Answering Questions about Ear Tubes and Your Children

You know the telltale signs that your child has an ear infection and those signs are back…again. We know it is almost as painful for you to watch your young one suffer with an infection as it is for the child to experience it. After a number of prolonged battles with ear infections, your pediatric ear nose and throat doctor is suggesting ear tubes for your child. At first, this may sound painful and scary, but in many cases, ear tubes are the best choice to improve your child’s health and well being.

Often tympanostomy tubes are suggested for a child when his or her ear infections do not improve with antibiotics or fluid in the ear will not clear after the appropriate amount of time. Ear tubes can also be used to reverse hearing loss caused by fluid trapped behind the eardrum. Basically, the small plastic tubes work by allowing normal movement of air behind the ear drum.

Kids’ ear tubes will be placed through the ear canal while your child is under brief general anesthesia. Commonly the procedure will last between five and ten minutes. Placing the tubes is not an invasive process and often children will be able to resume normal activities once they return home from surgery. The ear tubes do not need to be removed surgically, as they will fall out as the eardrum grows. The tubes will fall out one to two years after the original surgery.

Parents have a variety of questions regarding their kids’ ear tubes, so we chose some of the most common to answer here.

1.Will the Ear Tubes Cause Any Scarring? It is very unlikely that the tubes will cause permanent scarring to the ear or eardrum. If any scarring does occur, it is unlikely that hearing loss will ensue.
2.Do the Ear Tubes Ever Fall in a Child’s Ear Instead of Outside It? Very rarely, an ear tube will fall in a child’s ear. If this is the case, the tube can easily be removed under brief anesthesia. Should the tube cause any eardrum problems, they can be attended to during the same procedure in which the tube is removed.
3.Can My Child Stick His Finger in His Ear and Pull Out the Ear Tube? Absolutely not! It takes a special long and narrow instrument to reach or remove the ear tubes.
4.Will My Child Have a Hole in Her Ear after the Tube Falls Out? Occasionally the eardrum will not heal properly after the ear tube falls out. If this happens, it can be fixed through a common and successful procedure known as “patching”.
5.Will My Child Need Another Set of Ear Tubes After the First Ones Fall Out? Probably not. Only about 20 percent of children who get tympanostomy tubes need to have them put back after they fall out. Risk factors for reinserting ear tubes include infection in children six months and younger, adenoid disease, immune system problems, cleft palate, reflux and sinusitis.
6.Are There Any Restrictions Regarding What My Child Can Do with Ear Tubes? Your child should avoid diving the entire time they have tubes in their ears. They should use ear plugs or ear putty if they will be submerged in bath water, swim in water deeper than 18 inches or swim in any ocean or lake water.

While ear tubes may sound like a daunting prospect, it is often a painless and simple way to give your child relief from his or her ear infections.

About the Author:
Thomas M. Andrews, MD Pediatric ENT helps children deal with common ear nose and throat problems. With offices located throughout Florida, Pediatric ENT makes it easy for your child to feel better.