Tubes in the ears?

Julian has had a couple of ear infections. The first was for a month and used 3 different antibiotics that did not help. Finally got that one cleared up and 3 weeks later another one! This antibiotic is not helping either. I called the ped today and she said I will have to bring him in but there is not another antibiotic she can give for his age and that he will have to go to a ear nose and throat doctor and get tubes put in! I want to know if your child has had them and if the benifits outweigh the risks!

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40%

 (4) 

The benifits outweigh the risks

20%

 (2) 

The risks outweigh the benifits

10%

 (1) 

My child had them and it didnt help

30%

 (3) 

My child had them and it was a good move

10 Members voted

[JoyRenee]

I've had them (twice). I don't remember what happened the first time. I think they came out too early. I used to get earaches a lot, especially when I got water in my ears. I was young and didn't really pay attention to the fact I had tubes in my ears, you know?

But the one in my right ear did get stuck. We didn't know that it was stuck. My ear kept feeling "clogged" and it was getting harder to hear out of that ear. Went to the Ear, Nose, Throat doc and found it was lodged in there with a TON of buildup.

I don't know how often that happens. I was a teenager when that right one got taken out. It felt SOOOO good. I've never had problems with my ears since except for an earache every several years.

[Linzola1]

Thanks JOy

[g8r grl]

WEIRD!!! I'm going through the same exact thing with my son this week. It's good that you're getting this over with now, because extended ear infections can cause speech delays (and often do).

My son has had a contant double ear infection for 7+ weeks. We are just started the 3rd round of antibiotics tonight...Cipro this time. If it doesn't clear up by the 26th, we're headed to the ENT.

I just spoke with the Audiologist at my school today (I'm an SLP) and she told me that they'll do tubes after trying 3 different antibiotics with no change. My son is 28 months old and we live in FL....so, we're always in the pool. I have to get custom earmolds made for him so he can still go swimming. He still won't be able to have his head submerged, but at least he can swim.

You'll have to be very careful when it comes to getting water in your son's ears.

It's scary to have your baby sedated, but tubes are the way to go with chronic ear infections. You don't want him to be speech delayed and end up in therapy. The tubes will allow for the fluid to drain out and then no more ear infections! Your son's hearing is affected by having fluid in his ears...don't you want him to hear his mommy talking to him?

We should keep each other updated as it looks like we will be going through this at the same time!

[JoyRenee]

Oh and I want to add that I have no hearing problems, no ringing ears, etc. In Kindergarten my teacher wrote on my report card that I had a hard time pronouncing many letters, though. I have no idea if that had to do with my age or with not having had tubes yet (I was 7 when I got the 2nd pair).

I think it's worth it to get them for him. It will be hard for you but it's a low-risk surgery and he'll do fine. I brought my teddy bear with me and they clipped "tubes" (they look like little straws) onto his ears.

[martikadragoon]

I've gotta tell you. DH had tubes in his ears as a child and they helped. TJ just got them for his hyperbaric oxygen treatments. And I haven't seen any complications. Go for it.

[kennedydp5]

peyton has also had 5 ear infections this year and 4 of them have been since august (w/ fluid in her ears) and she has had 4 different antibiotics since august also.  we went to an ENT on monday and he wanted to send us for a hearing test but we are not going.  he said she didn't need tubes so the hearing test doesn't seem necessary especially since we know for a fact that she hears completely fine.  we have another appt set in january w/ the ENT division of the children's hospital here for a different opinion b/c we didn't like the ENT we just saw.  that same day she will also be seeing an audiologist there, too.  i hope she doesn't need tubes!  her infections didn't start until she was almost 1 so i've never dealt w/ them as young as julian is.  i hope he's doing ok and you, too...  i haven't talked to you in a long time.

[Griggsy]

3 out of 5 of my sisters kids have had tubes in their ears for ear infections and all three of them have had wonderful success. It was getting to the point that they were getting 2 or 3 infections a month. After the tubes were put in they dropped to 1 or 2 a year. I was impressed by the proceedure!

Her youngest was 6 months old when he got them and the oldest was 14 months.

[Jame0223]

My cousins son had to get them as well when he was a baby and no complaints there! They worked great!

[smileluvr]

I had them as a child and they were awesome. I had horrible ear infections that kept me out of school for days and weeks at a time. I only get ear infections now when I have a nasal infection, I do not even get them swimming. They worked wonders.

[91004]

Both of my sons who are now 2 and 4 have had to have tubes in there ears. They did great and was up and running an hour after surgery.

[Megz101]

I also had them when I was a child, had severe ear infections (since I was a baby) which made me 70% deaf in both ears.  I had I think about 5 surgeries with the tubes and they worked wonders. I had speech problems when I was younger but with the tubes I totally changed.  Can hear perfectly now without any issues.  I had maybe a couple ear infections (a few years ago) but haven't had any since.  

[LauraB78]

I didnt vote b/c none of the choices really apply to me.. I just wanted to say that 2 of my friends had to have tubes put in their childrens ears for chronic ear infections, and it is VERY common and they both had great luck! Much healthier and happier children after the tubes! =)

I would totally do it! Good luck!