Surgery - Ear Tubes

Since he doesn't seem to be suffering much it would be easy to put off the tubes. Unfortunately, he's losing valuable language-learning time with a possible fluctuating hearing loss. Kids learn their native language between 0-3. If they have delays in learning language, they'll struggle for the rest of their lives, particularly in reading/language arts skills.

That reason alone makes getting the tubes not only a good idea, but pretty vital. Meanwhile, teach him signs so he can start learning language until his hearing stablizes.

My 3 yr old had them when he was 18 months. It really does only take 5 minutes. We had just enough time to find a seat in the waiting room before they came and got us. My son has only had 1 ear infection since and it drained and pretty much took care of itself. Good luck.

I can't speak from personal experience buthad a friend with a child with chronic ear infections. Chronic ear infections can lead to physical delays due to fluid in the ears, speech delays/problems b/c they can't hear clearly, an, in my friend's case, permanent hearing loss/damage. If the doctors say he needs them and it sounds like he does, I wouldn't delay. So many other problems may be avoided. Also, I know many people whose kids had tubes and none of them had any complications.

Have these ear infections been severe? Four in the first year of life doesn't sound like a time to rush to ear tubes. I know a lot of people do them but I can suggest an alternative to them. It may sound strange if you've never considered it but chiropractic care can help prevent many ear infections. If he has been given antibiotics for each one, they may be making it worse wearing down his immune system since most ear infections are viral, meaning antiiotics don't work on them. There is a great family chiro in Summerville on Bacon's Bridge called Atlantic Coast Family Chiropractic. the doc there is Heather Wyantt and contacting her office could help give an alternative to surgery.

Skip the tubes! Find a great chiropractor and/or a naturopath and a good homeopath and look into natural remedies and causes of your son's ear infections also typically ear infections are actually viral not bacterial this antibiotics don't actually work on them!

I can't say it often enough. Do you know the name of a good chiroprator? The adjustment will so totally help your child. The balance of the body will help the immune system as well.

There is an excellent pediatric Chiro in Gainesville if you would like her name.

K.

Hi E.,
I have been duwn this path myself with both of my children when they were babies. We decided against the surgery and went with Chiropractic care. Dr. Eric @ Healthsprout Chiropractic in Woodsock is wonderful! He is happy to give you a free consultation and exam. It is worth the time before you go through surgery.
Best Wishes!
B.

My son struggled with ear infections as a baby as well. He would get a double ear infection and then be on the antibiotics. He would finish the medication and then have an ear infection again two days later. His pediatrician suggested tubes as well but I didn't want to go that route unless it was absolutely necessary. I chose to start him on a multi-vitamin as well as vitamin c and echanacia first to see if this would make a difference. It completly turned things around for my son. My son was eating healthy and getting all of the nutrients and vitamins that he needed but I'm guessing it wasn't enough. It seemed like as soon as I started him on the vitamins the ear infections stopped. I ended up not having to do the tubes after all.
There are times that they are very necessary and help children but I would suggest you start your child on a multi-vitamin as well as vitamin c and echanacia first to see if this helps build up their immune system and if it makes a difference in the ear infections. If it does then you won't have to do the tubes which would be fantastic!

Good Luck!

One of the children I used to care for had constant ear infections. The pediatrician put the baby (if I remember right she was about 12-14 months) on a low dose antibiotic for 6 months. She never had another ear infection and she's 19 now. Do your research and go with your gut. Good luck.

E.,
I am a mother of 2 boys one 2 1/2 yr olad and my other son is 1. Both boys had to have ear tubes and let me start by saying it was the best thing that could have happened. Both of them were prone to ear infections and my youngest had had 4 ear infections in 2 months and none of the medicine would clear it up. He had a total of about 8 ear infections before we finally had the tubes put in at 8 months. He has only had one very slight ear infection since then. My oldest son had been prone to ear infections but not as often as the youngest and we found out that it had actually started to affect his hearing. We decided to have tubes put in his ear as well right after he turned 2. Since then his speech and hearing has improved drastically and he has not had any ear infections since the tubes went in. It reaslly is a quick surgery and both boys were up and playing the same day! They went to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta in Duluth on Satellite Bkvd and everyone there was fantastic. Please let me know if you have any questions but this is one thing I would definatley recommend and the boys have had nothing but wonderful growth and health come from it.

HI, I have 4 boys and we have been around the block with everything you can get at preschool and grade school. A Dr. wanted to put tubes in my fourth child. I took him to see an ENT in Roswell Dr. Schettino. I have know him for about 8 years. I took Keegan because I had him at an ENT I did not know and he said to put tubes in after only sitting in the room for 6 minutes. I went to Schettino and he suggested to get rid of the infection with a month of Antibiotics. He suggested that the infection were never completely cleared up. He also checked his hearing. Because his hearring had not be affected he told us to wait. Everyone has a thing that they get. One of my was sinus infection on was strep and this one was ears. Sometime they need to just out grow the thing that they get. I would get a second opinion.

My daugther had some trouble around that age with ear infections, but none that caused her any hearing loss. She suffered with allergies so this brought a lot of it on. We too saw an ENT who suggested tubes, but after talking to our pediatrician she said to wait it out a little bit since she would be 2 in a few months and by then they outgrow ear infections. She only recommended this because the ear infections had not affected her speech or hearing. My mom told me that when my step-sister was little and kept getting ear infections that he recommended giving her Dimetapp everyday. This thins the mucus and kept her from getting ear infections. I tried this and it actually worked. My 2nd daugther also suffered with alergies. I would start giving them Dimetapp at the 1st sign of a runny nose. During winter and the Spring..primetime allergy time, they get Dimetapp at night and in the AM. My 2nd daughter has NEVER had an ear infection. My 3rd daugther has been diagnosed with allergies and she is now on Dimetapp also. I buy the Wal-mart brand that comes in a big bottle for 6-11 year olds. It is less than $2/bottle. The pharmacist said it was ok and he told me how much to give them based on their age and weight. I hope this helps.

Both of my children have had ear tubes. My youngest child has had them twice because the first set fell out. In all cases, the tubes worked perfectly. No more ear infections. When my youngest received his second set of tubes, he also had his adnoids taken out too. I recommend having the surgery because contantly having fluid on their ears may cause a delay in their speach. I saw an improvement in my children.

My son, now 5, had tubes twice. First at 5 mos. and again about a year later. I understand your anxiety. It really was painless for him. He and I were parted for about 15 min. total. Led to much less frequent infections that actually cleared when treated. His fell out... which they sometimes do. I was told that around age two they usually outgrow this problem, which was true for my son. Unlike your son, mine was miserable, and at the time I didn't feel like it was a choice. I also didn't want him to have problems with language development. I'd do it again.

My daughter will be 3 in January and we went through this at 13 months and we are doing it again next week. After the first set, she had 1 infection and then nothing for a year. The tubes are out and now the infections are back. We are also doing tonsils and adenoids and I am scared about that, but not the tubes. By the time my husband & I sat down and picked up a magazine, we didn'te even open them before they were coming out and telling us she was ready. It really is only a 5 minute thing and she was playing by the time we got home.

Both of my children ended up having to have tubes (21 years ago and 17 years ago). Although I was really nervous about having them put to sleep and having surgery, I would do it all over again. Probably sooner, too, because it made such a huge difference in their little lives! I know it breaks your heart to see your little one in pain and this works!!! It's not uncommon to have to have it repeated a year or so down the road, but it is certainly better than having your child suffer from hearing loss, which is also a real possibility. Good luck!

hey E.,
my 11 year old son had tubes put in when he was two years old...after many ear infections and countless antibiotics...and although it was rough on us...waiting in the waiting room, worrying, etc...it really was the best thing for him...we had no complications, although i hear that sometimes the tubes fall out and have to be put back in...it was a pain for him (and us) to always wear the earplugs in the pool, but that's minor..long story short, he didn't have any more ear infections, started talking clearly, and didn't have to constantly be on medications. coming out of the anesthesia, or off of the "goofy juice" was rough to watch...but i hear that they don't use the same medications now as they used to...the operation is so short, and the original med. was so strong, that the kids were having a hard time coming out of it...and were fitful, screaming...etc...that was the hardest part, and no one had warned us about it...good luck!!

The long term effects could keep your child from becoming deaf. I am being serious. I have a friend that the doctors waited too long and he is deaf in one ear. Both of my sons had tubes, one had to have them twice, they are grown and have perfect hearing. Don't wait too long, you may regret it. You will be amazed at the drainage that will come out of your poor child's ear and just imagine all that putting pressure on his ear drum. Our oldest son, had to have both ears lanced at the age of 12 months to get the fluid off and then had tubes.

By the age of 1 year old my son had 5 ear infections. Of course we were referred to an ENT specialist who told us he needed tubes. I've been hearing horror stories about life after the tubes are put in. Hair washing & bathing becomes an issue because you have to use ear plugs to avoid dirty water getting in the ear. The child can't feel the tubes, but he can definitly feel the plugs and usually won't let them stay in. My pediatrician also recommended that we put a drop of peroxide in each ear (1 drop once a day on normal days and 1 drop twice a day when the child has congestion. Since we've tried that my son hasn't had another ear infection and it has been a whole year (he's 2 years old today). Needless to say, he never had to get the tubes. If you try the peroxide treatment for a few months and it doesn't work, by all means get the tubes. However if it does work, there's no use getting a surgical procedure for such a small child if you don't have to.

Well, I went with tubes my son also had back to back ear infections soon as his meds were done the following day he'd have a fever and be crying. The ENT educated me with this information....my son had to be in pain and imagine hearing everything some says to you but hearing it from under water??? I said really? he said yes. My son usually was a very curious, joyful boy but it was brought to my attention from the ENT he asked me how may word can your child say?? I said well lets see momma, boba (bottle), bebe (for his toy elephant) and da. He said any other words? I said well now that I think of it no not really, he points alot. He said if he could hear he could talk more and he said I was going up against my son being developmental delayed and he'd need speech therapy, it's not bad and I should do whatever I can to help him. I had him ready for surgery the day after our appointment. It went well of course the first few days he slept more and I had to give him some pain medicine but why should he have pain?/ I know some parents are even afraid about pain meds...I have a friend that was until I asked her if her dog was in pain and if she ever gave him pain medicine from the vet..she replied yes, I said then shouldn't you treat your child the same if not better and allow him not to be in pain?? after that when he needs medication she gets it for her child now. I had to have a referral for ear tubes and I sadly had a doctor that blamed the world enviorment on all of my childs ailments and frankly I can't do a thing about everything and I changed doctors 3 times before I finally got someone to listen to me and ref me for my son to go to an ENT he was finally 18 months old when he got tubes. He had speech therapy starting at 2 and at 3 he went to a public school special ed prek...he's 8 now he talks better then most adults, reads and spells again better then most adults. He went to a regular kindergarten class and is now in second grade on honor roll all last year and again this year. If it was me and I had the chance to get my child ear tubes at 12 months I would the longer you wait you need to see what developmental mile stones is this child not goin to make?? and don't hold back because of your fears I am most certain your child will be fine during surgery. I also have a child now 5 that had ear tubes I had better doctors and they listened to me and they were just plain better, this child got tubes early just before 12 months he's never missed a beat I didn't have to go through special therapy or classes I had experience behind me and I wasn't going to put him into the same situation. I give my oldest credit he did it, he's a wonderful success except he also after having developmental delay now is dealing with ADHD because of it and studies have shown this can happen to children with developmental delay. You have a large amount of information at your finder tips at the time I had no computer or internet however you are your childs only advocate what has always moved me was when my child asks me later in life why I did or didn't do something I didn't want to answer him with we were afraid and him be mad I didn't exercise take a chance on his behalf. This is my story I wanted to share with you I have opened up myself, what you choose to do is up to you and your family and what you feel is right so don't anyone take this as advise other then looking up info online the rest is my life experience and what I did that was best for my family. You go with your feelings after you do your homework let your information and inter voice help you not what someone else says. My best wishes to you I wish you the best on this journey. Blessings I wanted to add neither of my children needed multipal ear tubes and the oldes child had his still in from 18 months to about 6 yrs old the youngest child in at about 14 months to 3 yrs old each of them had theirs just fall out and no problems since.

My son got ear tubes when he was little and it made all the difference in the world. It really did take only 10 minutes (the hardest part is seeing your baby being put under the anesthesia.) And he cried a lot when he came out of the anesthesia, not from pain, but from the side effects of the anesthesia. Once that wore off (an hour or two later), it was like nothing had happened. I took the whole day off of work, of course, and by late morning he was all over the house just like a regular day!

The ear infections, of course, went away, but the impact on his hearing was obvious immediately. The only surprise I had was that, depending on your child, you may be looking at multiple sets of tubes. My son is now 5 and on his 4th set of tubes- they last about a year- and he gets checked twice a year for his hearing. Each time we get the tubes, it's pretty much the same- quick procedure but well worth it. Good luck!

I don't know about babies but i wish i had tubes put in when i was little because im grown with infections that come at least 2 to 4 a year. I think it might be worth a try because i have heard it keeps them from gettin infection. You dont want your son to grown up and have to take time off work r can go anywhere because he has an infection. I have been there and still going thru it. So i hope this give you and idea what is down the road if he doesn't get the tubes or grow out of it.

If you decide to go with the tubes make sure that you take him back to the doctor after a year to make sure they have came out (if you haven't heard sooner). If not they will need to be removed to prevent any damage occurring. They usually fall out on their own. My nephew had them and they seemed to help him and he has had no complications from them (He's 11 now). My cousin's little boy just had them put in. He wasn't talking at all before the surgery and now he doesn't stop. I hope this helps. Good Luck with your decision.

My son was 4 years old when they finally recommended tubes. I remember how you are feeling. I was so worried about what would happen to my son with the anesthesia and the surgery. The surgery went very smoothly and quickly. When it was over, I was surprised at how much better my son could hear (he was having serious hearing issue because of blocked Eustachian tubes). I only wish they had recommended it sooner. Your child will be hitting a very critical age for language development and if he can't hear well, he may struggle. This can cause many developmental delays in language skills. Just my thoughts. I hope if you decide to do it that all goes well. I will remember you in my prayers.

My daughter, who is now 21 months old, had ear tubes put in this past June. She had a handful of ear infections, but mostly she just always had fluid in her ears. We made the decision to have the tubes becaseu she just seemed to always have problems-any time she had a cold she eaither had fluid or an ear infection. From start to finish, we were at the hospital for about 2 hours. The actual procedure was only 5-10 minutes. The longest part is getting check into the hospital, having the nurse do bloodpressure, etc, and then waiting for the doctor to tell you he's ready. Also, you have to stay after surgery until the nurse says it;s ok to go. It was a hard decision to make but it, in all honestly, was the best decision we ever amde. We brought our daughter home, put her down for a nap, and when she woke up 2 hours later you wouldn't have known she had surgery that morning. She was climbing on things-she never used to do that. She was running by the next day-which she didn't do very often before the surgery. We noticed an IMMEDIATE improvement. She started talking so much. We never realized how much she didn't do. The doctor said when he got into her right ear she had large buildup of yellow pus and it probably affected her balance, speech, etc. She has been sick 2 times since the tubes, neither one resulting in an ear infection. plus, with the ear tubes if she does get an ear infection we can treat it with antibiotic ear drops instead of oral antibiotics. ou just have to decide what you think will be best. We put it off for a while but ultimately decided the benefits would outweigh everything else. The hardest part was handing her over to the nurse at the OR doors. Oh, and when they bring the baby back in from surgery, the baby in inconsolable. My daughter just cried and cried, not because she hurt, she was just sooo loopy from the medicine. She would only let me touch her-no one else. That lasted about an hour and all the doctors and nurses warned me that every child is that way. I hope this helps. Our experience was excellent and I'd do it over again in a heart beat.

You sound exactly as I did last year - word for word!! My son had 4 ear infections in 6 weeks, and we were told he had to have the surgery or we were taking a chance on possible hearing damage with continued ear infections. I did massive research on anything I could find on the surgery, and actually got a lot of positive feedback from other mom's on here. I was so nervous about my son who had just turned 1. But it all turned out just fine. The surgery was really about 5 minutes, and they let me go back to him as he was waking up, and I got to hold him and love with him thur the recovery. Total time at the hospital was about 2 hours! He was up playing like nothing had happened all afternoon. We did have to get a set of ear plugs from the ear doctor b/c our son likes to go crazy in the bath tub (a true water baby). Not a single ear infection since. His tubes came out a couple months ago, which they never fell out, when we were at a check up, the doctor said they were in the canal and scooped them both out. I was so nervous about the surgery, but after it was all over, I felt silly, but glad that I had the advice and experiences of other moms. Good luck!!

Both of My children have had tubes. They are both on there 2nd set and I am going in with both to have a third set put in. Some times children need more than one set some do not. If you all do not put the tubes in then he can have some hearing loss and you do not want that. When the tubes are in my children do not get the ear infection. It is when they fall out that we start to have some problems. Which my ent has sent us to an allery dr. and now we know what may be causing the problem with the ears. so the two doctors or working together.
Now for the time that it takes for them to put the tubes in. You will not have time to get a drank out of the machine b4 you baby is back in the room. Were we had the children's surgery done they try to have the kids back to you b4 they wake up. Each child will be diffrent when they wake up. Some will cry and get sick and you will wonder where your sweet little one has gone. but that only last for a dew mintues. some wake up and they are themselves. we have had both cases with our two. Once you get your child to drank something and he can keep it down then you are able to go home. We have been able to leave within ten mintues of the children waking up. you may want to bring your own sippy cup for them to put juice in if he has one that he loves. Which they may have one that is the same that he likes.
Good luck.

I have 4 kids, 17, 16, 4 and 3. My oldest 2 did not need tubes but my youngest 2 have. My 4 yr old has had 2 sets!
It was scary for me too at first, and we went to Scottish Rite in Atlanta as his Dr is in Duluth. For me it has worked out great! Mainly because when they get an ear infection, it oozes out of their ear instead of building up. I have been able to just call my pediatrician and say hey, so and so has an ear infection, nurse will ask how i knwo, I tell her he has tubes, and they are draining, and a fever...most of the time they will just call in an antibiotic and I do not have to drive all the way down there and pay for an office visit. We do try the ear drops first they gave us after surgery and are prescribed every few visits as they are antibacterial drops and sometimes that works without the need for antibiotics.
My 4 yr old was a year old and then 2 and 1/2 when he got his and my 3 yr old was about 10 months old when he got his first set. HTH and good luck!
K.

My son had tubes at 10 months after extensive ear infections and multiple antibiotics that didn't work. There was a huge immediate difference! Such a relief! We had no issues after that and no long term effects. They came out on their own and he did not have to have them again. It was not a big deal.

Hi E.,
Our son has had to have two sets of tubes. The first time we had no idea what to expect. If your child does have the tubes. Make sure you bring a cup that the child is familiar with to drink from. Ours wouldn't drink out of what he was given. Also milk isn't recommended because of congestion.
Our son also screamed for hours after the surgery till we got him home. He was disoriented and part of it was from the anethesia but on one told us this might happen.
i would also suggest bringing a stuffed animal that your child likes. They let our son take it back to surgery with him.
The good news about it is that we noticed a huge change in his hearing. We didn't even realize how much he wasn't hearing and how loud he said things were.
Hopefully, if you do have the surgery, you won't have to listen to the screaming.
The second time around this didn't happen if that provides you with comfort. He does have some scarring in one ear because we didn't catch the fluid build up soon enough.
Hope this helps and Good luck with everything. You will be in my prayers.
Kathy P.

My daughter (now 6 & 1/2) had them put in at 17months old. Looking back, I wish I would have done it sooner, she had infections back to back and never cleared the fluid til the tubes went in. We too were worried, it was only 5 minutes for both ears, you end up spending more time with them waking up. She was disoriented and crying and did get a little sick. Ear infections effect kids differently...She was not walking without holding on (remember 17 months old), that same day 3 hours later at home she was walking all over my house. So for her, we did not like the constant antiobiotics and she apparently had a small hearing and balance problem due to the fluid buildup. It was so worth it for our experience. I swore that for my 2nd if this happened I would not put off for so long. He did have some infections but cleared fluid and his experience has been totally different, no tubes. PS. The first set my daughter had did come out after a year and she had a second set put in because the infections started right back up. That was frustrating but I totally trusted our ENT (in FLa) and the 2nd set has been out for 2 years now and she is doing well.

My daughter had this surgery in April, and I am so happy with the results. It really is a 5 minute surgery, but he will be away from you for about 15 minutes. They have to sedate him, and that takes awhile. My daughter was up and running around the same afternoon. She isn't sick as often, and she hasn't had an ear infection since. Muy daughter is 3, and I think we waited too long to get hers done in hopes she would grow out of her ear infections. I am a full supporter of kids getting tubes in if they have re-occuring ear infections. I know this is hard, but be strong. The results will amaze you!

Erica,
I feel your pain beyond belief!
My daughter had constant ear problems as a child. The main problem was not an ear infection, but the fluid. If the fluid stays in the ears over 3 months, your child could have permanet hearing loss. My daughter has had a total of 10 ear surgeries on her ears. She is now 13 years of age and is doing great! Part of the problem with your child could also be that the eustation tubes do not function. If they do not work, the fluid will not drain out of the ears. Or, as with my child, the ear drum could also be retracted and therefore, they will not hear soft beginning or ending syllables. The only solution is to have the surgery and hope that eventually, they will out grow the problem.
As I said, she is now 13 and doing great in school without any trouble what so ever! (EVEN AFTER 10 SURGERIES.)She does have to sit on the very front row of evey class and have all distrations behing her, but it works. She was one of only 4 children at her school that was on the Principal's Honor Roll every grading period last year.Her lowest grade this year at the mid-term was a 96!

Prior to her last surgery approx. 2 years ago, she was at a 30% hearing loss in each ear! However, since her last surgery she will pass each and every hearing test now because the eustation tubes work and her ear drums have changed shape so that they are no longer flat as a pancake!
I would also suggest using a someone who is in an "otolaryngology" practice. Trust me, I used about 7 different ENT's and this is the better way to go. If you are from SC, there is one in Charleston who was reccommended to me.GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C.

All I can tell you is that tubes in my daughter's ears was a lifesaver. She was sick for almost 6 months straight and had been on antibiotics for most of that time. At 11 months she got tubes and we have had her on antibiotics only once or twice since then and that was for other infections (she is 4 1/2 now). We had to have hers done at the hospital, but usually it is performed as an outpatient service. It is quick and basically painless for your child. Good Luck!

My oldest son had tubes. He had surgery for them in 1993, he had about a dozen ear infections in the first year of his life. After his tubes were placed, he only ever had one more infection and he is sixteen now. It really is a quick procedure with minimal risk. I think I waited only about 30 minutes in the waiting room until they called me back to the recovery room to hold him. Drew never cried, never pulled on his ears, or anything. I generally only found out about them at well-baby checkups or at follow-up appointments. However, chronic ear infections can lead to hearing loss, which may be why you are getting the recommendations. I would have the surgery done if I were you, but you can always get a second opinion.

My biggest question is if your son is around smokers a lot. Do you or your husband smoke in the home or car? Cigarette smoke is a big contributor to ear infections in babies. I lived with my mom, who is a smoker, with my oldest. My other three, who didn't live any smokers didn't have the problem, I think I have had one ear infection between the three of them.

Good luck to you.

E.,

Hi! I am actually a mom who had tubes as a child over the course of 13 years due to serious ear infections. I highly recommend them and can tell you personally that if it was not for the tubes I would not have 100% of my hearing. I first had tubes when I was 15 months old and pretty much every year after that until about the age of 13 yrs. old. I am 30 something now so this was back in the 70's and 80's when they were fairly new. I can only imagine how my parents felt than but my Mom & Dad to this day swear it was the best thing they did. As a mother of a 2.5 yr. old and a 4 mo. old - I would do the same thing. In fact, my 4 mo. old has had a serious ear infection that is not clearing up and we are scheduled to see an ENT too. If he recommends tubes than I am all for it. I understand your fear of any sort of medical procedure - our dd also had major surgery at 7 weeks for pyloric stenosis so I can tell you that is scary watching your child go through surgery. However, I like every other mom out there would do anything to help their child be healthy so please really look at the advantages to the tubes b/c I am living proof they work. Good luck! - A.

Both of my sons have had tubes. My oldest is 3 1/2 and he had them put in when he was 2. At the time he was have chronic ear infections and his speech was delayed some. After the tubes were put it, it was a world of difference. My youngest is 14 months and he had them put in at 10 months old. He is more vocal now than my oldest every was.
I was really worried about the procedure in the beginning, but it has been the best decision my husband and I made! Also, it is amazing how fast the surgery goes. My children didn't even act like they had surgery that day and were back to normal within hours. Good luck!

Erica,
My husband and I too were a bit hesitant when our ENT suggested surgery. The morning of, my husband almost blocked the driveway. LITERAL DRAMA..:-) My son had tubes put in, tonsils removed and atnoids removed all in one surgury. Every child reacts differntly but my son did not even cry when he came out. The hardest part was a week later with the tonsils as he healed.

My son was three when he had the surgery. BUT he had three years of consistant ear infections. I hope not to offend you or anyone else but I asked the doctor to be the co pilot while GOD was the head surgeon. I have no regrets. I trust you and your husband will make the right decision.

M.

Oh dear do I ever know what you are going through right now. I have twin girls that started with back to back to back to back ear infections at 10 month old. I was against the whole ear tubes and tried Chiropractic for my girls instead at first. I will be honest and say that this sometimes helps but on occassions may not work for others. In my case it did not work out. Mainly I think because of me. I was working a full-time job and my kids were in Daycare. Daycare would not watch the kids if they had a fever. Well when an ear infection comes up almost always a fever would occur as I am sure you are well aware of. I would go running them over to the Chiropracter for three or four days straight. Antibiotics worked faster meaning I could get back to work faster. I almost lost my job because of it. Nonetheless I decided ear tubes would be the best solution at this point. At 12 months old both of my twins had tubes put in their ears ....what a change! However, once the tubes fell out we went back to the ENT and they still had fluid. Therefore we had to have another set put in. They are now 5 1/2 years old and I just went to the ENT this week and he stated that there is still fluid there. I am having to be very very proactive on giving them Nasonex and Alavert EVERY day for the next month. I have to take them back in another month. If there has been no improvements then they are going to have to have another set of tubes for the THIRD time. I really really am against it. However, I understand that the fluid can cause damage to their hearing permanently and I do not want that of course. The only course of action I know to take at this point is prayer. God can do all things and he knows that number one we cannot afford it and number two I don't want it done for the third time!!!! It's one of those situations where you feel like you are doomed if you DON'T do it and you are DOOMED if you do!!! All I can suggest is perhaps taking your child to Chiropractic (Investigate make sure you find a good one out there) I know of a good one in my area. His name is Dr. Roberto located off of Dallas Hwy near the Lost Mountain Publix. I don't know where you are located. Just try that first to see if it would work for you. Last resort I guess tubes are the answer. Remember too that 12 months old they are starting to talk. Infections can interupt this and cause speach problems. Then you would have to trample off and take him to speach therapy!!! Tubes were a blessing in my case and it took them no time. The first time was actually better than the last time. Last time they just sat there and cried and cried because of the Anesthesia but they didn't understand that but it was two at the same time so it did get a little hairy!
They were playing as normal after about an hour of getting home. They were fine but I get nervous about putting tube after tube after tube in their ears because I have a cousin that had this done when she was a child and she has partial hearing in one of her ears now because of all the tubes they slapped in her ears, but who's to say her hearing wouldn't be worse if they hadn't done it?

My daughter had her first set of tubes 3 days before she turned 1. She had had 5 infections over a 6mo peroid. Basically, the fluid never left her ear and they just kept getting infected over and over again. I was a nervous wreck. The hardest part is when they come to take your child away. By the time they sent us to the waiting room, we were called back and it was over. Less than 10min. Yes she cried because of the anistesia. She was mostly just hungry and thirsty, though. You will bring a sippy cup or bottle and they will give her a small amount. You can feed them in the recovery room. From the time they started until the time we got home was 1.5 hrs. She was fine when we got home. You could see a change in her hearing right away. She started to cry when ever the dog barked. Before she never paid attention. Unfortunately, my daughter is in the 10% of kids who have to have repeat surgery. She had her second set, third set and now is about to have her 4th set next week all this year. That puts her in the 3% who still have ear trouble. I don't regret getting any of them done and will do it again if I have to. The only downfall is she is very delayed. Not just in speech, but her socialization. Turns out that she couldn't hear (well she could, it just sounded like she was deep underwater) for that first 6 months til the tubes. She regained her hearing after but lost it again 4 months later when they fell out. I am not trying to scare you, but to simply press the fact that each time, the day she came home, the difference was huge! We are the very few unlucky ones where multiple repeats seem necessary. But still, important for her growth. Don't worry, it will help your child in soooo many ways even the first day. My daughter is now 2.5 and she is a happy baby. Just a little behind. I still am waiting to hear her say mama, but I can tell it is coming. I promise this will do wonders for your child and they will never know what happend. You will be fine and so will he. Also, some people reccomended a chiropracter to me as well. We haven't tried yet but will be in a couple weeks. Something to look into. Good Luck and keep positive!

Hello E.,

My son had the procedure when he was 13 months old. He got his first ear infection when he was 7 months old, and then it seemed he never fully got rid of them. The procedure took about 30 minutes from start to when I could take him home. He seemed great for a couple of months and then he got another ear infection. So the doctor removed his adnoids. After that 5 minute surgery he has not had an ear infection since. He is now 3 1/2 years old. we have always put in ear plugs when he bathes or goes swimming. Trust me, the procedure is well worth it.

A little about me: I am a working mother of 3 children ages 10, 8 and 3 1/2 while being 17 weeks pregnant. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 5 years.

My now 12 yr old had tubes put in at age 2 and it has helped her greatly her infections have ceased and she is now a happy healthy 12 yr old and my two yr old son will proably have to get it done as well and I wont hesitatae to get it done to save him from going through the pain of ear infections. Need any more advice please dont hestitate to write me

Do the tubes. It is a short procedure, really works, and with so many infections, the fluid from the infections could affect his speaking because it affects how he hears and repeats back. Super easy and w. the tubes if he has an infection it drains out and you have to give medicine less often!

Hi E.,

You are going to hear a lot of different opinions on this topic so I'll start the discussion :) My daughter had several infections, the doctor recommended tubes and I chose not to do it. (I was "doctored" to death as a child and had a lot of long term issues I have had to deal with in my adulthood.) I had heard from friends that a chiropractor could help and he did. She never had another ear infection. Remember too that anytime your little one is on antibiotics that it hinders his immune system from fighting off the next infection so they tend to get worse as they go on...

Some moms say that ear tubes are perfectly safe and help but I do know that any surgery can be serious. (I've had enough of them , some of them "safe") Also, there can be scar tissue left behind that will cause hearing problems later on. I vote for letting the body work to heal itself and that's where the chiropractor came in. Chiropractic adjustments are meant to help the immune system, the neurological system and also everything in between.

I know three excellent Upper Cervical Chiropractors in the area, one is Dr. Wayne Stephens in Lawrenceville and the other two are a married couple, Drs. Amanda and Jeremy Hess in Stockbridge. I have seen and heard from their patients the success stories for ear infections...Either one of these chiropractors will consult with you for free and explain exactly how and why chiropractic works.

Hope I helped!

M.

Please try Chiropractic before the surgery!!! It is the LEAST invasive thing you can do for him and you just might find yourself not needing tubes at all!!! From my experience, tubes this early fall out and lead to another surgery and even more infections! Chiropractic takes the pressure directly off of the eustation tube and allows the fluid to drain on its own. Start probiotics right away, if he will eat yogurt then thats great but I would add a capsule of probiotics to it. This will help to replace his good bacteria in his intestines. Antibiotics destroy both good and bad bacteria and allow for ear infections to grow, again and again. Please take this advice or you'll find yourself in a uphill loosing battle that will repeat over and over again. If you have any questions, please contact me, I am a Chiropractor myself:)

I had constant ear infections.I had tubes put in 9 times between 7 and 23 yrs old.It's a very quick procedure.It makes you feel so much better.The fluid causes you pressure making your ears feel stopped up and you can't hear well.Also the fluid causes ringing in the ear.Mom said I'd tell her the men were working in my ear.It sounds like a hammer hitting metal.The tubes stop all this and you can hear again.It also slows or stops the infections.

My dtr @ 7mos (now 8yo) had tubes. She got double ear infections at 3mos and never cleared up. 6 antibiotics (of which she was allergic to 5 of 'em) & 4 mos. later tubes were the next step. The deciding factor for us was when the ENT said she may have hearing/speech problems if it is not resolved soon. That was all it took. While very anxiety provoking for my husband and I, in hindsight very uneventful proceudre - quick & easy. Not one ear infection afterwards.

The only unusual thing for her was that the tubes never fell out on their own as everyone thought they should. She had to go back in @ about 2yrs. and have a similiar procedure to have them removed - also uneventful.

In the end, for her, and us, the best decision. Good luck!

Go for the surgery! My son had tubes placed at 6 months old and then had to have it repeated at 12 months. Your baby will be fine. And based on what you stated, he really needs the surgery. If you don't get it, it could effect his hearing, w/that many infections. It is a couple of hours at an out-patient place, some drops for a week or so and ear plugs for a year or so until tubes heal and fall out anytime he is in water. Very simple. It will make him feel so much better. Do it now, don't wait. I know what you are feeling now, trust me.

My son is 22 months old and had tubes put in his ears at 14 months. It made a WORLD of differnce! I only wish we would have done it sooner. He had several ear infections during his first year and seemed to have lots of sinus issues as well. When we met with the ENT, he explained to us that our son could hear us talking to him, but that it was muffled. Try sticking a finger in each ear and then having someone talk to you. That's what he was hearing b/c of the constant fluid behind his ear. Also, he started walking right before his first birthday, but you could tell his equilibrium was off. He'd just be walking and then wobble from side to side and fall. We were worried, just as you are, about surgery on our little one. But, it was truly the quickest thing you can imagine. They took him back, we walked to the waiting room and were there 4 minutes, I think. Then they called us back to meet with the doctor (who was already out of the surgery). It was a total of 12 minutes from the time they wheeled him back to the time we saw him again. This was a little longer than just a tube surgery b/c they also did a scope to check his sinuses. We noticed that same afternoon that he was walking straighter and seemed to be able to hear us better. He has not been sick since he had that surgery so for us, it was definitely worth it. And it does my heart good to know he's not miserable any longer. Good luck!

DEFINATELY have the tubes put in to prevent delays in speech and language development, especially at such a critical age. I've seen children go from not saying any words at all to normal development just a couple of weeks after the tubes were put in. If your child can't hear speech, he will produce no speech; either that or he will hear/produce distorted speech and will need speech therapy later. Chronic ear infections also lead to balance problems and permanent hearing loss. Please get the tubes put in! The benefits greatly outweigh the risks.

Be sure you're doing what you can to prevent ear infections by avoiding: exposure to second hand smoke and excessive air pollution (candles and incense produce indoor air pollution), letting them sleep with a pacifier, letting them lay down while drinking a bottle. Also, prevent ear infections by breastfeeding, keeping toys clean and sanitized, and getting immediate treatment for colds, allergies, and reflux.

Some kids will just get them no matter what, but prevention helps.

Best of luck to you! :)