My Son Has Had Ear Wax, Fluid in the Ears & Ear Infections Forever He Is Only 3! - Florida,NY

Tubes, tubes, tubes!!!!!! My son had ear infections from three weeks
on, every two weeks!!!! This was a while ago, so he was three before
we did tubes. Should had done it sooner. He too had a hearing loss the
affected his speech. Good luck.

I did tubes for my daughter and it worked great. It's nice some ENTs don't want to over do it. But hearing problems leading to speech delays are serious.

He may have a subluxation or misalaignment of his neck, this puts pressure on the nerve,lymph and the vascular flow to the ear. He may also have allergies. Try elimination of all wheat and dairy for a few days. I have treated many children with this problem with great success. check out my website at www.henleychiropracticcenter.com or call me at ###-###-#### I'll be glad to talk to you
Dr C. Henley:-)
Ps I am a mom of three and have been practicing for 23 years now

I think you are definitely on the right track: Yes, the tubes can help with the infections but the bigger question is: Why is he getting so many infections? Why is his immune system so low and cannot fend of these infections? I would continue with the non-gluten, non-dairy diet, but I would also put him on a high dosage kids multi-vitamin/multi-mineral (not just the gummies please). Also add probiotics and omegas and try natural immune boosters like echinacea. All of this will not help clear the problem overnight and you still might have to put the tubes in, but I would definitely recommend this to help the underlying cause of the problem.

Wow...my son is 29 months old and has had 2 sets of ear tubes. I say do it. He got his first set after he had about 8 ear infections in a row. The second set was put in when the 1st ones fell out and he was still getting ear infections (after the tubes fell out). The ear tubes have helped us to much. I know what it is like to have an ear infection and the pain your son must go through. The ear tubes will help. I would get it done before you start having more issues. I worry that him not being able to talk will have an impact on his self-esteem. The adenoids can also be a cause for the ear infections. If they are enlarged they will prevent drainage cause bacteria and ear infections. When we did the 2nd set of tubes we had his adenoids taken out also (he was also having problems constantly picking at his ears and nose-this all pretty much cleared up with the adenoid removal). I would seriously consider having it done. Good luck

Hi A.,

I "third" the chiropractic visit. I was able to dodge tubes in my oldest daughter's ears and completely stop the ear infections. Chiropractic care has been proven to improve the neurological processes and in effect build the immune system. If you don't have a principled upper cervical chiropractor, go to www.ucspine.com and see if there is one in your area. You won't regret it!

M.

I second the chiropractic check. I know it isn't the same problem but our daughter had a major rash on her neck and trip after trip to the doctor offered no solution. It was "Try this, oh try this, oh just wait it out"- well we went to the chiro and within 2 weeks it was gone! GONE! I will always try a chiropractor with these problems from now on.

I don't have any input on tubes, but chiropractic adjustments and probiotics would help. My two daughters have not been treated for ear infections and I think it's because we see the chiropractor regularly and take our vitamins and probiotics.

Chiropractic! I've worked for one for 15 years, helped my child with her first one, and I've seen at least ten kids stop having them. I would always try this before any kind of surgery!

Go for the ear tubes and you will probably need 2 sets as the first ones will fall out as he gets older. My son had his first ear infection which was a double when he was 9mos old and then was on antibiotics on and off what seemed to be every 2 months for single or double ear infections that were getting worse and very painful. This went on until he was 2 and he stopped talking as it was effecting his speech...that is when I said enough to the peditrican and went to the ENT. He loved milk and we tried limiting the milk so that the mucus would thin but no luck - we tried preventitive antibiotics and he still got the ear infections...his ear tubes were not working or draining and until he got older the infections would continue. At 2 he had his first set of tubes...a miracle - he did not have an ear infection or was on any antibiotics for 1 entire year...he was happy and eating and talking. Once his first set of tubes came out...guess what he had a double ear infection withing a month. So back to the ENT and the second set of tubes which are t-tubes...alittle harder on him and they also took out his adnoids which were huge. The post op was tough and it took about 10 days for him to feel better - don't listen when they say 3-4 days....then he was again fine for 3 years...hearing great, talking, he had some ear infections but maybe 2 for the 3 years. He was 6 when one came out on its own and the other was taken out. He is almost 8 now and his tube have angled as his face has grown...we now are having issues with sinus infections...I would do the tubes...it was the best thing for him. Good luck.

Hi A.! Do the tubes. If he is getting at least 4-6 ear infections per year he needs them. It is probably affecting his speech too. My son got tubes when he was 17 months old. He would religiously get ear infections every 2 months. And actually will still get them because he has a low IgG level and doesn't have much protection against them. I found that out when I found out he was gluten and lactose intolerant at the pediatric gastro. It is literally a 10 min procedure and is not scary at all. It will help. Any questions, you know where to reach me. (by the way, I'm also an ENT nurse so I see this every day!)

It might be time for a tonsillectomy and adnoidectomy! My son had horrible issues with his ears when he was a toddler. Pulled those puppies out and it has not been a problem since.
S.

Hi A.,
My son just recently had ear tube surgery in feb. And he is 3 years old. He had been getting ear infection after ear infection for two years and also had constant fluid in the ears. His hearing and speech were compromised because of it. I took him for a second opinion before I made the decision to go ahead witht the surgery. The ENT thought it was absolutely necessary as the fluid and infections were not going to go away on their own. The surgery is super quick (its not even surgery really except that they have to have anesthesia), only 15 minutes. Coming out of the procedure my son was in a little discomfort and was groggy, mainly because of the anesthesia, but that afternoon he was back to himself. He doesn't complain about his ears, they are clear and his hearing is back in the normal range. He is definitely talking more often and more clearly and I think is overall, happier. Speaking from my own experience I would recommend it. I'm surprised that all four doctors are waiting it out. How long has he been having ear infections and fluid?
Hope this helps!
M.

Updated

Hi A.,
My son just recently had ear tube surgery in feb. And he is 3 years old. He had been getting ear infection after ear infection for two years and also had constant fluid in the ears. His hearing and speech were compromised because of it. I took him for a second opinion before I made the decision to go ahead witht the surgery. The ENT thought it was absolutely necessary as the fluid and infections were not going to go away on their own. The surgery is super quick (its not even surgery really except that they have to have anesthesia), only 15 minutes. Coming out of the procedure my son was in a little discomfort and was groggy, mainly because of the anesthesia, but that afternoon he was back to himself. He doesn't complain about his ears, they are clear and his hearing is back in the normal range. He is definitely talking more often and more clearly and I think is overall, happier. Speaking from my own experience I would recommend it.
Hope this helps!
M.

He really needs to eat yogurt and keep his hands/fingers out of his ears. Also, don't let any water get inside his ear. Fingernails and water contain tons of bacteria, which can be causing the ear infections. Yogurt is very important. My son didn't have many ear infections. He only had one. Our ped. said he knew that we must have started feeding him yogurt, because it's supposed to help prevent ear infections.

If the ENT recommends it, I don't see why not. The tubes are a relatively simple procedure that once done will effectively rid your son of future infections. As for wax, that is normal. You should never try to clean your son's ear of wax with a q-tip or anything, the ear is self-cleaning. In my opinion I would get the tubes and be done with it if this is an option.

yes they are and hang in there the tubes will do thier job. I have had 2 sons with tubes the first I noticed immediate change. My baby who is totally oppisite of his brother not so much. His ears are still draining I wash wax off everyday. hes still not talking. babbles all day long but not talking. I would highly advise tubes the sooner the better and be ready to do speech therapy its no big deal kinda cool actually. And I am teaching my youngest sign since its taking so long for his ears to correct themselves. This isn't the only reason but its one of them. From doing it twice I would say don't wait. it messes up thier walking and talking and everything. After 4 infections with my youngest I told his ped I wanted tubes. He said we usually wait till 5 and I told him brother had to have them I wanted it done sooner than later. He used my prior experience to decide to ok it.
good luck hope this helps.

My four year old had tubes put in at 2 1/2 and they fell out after a year and then the same round of problems started. I was fed up with her ped and her ENT not trying to ever fix the problem but just treat it. I found a naturopath and she took her off dairy and some other stuff and so far her chronic cough, stuffy nose and all that fun stuff has seem to disappeared. Her hearing is getting better slowly but fast enough in my eyes. She is asking us "what" less and less frequently. I really think the dairy is the culprit and it's very frustrating that nobody has ever suggested this to us before. Try it, it can't hurt. We switched to almond milk, limit the cheese but if we do have it we use goat cheese, goat yogurt, etc. Try it!!

tubes should help with the infections and fluid in his ears.. Did you know that ENTs put tubes in adult ears in the office without anesthisa??/ It really is a simple procedure.. but in kids they have to sedate them as they have to be totally still.

I would get tubes if my child was sick for 3 years straight..

some people have waxy ears... my kids have waxy ears.. but no ear infections..

Hi A.,
I can only tell you from my experience, my son was 1 when he got the ear tubes in, and believe it or not that affected his speech big time. He got it done 2 days after is birthday because the doctor wanted to wait until he was officially one. This affected his speech like you have no idea. When he went into kinder, the teacher asked me if she could have him tested because she couldn't understand him and my son was trying to talk to her all day long, this was the first day of school!!!! He had speech therapy until he was in 2nd grade, the school gave him therapy 3 days a week for 1/2 an hour and I also brought him to my job where he would get therapy 2 days a week for an hour. The tubes come out when his ears are mature enough, please don't wait! do it for him. My son NEVER had another ear infection after that. Remind you he was even hospitalized one time (he was only 4 months old) where the ear infection was so bad that they thought it had traveled to the back bone of the ear. Thank God it didn't. So please, don't wait, don't hesitate he needs help and ear infections are very painful. Another reason why I did it was because he was constantly taking antibiotics and his body (according to his doctor) would eventually become immune to antibiotics and if he ever needed to take antibiotics again it would be very hard to find one to work for him. I wish you and your son the best.

i deffently recomend getting tubs put in his ears my daughter was the same was then i took her to a ears nose and troth doctor she said she need tubs put in to help fix the problem the hole thing took 20 min and she is doing great she has cought up to everone around her age shes 3 and im so happy her speech is so much better. she has not hade an ear infaction sence and she can hear thing trew the wall from the nieghbors.you will feel so much better good luck! and hope i helped

we did tubes for my son at 18 months and it was a miracle cure for us. No more doctor visits, except for "well" visits!! The procedure is a simple one and it addresses the fluid that is left in the ear canals which can effect hearing/balance and for us, no more ear infections. We also had the adenoids out at the same time.

Do not wait, get tubes in him ASAP. My husband and I went through the same with our youngest: We waited, and fretted, and waited and fretted until we finally "gave in" and had tubes put in. It was like being a new lease on life. She slept better, wasn't in constant ear pain, listened better, you name it, it improved. If I could go back and do it again, I would say "Yes!" the first time a doctor suggested ear tubes. The OP was no big deal, the bathing and keeping the ears dry was a pain, but it was all worth it.