Ear Tube Surgery Alternatives

hi M.,
my daughter had tubes put in her ears when she was 2 y/o. She is now 7 and doing great with not having ear ache's.... And she did not feel a thing after it was over and from the on.....Don't be scared I know you will still be scared.....on the bright side he will feel better....!! :)

Hope this helps!!

~M.~

I have a friend with the same problem and she took the dairy out of her sons diet (now she uses soy milk) and it did help him and he hasnt had an ear infection since she did this about 9 months ago. I dont know if that was the reason but I thought it couldnt hurt to pass the advice along.
best of luck.

Hi M.,

It must seem so scary to know that your child needs an operation. I can let you know that I am 37 years old and had tubes put in my ears. I actually remember it. I used to have to were the ear plugs that were specially designed to fit in my ears. The pain and suffering that I went thru with the ear infections is still a constant reminder if I have a problem today. Which is rarely. I have to be physically restrained to hvae ear drops put in my ears. I had an infection about 5 years ago and I couldn't even have my children watch my husband because I was nothing more than a big baby. Trama can do that to a person.

My second child developed her first ear infection at the age of 2 when I weaned her off the breastmilk. She had constant fluid and 1 side infected for 5 months. It just kept switching
sides. When the ENT questioned me about her hearing, I figured no problems, she's quite good in her speach. I did chose to have the surgery. I was concerned about possible damage to the canal and scar tissue (usually causes the blockage and hearing loss.) I was also extremely concerned about antibiotic resistance. Each time she went back to the doctors, she was prescribed a higher dose or stronger fighting antibiotic. Soon nothing would have been left except IV antibiotics.

My suggestions would be continue to seek advice. Everything went well w/ our operation. The only thing I wished I had done differently was bring someone to the hospital for support, my support. I was able to go in the operating room and help calm her into a gentle sleep. I found this soozing for me and Im sure her too. When I left the room and was all alone, i panicked. I was having a panick attach. This did not help me thru the surgery. She survived, I survived, and all I ever heard the first week after having the tubes put in her ears.......TOO LOUD, TOO LOUD, TURN DOWN THE RADIO, TOO LOUD!

So, even though her speech was not effected. It was only because she didn't develope her first infection until after age 2. She had alot of speech time before the hearing problems. I to this day have hearing loss. Nothing major, but if there is too much background noises, then I can't hear the conversations, things like that.

again ask everybody for thier advice. It may all sound the same or you may get differing opinions. Once you think you have heard it all, then make an educated dicision. This is something you will need to do the rest of your life when it comes to our children. Good luck! I wish you all well.

H. B.

Ps. If you are going to try the root of eliminating milk, you need to eliminate all dairy products. Milk, cheese, yogurt, casin ect. if you need a full list write me back. The elimination diet needs to be completed for 14 days. It may take up to 8 days to digest and eliminate all the dairy protien from her body and then it can take up to 10 days to take in enough before a problem arises.

I've had tubes myself when I was an infant. And my sister also had tubes when she was young, but because of the wait, it did hinder her speech also, and to this day (she's now 18 years old), she still doesn't speak clearly. I had no problems after my tubes, got them early, and haven't had any speech issues like my sister has. Because of her speech issues, she doesn't do very well socially, and I can tell it's been hard for her. My suggestion is to go through with it. It'll benefit your son tremendously!

p.s. I just read one of the other responses regarding the tubes staying in for the rest of their lives...they don't. They fall out anywhere from 6 months-2 years later. They are supposed to fall out.

Dear M.,
The surgery is really easy less than 15 minutes. The fluid would have dispated by now if it was going to go away. We did the wait thing for almost 2 years not by choice though. I don't know if you know the longer he has hearing loss the longer is speach and hearing will be affected. My 5 year old just called me mom and his last surgery for his ears was 2 years ago.
Do the surgery. Your child will be less affected by hearing loss. Do the surgery. If you don't your child may need major speach therepy like my son. Our problem was our insurance many ent specialists didn't take we had to fight to get his done. Your son problably won't remember it.
Depending on the hospital your usually there a hour before surgery. Then the child goes in and surgery is about 15 minutes. Then when your child is wheeled in recovery room they are already waking up. The put a face mask on their face to knock them out only long enough to put the tubes in then it's removed and most kids have their eyes open or opening as they are wheeled in. Then with in 15 minutes they bring you back so they are with you when they wake up from surgery. they wake up with someone familiar. Then you wait 30 minutes to hour a hour afterwards to make sure they are a wake enough to drink a little juice 1-2 ounces. then they send you home.
Your child is a little sleepy the rest of the day let them sleep and by the next day they are awake and feeling pretty good. you cannot get their hair wet for a week afterwards to give time for ears to heal. Then if he is fussy give tylonal for discomfort.
the longer you wait the worse the hearing deficit is more scaring on the ear drum. It's better not to wait so you can get his hearing back. And get speach back on track. Any questions e-mail me ____@____.com
M. Petersen

MY BROTHER IN LAW HAS ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE WITH HIS EAR THEY DID THE SURGERY AT CHILDRENS HOSPITAL IN HOLLYWOOD AND NOW HE IS MUCH BETTER IT WAS A VAST IMPROVEMENT. SINCE THEN HE HASEN'T HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH HIS EAR HE DOESN'T FEEL A THING. JUST REMEMBER THE TUBES WILL BE IN THERE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. HOPE THIS HELPS!!

Hi M., I have a 3 year old daughter, and I'm concerned that she has a speech delay as well. she has only had one hearing test so far, when she was less than a year old. sometimes I wonder if it does have to do with hearing, or that she was premature. when did you find out that your son had hearing loss, and are you teaching him sign language? about your son and his possible surgery, just take your time and pray for guidance as to what the right decision is, weigh the pros and cons, find out what the worst possible thing is that could happen and what are the odds, etc....I am really frustrated with my daughter's speech development and hope and pray that it is not related to hearing issues and that therapy can resolve it! keep me in your prayers (or thoughts) as well, I really appreciate it !

my oldest son who is now 9 had that sugery twice when he was 5mo and then agine at a year.. it was the best thing i ever did for him his speech got better and his hearing is alot better!! i would say do it in my honest opion i think my son turned out good!!
H. h

Hi M., this is a subject I know a lot about as I was the one who had to have tubes put in when I was little. I had ear infection after ear infection. My ears would swell shut, I couldn't go swimming with all the other kids in summer, even a little water in my ear during a bath would cause a raging infection. They finally put tubes in my ears and the infections stopped immediately. It was only after the tubes were in did they realize all the infections had caused me to lose 20% of my hearing permanently. Please, do your son a favor and have the tubes put in before the hearing loss is permanent. After years of seemingly constant pain, I was pain free and it was one of the best decisions my parents ever made.

i dont have an answer to your question but i'm kind of going through the same thing you are i have a 2 1/2 year old son who still is not talking so i was wired and had a specialist take a look at him i told her that since he was a baby ear infections have been a problem so next week were going to an ENT dr. see what he tell's us the specialist think's that it's just fluid but will see next week. I hope all goes well with your son good luck

I have a long history and had tubes in and out as a child. My son has inherited my same problem, so we had tubes put in at 9 months, didn't even wait. The thing is, it's most likely he will eventually grow out of the problems (the problem comes from the eustacian (sp?) tube and it's development. Eventually, it should grow to a place where the problems will subside, but there's no way to know when. There are some people who have problems all their life. And given that the doc has already said your son has mild hearing loss, if you wait until he grows out of it, it might be more than mild, given his history. It sounds to me like the benefits of having the surgery outweigh the risks. There's risks either way and benefits either way. Just know that your son will be fine if he has the surgery! I've been there (had the surgery five times) and my son has been there (had surgery once and has had them fall out and only one infection since). Good luck!

Hi M.,

I can tell you that my son was about 7 or 8 when they put ear tubes in him. Prior to that he would always have viral ear infections, the kind they would not give a prescription for. That was tough, even blood would come out and they said that antibiotics wouldn't help. It was CONSTANT...my poor guy. Anyways, they put the ear tubes in and he woke up and you would have never known he was just in the hosp. and had a surgery. No side effects, no groggy, etc. No pain, etc. He is now 14 and has NEVER had an ear ISSUE since. I highly recommend. The "tubes" are soo teeny... its not even a tube, its a small round compacted thingy. Keep us posted :)

I was the same way you were with my first daughter. being new parents we were scared of the "surgery" and of them putting her to sleep. They gave her a hearing test and there was so much fluid they said it was like being underwater trying to hear. We went ahead with it and the day she had it done she started talking and walking so much better. her attitude was better and she would turn her head when we wispered, we thought she was too busy playing, but it was really bc she couldnt hear well. our youngest is not scheduled to have the same procedure and i would think twice about getting it done. if you have any more questions feel free to email me.

Hi M., I myself had tubes put in at 2 yrs old. Of course, I don't remember, but asked my mom about it. I also had horrible ear infections, does your son have this too? I have no problems with my ears since. That as over 25 yrs ago! And I am sure medical technology has vey much advanced in that area. The fluid has to be drained, or it will just build up and create more problems. Good luck...

Go ahead and have it done. It is the easiest thing. My six year old son had it done twice now. He was just like your son with the delayed speech at three and a half. Now he is great. The surgery and aftercare ended up being a piece of cake after I worried for weeks like you. The speech started immediately after and now you can't slow him down.

I dont know of any alternatives. But my son had tubes at 13 months and has never had ear problems since then. Also if he has speech problems this is the best thing for him. the surgery takes like 30 mins and they didnt even give my son an IV. I would callit negelt if you dont let him have the surgery. The doctors know what they are doing

I haven't read all the responses, so I'm not sure if it's been mentioned or not, but I recomend the chiropractor. My son was the same age and was 2-3 weeks away from having tubes put in when we started taking him to the chiropractor. We cancelled his surgery b/c he devloped a cough(from the fluid finally draining) and continued going to the chiropractor for a few more months. It's been 2 years and he has not had one ear infection since! Many colds/flus, etc., but not one ear infection. I also take him back in when he gets congested and it helps avoid the fluid from building up in his ear.

I highly recomend the chiropractor. Try to find one that is kid friendly, if possible.

Here is some great information about it: http://www.healthychild.com/chiropractic-ear-infections.htm

Oh, I also wanted to mention that diet can cause the fluid to build up. We also had to take my son off dairy..

And be aware, that even if you do tubes, they don't always work.. I finally read the responses and sadly see that many people opt for the surgery rather than try to find good alternatives.. Please research carefully. I see no reason to put a child through a risky surgery when it can be handled by a simple chiropractic adjustment...

As an audiologist, I have seen parents go both ways on this issue. The ones that choose not to have the surgery continued to come into the office due to ear infections. They occassionally get worse and it becomes a thick fluid/"glue like" behind their eardrums. Their hearing worsens and occassionally it required a more serious surgery. Also, you do not see a progression in speech/language development and it may require therapy. I have been in the operating room during this type of surgery and it is very quick and the kids are generally back up and running around the next day. Good luck.

Hi M., I am a single mom of 2 - I have a 12 yr. old son and a 6yr. old daughter and when my son was 5yrs. old I opted to have the surgery done for him. He is now actually "Thanks" me for doing it. I understand that it can be scary but the results will benefit your son. Think of it this way - cover your ears and talk or have someone speak to you - this is how your son hears you - it's all muffled to him. The tubes will fall out in about a year and your son will be able to hear everything better and it will help him with his speech and later in school. All I can say is make the decision that you feel is right. Hope I was able to help. :0)

M.,

My son has had the surgery twice, once when he was 6 or 7 and then again the next year. It was a very quick procedure and he was fine afterwards. Actually, the doctor told me later that my son was laughing a lot right before he went under. The reason he had the surgery was because of a loss of hearing, about 30%. His speach was never affected but it showed up in the hearing tests. He had also never had any (knock on wood) ear infections.
The problem we are having is that both timnes, after about 8 months one or both of teh tubes fell out and his ears clogged up again. The doctor said if he did not get tubes again he would get an infection. I did not want to do it because it was so hard on my son haveing the tubes in. He loves the water and swimming. Also, when talking to my son, it is very difficult to tell he has any problems hearing. He can sit in the back of the calss and seems to hear fine.
I am going to see a different doctor soon and see what alternatives are out there. I will let you know what I find out.