeping and eating better. She also started walking soon after she had the surgery. I would reccomend a 2nd opinion because not only is this a cricial time for speech but the constant use of antibiotics is not good on little ones bodies.

LilMissLadybug · June 2010

DS started getting ear infections at 3mos old. The last one he had lasted 5wks and 3 rounds of antibiotics. He didn't have any words until he had tubes on March 17th at 16mos. Now at 18mos he has several words. We had a hearing test done in February and found out he had hearing loss and still had fluid in both ears. I was very worried that he couldn't hear because he didn't have a single word but everyone told me he was just fine and I was overreacting. I followed my gut and was right. I say get a hearing test and go from there. GL!

spunkielexis196 · June 2010

I have personally suffered this. I had my first ear infection at 6 weeks old and they recurred so often that I had my tubes put in at 2 (this was 39 years ago). I have a 25% loss of hearing in both ears and the cause was recurrent ear infections, I also did not talk until after I was 2 because I could not hear. I would definately request a hearing test and head this off as soon as possible.

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