Ear Tubes just for fluid

My daughters ENT wants to do tubes in my DD ears - She is a little over 2 yrs old. Before camp this summer she was hardly speaking.. now she speaks alot. She has had fluid in her ears since Feb. I took her for a second opinion and he said to put them in... better to be safe than sorry. My DD had an eye duct probing on the same side she has the ear fluid issues. She also has only had 2 ear infections. It is just the fluid wont drain. I am torn. Her hearing tests are average to borderline and of course it is very hard to test a 2 year old. Earlier this year she was turned down by EI due to her comprehension being so high. She obviously hears, but I am wondering if not as well as she should. Her immediate recovery from her eye duct surgery was horrible and took 10 years off my life. She was inconsolable and this coming from a very happy child. Has anyone else put tubes in for fluid only? Was there a major change in your childs speech?

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

I'd get a second opinion.

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

Did that.. that was in my post... He didnt say yes she needs it, he said better safe than sorry.. So it sounded more like he just did not want to go against the other doctor.. Easy for him to say since its not his kid they are putting under.

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

How is her articulation? You said EI denied her because of her comprehension, but were they concerned about her speech?

Hearing is tied directly to speech, so constant fluid in the ears can definitely lead to speech issues. If her hearing tests are borderline, I would think there cold be some speech issues down the road. My nephew had constant fluid issues, the doctor compared it to hearing in a fish bowl, so his articulation was awful. Tubes cleared his issues up.

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

They don't test for articulation until 3. She does not pronounce s,c or f words well, but most others she is fine with. Her speech at the time was about a 14 month old and she only had about 10 words. Now she has about 75 and puts together 2-3 word sentences. Thanks for the input on your nephew. A lady I spoke with last week told me tubes did nothing for her childs speech (he also just had fluid) but I know everyone is different.

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

I would do the procedure. What is the downside?

It appears you are concerned with her speech and the tubes will help. I will tell you that DS had tubes in his ears (fluid and infections) and I noticed his hearing changed. For one, he was startled when I vacuuming which he never seemed to notice before.

What is your concern with the tubes? The procedure itself?

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

I know the procedure itself is simple as my DD already had an eye duct probe at one, but any time you put your child under its taking a chance and she had a really bad reaction to the anestgia. So I do not want to have to put her under for a maybe thing. I am just looking to find out people who have had just fluid issues (not ear infections) was there a noticable difference. I am not longer concerned with her speech as she now never stops talking...

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

My DD had major issue with infections, fluid drainage, and the fluid solidifying behind her ear drum... she def needed tubes.

But I can tell you that the never put her out for it. They gave her a sedation thing, almost like a twilight sleep. She was never unconcious. They never even put an IV in. I was concerned about the anesthesia as well, but it was a non-issue.

We had it done at Southside, with Dr. O'Donnell. I highly recommend him, he's not quick to do the surgery at all.

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

Re: Ear Tubes just for fluid

Thanks.. we just had our second opinion with Dr. Todd Campell at the same practice. I really like her ENT - Dr Stern and the fluid has been there for about 8 months at this point so she really was not pushing it - Thanks for the info and advice!!! We tried chiropractor, allergie meds and nose sprays during this time to try get the fluid to drain. Thanks again