Ear Tubes: Should We Do It?

YES! Many doctors don't recommend tubes unless they feel it is really necessary. I have friends who have begged for them. My daughter got them when she was 18 months old and has never had another ear infection since (she's now 9). It was just what she needed to open up that space and get the trapped fluid out to stop the pattern of constant ear infections. The only issue I would be aware of is that one tube got blocked and she had bleeding from her ear and we had to have it unclogged (not a pleasant experience). I would recommend using the ENTs at Children's hospital.

Hi there. My DD had 5 ear infections over the last year, and one more the Dr. said she would need tubes. Luckily she has not had another one, but I was planning on doing it. She was miserable, on so much medication, allergic reactions to the medication, so many trips to the Dr, etc. etc. AND she was a stricly breastfed baby for 13 mos!

My mom chose not to have tubes for my sister and she did have some mild hearing loss (but this was 30 years ago). My husband had them when he was a kid, and his mom said it worked great!

Good luck!

It's great that so many of the responses here so far have shown that their children had no negative effects. I'm glad for those families. However, some children DO have problems, either with the anesthesia (always a risk) or with the tubes falling out before they are supposed to and then the procedure has to be repeated. We've seen that in our extended family a lot. I have dozens of friends from all over the country who have gone another route - they've given their children the top nutritional supplement in the world, research-based and with a US patent (so you know it's safe AND unique) - and their children not only don't get ear infections, they have gotten rid of asthma (and all those nebulizers), strep, colds, allergies and eczema. SO I think ear tubes need to be re-thought and the entire picture looked at. I mean, why not avoid surgery and many future drugs if you can? I'd be happy to connect you to some of my friends if you'd like to find out how they helped their children without the risks of surgery. Good luck whatever you decide!

L., my 10 month old had tubes put in 3 weeks ago and they have been a blessing! The surgery took 10-15 min, no IV's just gas, I was able to hold her while she was put to sleep to make sure she wasn't scared. That day post op she was sleepy, but fine, no pain. After two days she was finally sleeping through the night! With the fluid in her ears gone, the pain and pressure relieved! After 6 months with fluid in her ears she finally had relief. We had our follow up Tues and her hearing that was below par prior to surgery was perfect!

We are all sleeping and feeling much better! I strongly reccomend the procedure!

Absolutely- my first son we waited and it affected his hearing and speech- he required years of speech therapy after that. His hearing was totally corrected after the tubes. My other two sons have tubes as well, its made a huge difference. Antibiotics are actually much worse than surgery, have longer lasting effects. If you're uncomfortable get a second opinion from childrens or mass eye and ear. Good luck

I have 7 children (3 boys and 4 girls). All 3 boys have had ear tubes and the difference is wonderful. The recovery for ear tubes is immediate and their hearing improved within weeks as well. If your doctor is recommending it I would say do it.

Good Luck,

B. O

Both my kids got tubes, and it was the best choice. Ear infections almost totally went away and I could stop wrestling antibiotics into them.

I bet you'll get responses saying you can try other things like chiropractic care or eliminating dairy, and some other moms have had great success with that. Tubes were what worked best for our family overall.

Yes definitely do it.My daughter had tubes and adnoids taken out at the same time and it was well worth it!Her hearing and speech were improved immmediately after the operation and she has never had another ear infection. She is now 5 and the tubes have fallen out(they are supposed to) and she has no ill effects only benefits. Please consider this surgery...I know it is a little scary but the benefits are certainly there.
Good Luck!
-A.

Hi L.,
Ear tubes were the best thing we ever did for my son! The procedure takes less than 25 minutes and they are up and running around! My son constantly had ear infections. Because he never was feeling well, he did not eat much. As soon as the tubes went in, he ate and had energy like never before. He also could hear clearly for the first time in his life! His speech improved dramatically. (He had been in speech therapy because he was not talking clearly.) I can not tell you how miraculous the difference was for my son. The only down side was putting wax ear plugs into his ears when we took him swimming. It took him a while to get used to that part, but he got used to it. If your doctor is recommending it, I would go for it. I wish I had with my oldest when they recommended it. He has had lasting consequences from it in school with spelling and phonemic problems because of hearing loss from scarring in his ears from ear infections. Ear tubes were a great experience for us. Best of luck to you- C.

Please, please, please try Chiropractic first! It makes me so sad for all of these children getting tubes surgically inserted in their ears w/out trying an alternative first. My husband is a chiropractor and has treated dozens and dozens of kids w/chronic ear infections whom end up getting so much better, most to never have an ear infection again. Our son is 7 and has never had one and we know it's from chiropractic care from day one.
Please get a referral from a friend you trust and see a chiropractor before you have tubes put in. At least look into it.
Thanks,
E. K. :-)

It helped our son immensely. He had so many ear infections, I couldn't even count them. We had the tubes in both ears. (He was in full-time daycare which probably contributed to the number of infections.) Eventually they fell out which is normal.

Our son is 12 now. Although I can't say he's never had another ear infection in his life, he went for MANY years without one. It was the best thing! Plus, it made flying to England a breeze, when he was 14 months old, because the pressure didn't build up in his ears.

As first-time parents, the hardest thing about it was to watch him come out of the anaesthesia. He was groggy and crying, but we were able to hold him, nurse him, and console him to comfort.

It was amazing how quick the "surgery" was. We had barely sat down and it was done.

The thing I noticed the most after the procedure was that our son talked at a more normal volume. Prior to that, his verbalizations were much louder. To me, that points to the plugged nature of his ears affecting his hearing. It was quite noticeable after the tubes were put in.

If all the votes for the surgery still don't convince you, try the chiropractic option first. If that helps, great. If not, go for the surgery. This is a critical time for speech development and you don't want to slow that down unnecessarily.

Good luck deciding!

My twin sister and I both had ear tubes when we were little (around 2 or 3) and I heard it made a huge difference. I don't think it is anything too big or stressful, they just put tubes in to let the fluids drain. It will be great for your son. 7 ear infections in one year are a lot and ear infections can lead to hearing loss, plus the overuse of antibiotics. So I would say go for it!!

Do it! Both of my daughters had it done. It is scary as a parent, but it is a very quick procedure. We were in and out of the hospital in less than 5 hours. Furthermore, my daughters' health was no longer being compromised by every bug that wafted by. Furthermore, my 2nd was not walking at 15 months. THE SAME DAY she had the procedure, she started walking. She had so much fluid built up in those ears, it threw off her equilibrium. However scary it was for me, it was worth the quality of life they've had since. Did I mention that neither have had a single ear infection since?

Hi L.

My daughter is now 21. When she was a child she had ear infections almost every month of her life until she was seven. SEVEN! I started pressing for tubes before she was two. But two things worked against her: One is that my husband was in the military and we moved frequently. Continuity of care suffered for it. Secondly, the medical profession, as a whole, was fairly "anti-tube" during that time period. I can tell you that she did not outgrow her ear infections as many, many doctors predicted. Finally, when she was seven, she got PE tubes. They were like a miracle cure. She stopped having ear infections completely and immediately. Unfortunately, the left one (which happened to be the one that caused the most trouble) fell out in just a few months. But there was a residual effect from the tubes. She went over a year with no ear infections. When she was nine, the procedure was repeated (with a different kind of tube that would be less likely to fall out) and she had her adenoids removed. I don't remember her having another ear infection after that. At age 13 the tubes were "surgically" removed. Mostly because her doctors were worried about the long term effects of them staying in place (permanent hole in her eardrum). I was a little bit resistant to removing them. They worked so well, and I didn't want to mess with success. But removed they were and everything was fine. She's been ear infection free since. She does still have some ear issues ( i.e. hearing loss), but those have nothing to do with the tubes and everything to do with the years of constant infections and repeated ruptures.

I strongly recommend that you and your husband research and consider tubes for your little one. My daughter missed out on so much because of her constant ear infections. I believe tubes could have saved her so much pain and enabled her to experience so much more. If I had known then, what I know now, I would have been much more forceful about getting tubes for her. Good luck with your decision. Either way, I hope your little boy gets better soon.

L.,
Two of our children had tubes in their ears. Both had the procedure done more than once, and it made a HUGH difference for both. They had each had many ear infections. They would be on medication, finish the meds, and then have another ear infection, and thus the cycles went. The tubes did bring immediate relief to both kids, and helped with their hearing. When they had fluid/ infections in their ears their hearing went way down. I know today the recommendation is not to use tubes as often as when my kids were young (my kids are now 29-35). My grandson has now had tubes also due to infections and fluid in his ear. We were told the problems our children had with infections and fluid may be hereditary- which looking at my children's generation, and their first cousins it would confirm that ear problems may run in families.
I would also echo what a previous writer said about visiting a chiropractor. The chiropractors can have positive effects.. :)
Good luck with your decision and your child's ear health.

it was one of the best things my mother ever did for me :) I have had 3 sets in my lifetime.. My now almost 6 year old has had them twice already and it has done her alot of good. I know of two little guys in my yahoo moms group whom went form not talking to speakig in sentances within a week of the surgery:) it takes about 20 minutes and virtually no recovery time :) do it and don't look back :)

We are currently on our 3rd antibiotic for my 19 month old son because he has a terrible ear infection. This will only be his 3rd in a year, but if the doctor suggested tubes I would do it. I almost had to with my oldest daughter. I was told if she got one more ear infection they would have referred us to ENT. However, she was much older at the time and seemed to grow out of the problem. With all the stress and aggravation we are going through now with numerous courses of antibiotics for my son and fighting with him to take it if that's what the doctor recommended to stop the misery I would definitely do it. I have lots of friends who have been through this and ear infections have become a thing of the past for them.

Ear tube procedure is a very, very quick procedure, maybe fifteen minutes. Years ago, they used to remove tonsils and adenoids to alleviate the fluid. Keep in mind that repetitive ear infections can cause hearing loss. I would definitely explore the ear tubes with a specialist.