Ear tubes in children...your experience?

I have taken my DS to the ENT several times to monitor his reoccurring ear infections, and fluid in his ears. He passed the hearing test. He has had fluid in his ears now for the past 6 months... The ENT doctor keeps suggesting ear tubes, but I am hesitant in placing him through a surgery. I'm scared His speech seems fine, but he misses a few syllables and sometimes I can't understand what he is saying. He is 28 months and I think it may just be normal because i know their speech has not fully developed... but I seem to understand other children in his class better (however they may be 2-3 months older...)



Just wondering if another other parents have gotten ear tubes placed in their childrens' ears or have experienced it themselves and your experience. Of course I want to do more research on it, but what do you think? I would love to hear what others have got to say.

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

Not me, but DH always talks about having them as a child and says it was no big deal at all.

And this is going back to the 80's.

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

I always had problems with ear infections growing up. I had tubes put in my ears twice (once at 3 and once at 6). I dont remember either surgery being a big deal and I'm not scarred for life. So I'm guessing it turned out okay!

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

Both my kids had tubes. I was VERY reluctant at first, I didn't feel the need to put them through surgery. But they were getting ear infections every few weeks, were in pain, always on antibiotics, and while their speech and hearing was fine, that could have changed.

My son got tubes at 16 months and my daughter at 13 months. It went fine - they were groggy and cranky for a few hours but they were fine. It really helps to have a good doctor that you trust. And the tubes fall out on their own after about a year.

My son never got another ear infection to this day (5 years later), knock on wood! My daughter continued to get ear infections but MUCH less frequently. I'm glad I did it. If you are in the Western Suffolk area and want a doctor recommendation, FM me.

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

My son got them a few weeks after he turned one. The entire procedure took less than 10 minutes and by lunch time he was 100% his normal self. Its much scarier and harder for us than it is for them.

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

The surgery is very safe with minimal anesthesia, and the procedure is over in less than 10 minutes. My mother prolonged tubes for me, and now as a result, I have significant hearing loss. My dd was 13 months when we had hers done, and it made a dramatic difference. If your doctor is telling you to do it, I would do it.

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

My grandson had it done when he was about 16-17 months old. It was the best thing my daughter could've done for him. Poor little guy was constantly sick. Now almost 3 yrs later, he is rarely sick.
ETS: my grandson is speech delayed. But my daughter never mentioned that it had to do with this. So I can't really comment on that.

Message edited 7/16/2013 8:51:32 PM.

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

my brother had tubes at 5 and they helped with his reading

all 3 of my boys have tubes - my oldest got his at 15 months and the twins got theirs at 7 months

both of my kids had no motion of the ear drum because of the fluid. Right now we are talking with our ENT about putting in a new set in one of my twins because he lost one tube and he is not hearing well or talking as much as his twin brother

for us the tubes helped all my kids with their hearing and balance

it has not prevented ear infections in my boys especially the oldest but the fluid drains right out and they are not in pain

also in my research I learned that fluid can cause scar tissue so we did it for all of them

the surgery for tubes was so easy

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

I had tubes twice because I got such awful infections. I was a sickly child lol.

I also had speech issues bc of the ear issues, but a year of therapy at give cleared it up

That being said I still get infections every few years. The worst was when I was fourteen and I started bleeding. It was incredibly painful, but I really think without the tubes my problems would be worse.

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

I know chiropractors help, my nephew had chiropractic care and hasn't needed the tubes

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

Our youngest got tubes at 8 months- best decision we made. the surgery was very quick and we have saved him pain from constant infections as well as constant antibiotics.

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

My son has them. He is on his third set and this time we got the T tubes that won't fall out. His will have to be removed. They kept falling out after 6 months. However, while they were in, his ears were great. His speech got better in a matter of weeks. He wasn't walking at first because his balance was off and started walking the next day.

Before his second set, his teacher was commenting that she had never seen such a clumsy kid. He was constantly falling hard....huge lumps on his head. That stopped as soon as the tubes went in.

As for the infections, he still gets them but, they drain right out. There is no pain and no fluid build up. He doesn't get them as often either.

The surgery is about 15 minutes from when they wheel him away until you get called into recovery.

ETA: Another thing to consider is the negative consequences of constant antibiotics. My DS got C. Diff from overuse of antibiotics. That is what sealed the deal with the ENT. He had bloody mucous and horrible runs. The cramping and pain was awful. It can be deadly in babies. It was a no brainer to me that I had to get this kid off of antibiotics.

Message edited 7/17/2013 8:07:29 AM.

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

Same here. DS got tubes about 6 weeks ago at 8 months. He had constant ear infections since 3 months old and was living on antibiotics. They tested his hearing and the results were not good, they said he was hearing like he was underwater since the fluid was never draining. It was a no-brainer for us. The procedure was so quick and DS was his old self by the afternoon. He just had his hearing re-tested and its completely improved. The hardest part was when they took him from me to take him to the OR. I'm so happy we did it for him, hes happier too cause he can hear!

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

Both my kids had tubes. Let me tell you...you do NOT want that fluid in his ears....it could cause permanent hearing loss. The surgery is not bad. Maybe a15 minute procedure.

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

Best thing ever!

I’m on the other end.. I pushed FOR tubes as soon as I could. She got them at 17months. They ‘fell out’ around 3yrs old. But one stayed inside her ear (built up wax deep). She had that removed late last year. Easy peasy (that was really what I worried about from my own history). She had ONE ear infection after the tubes were put in.. ONE!!!

Before tubes we had around 9infections in 12months. She didn’t always get fevers or cranky when she got ear infections but they were there.

She still hasn’t had an infection since then (knock on wood). It was over in 15mins or LESS. I swear it was so fast! AJ was great after the surgery.. but she actually had an ear infection on that day and so they sucked out most of the gunk, still the infection stayed which was painful for her on a healing ear drum. So we treated it and it was fine after that. Got to be a pro at the drops!

I had them as a kid.. so many times its ridiculous. I have middle ear deafness that I believe I was born with. But I recall a long road trip to Oakland Children’s Hospital with my best friend in the back seat goofing off until we got there, me staying in a hospital overnight, the pre surgery shot in the middle of the night in my thigh! And the gas mask that I asked for strawberry and got something like pineapple. The nightmarish dreams under my ‘sleep’ and the long recovery time before I woke up by myself in a recovery ward with some strange man lying in a bed next to me.. Terrified me! Times have changed soooooooooooooooooo much since then. Now it’s a mild sedative (Tylenol for AJ) and then they are wake by the time you see them. They aren’t alone. And its in and out, back at home with a lovey in no time flat!

She didn’t speak until around 26m or so. Very few words. So that’s nearly a year after her tubes. But I can say traveling was easier with tubes in her ears!

I’d do it again and again.

The BEST thing EVER!

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

Thank you all for your responses. Its reassuring to hear so many success stories and the surgery being a breeze. My DS's pediatrician recommended the ENT dr I am going to...anyone familiar with them? ENT & Allergy Associates in Garden City, on Stewert Avenue? Would anyone like to recommend their doctors maybe by FMing me? TIA!

Re: Ear tubes in children...your experience?

I would recommend Dr. Mendehlson in that practice. He did my DS tubes and I am so grateful for it! He did it when DS was 1 and he is now 4 and ear infection free since! Best decision I made so far as a parent was to get the tubes. It changed our lives! We went from recurrent double ear infections for MONTHS to nothing. Good luck!

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

my DD had tubes put in her ears at 11 months old. she had 9ear infections in 6 months. she is 4 now, both tubes fell out on their own, and she is perfectly fine. she had 1 ear infection with the tubes, and 1 since the tubes fell out.

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

Dr. Mendelsohn put tubes in my DD's ears last summer..best thing..she was getting constant ear infections and she's had maybe one (knock on wood) since then...surgery was worse on us than her...FM if you want to chat..

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

double post

Message edited 7/20/2013 9:03:44 PM.

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

Hi, I am Dr. Laura Bowen & a vendor on LIFamilies. I have helped many children avoid getting tubes in their ears. I even had an ENT call to ask what I did?? GREAT feeling!! In addition to gentle spinal adjustments, I have one of the few offices that utilizes whole body vibration which helps as well. I am conveniently located right off of Sunrise Hwy in East Islip.

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

M son got tubes put in after getting infection after infection at 2yrs old. It was the best thing I could've done for him. Like you, I was scared but I had to do something to help get rid of this pain he was going through. His surgery was 7am and he was home by noon. Not only were we home by noon, but he was running around the backyard by 2pm. I never realized how much misery the ear infections were causing him until after he got the tubes and wasn't crying or holding his ear anymore. Best decision!
His tubes did not fall out and had to be surgically removed 2yrs later. He got 1 bad infection after they were removed and that was the last one he had. So happy I got the tubes for him!

Ear tubes in children...your experience?

My son had them put in when he was 17 months and like others have said by the time he went home the same day, he acted like nothing happened. It was the best thing ever for him. They stayed in for close to 2 years and he never had another infection and he is 7 now. My doctor was amazing but in Suffolk - if you want his info - let me know. He also did my daughters tonsils/adnodes and did a beautiful job.