EAR TUBES

[Raine9]

I need comments regarding ear tubes for my son. Please see my journal entry in my profile, please :)

Thanks!

[marshastu]

Hi, if you are referring to grommets, my son had the procedure when he was 2 because he had glue ear. From my personal experience I wouldn't recommend them. He was given a general anesthetic (put to sleep) and it was very stressful for him and me and his Dad which would've been easier to live with if it had been worth it. It didn't help him at all! For a start it was a nightmare having to stop water going into his ears for 6 months afterwards (you can imagine!) then he got ear infection after ear infection and the fluid still built up so it was a complete waste of time. I was told by a friend from the start who'd had her son treated not to go through with it, I just wish I'd listened. Good luck. I'll be thinking of you whatever you decide.

[marshastu]

Oh..... and I didn't realise until afterwards that the glue ear would have cleared up itself as he grew. As for his speech and hearing - that didn't get better until a year later when the grommets finally fell out though he could hear better for the first 2 weeks or so at first then the fluid built back up with infection. He is now a normal happy 6 year old and speaks like any other child his age.

[amcr]

Hi,

I think you mean tubes for ear infections. I have professional and personal experience. Personally my daughter had them to help with chronic ear infections that wouldn't clear up with antibiotics. They worked wonderfully and luckily stayed in for 18 months. My doctor told us not to worry about water in her ears unless it was lake or ocean water. Professionally, I'm a speech therapist. Many children with chronic ear infections or chronic fluid in the middle ear have delays in their speech and language development. The tubes will help that also by correcting the hearing loss that is associated with the ear infections. Some kids still get infections even after they get tubes but they are easier to manage because they drain and the antibiotics are an ear drop not an oral medication. Good luck!

[Raine9]

Thank you so much for the responses.  It helps me to understand all this better and know what to expect.  

Please keep the comments coming!

Thank you!