Middle Ear Fluid

RD, you need to keep a real eye out on this issue with your 2 year old. Fluid in the ears certainly can hurt because the pressure in the ear is messed up. More than this, though, is that her hearing is impaired - it's like listening to sounds underwater.

You need to set up an appointment to check her pressure - a tympanogram does that. Not every ped has a typmanogram in the office. So you may need to get an appointment with a ped ENT. It takes a while sometimes to get in, so call NOW. The tympanogram is important to gage whether or not she needs a hearing test. If the fluid won't clear, her speech can be really affected.

Getting this documented now and seeing how her ears go will help you and the doctor figure out if she will need tubes in her eardrums. Right now is a tremendously important time for her to hear well so that her speech isn't adversely affected. Don't let this go.

Btw, don't let her lay down and drink anything. Make sure she is sitting up so that fluids don't pool in her eustachian tubes. Just a thought, just in case...

Dawn

Fluid would be uncomfortable in some way, I would think, because of pressure. It may not hurt if the infection is gone, but it may still feel weird.

I am having the EXACT same issue! My 11 month old just finished his antibiotics on Sunday, but I have seen him rub his ear a few times still. But he does not seem upset like it hurts. I am just keeping an eye on it for now but ready to take him back in ASAP if it seems like its bothering him. Good luck!! We have been blessed with NOT having many ear infections with my 2 kids so I am not sure what to expect either. Hope you (we, haha) get some good answers :)

Your daughter may be experiencing the sensation similar to having water in your ears after swimming. It just feels like your ear is "full" and things sound muffled. It's an irritating feeling.

I would keep an eye on it because it can lead to frequent ear infections, loss of hearing or vertigo/loss of balance.

If I were you, I would take her to an ENT. My daughter is now 5 and has always had ear problems. She is on her 3rd set of tubes and they have helped so much! I also have tubes in my ears and I can say from feeling it, fluid in the ear is a very strange feeling. When I had fluid in my ear, it mad be feel dizzy and like I had "medicine head". It can also cause itchy or tickling feeling.

My son has very waxy ears and the ent dr. said fluid that stays and doesn't drain. He had multiple east infections and always tugged at his ears. By the time he was 9 months they put tubes in. no more fluid and infections!! 2 years later they removed the tubes and within a month he got another infection. Put the tubes back in and again no more infections! If it continues for her see and ears, nose and throat specialist. Tubes work amazing for my son! Good luck!