My son is 17 months and on his 3rd antibiotic for his ear infection. It looks like the first 2 haven't cleared up his problem. I was told yesterday that he should see an ENT specialist to determine tubes or no tubes. When searching the providers list on my Insurance website, what should I be looking for in the doctors creditials. Also, should I be concerned or scared if he does need tubes put in? I feel scared but have been told the ear infections will disappear. Any advise or past stories will help. Thanks!
Controversial or not, my daughter just got tubes in her ears to days ago and she's a completely different child. She sleeps better, hears better, and is sooo much happier. (she'd had 10 ear infections and she's only 16 months old.)
I found the ENT we used by word of mouth. He was awesome.
Good luck
My son went through his first two years of life on antibiotics for ear/double ear infections ...once he was off the meds...wait 2 weeks and he had another. We went through 2 rounds of tubs. The 1st set lasted 1 year and then fell out...while the tubes were in no meds...no ear infections and he was starting to have hearing issues and not speak...all gone once the tubes were in. We did the 2nd set of t-tubes...that stayed in until he was 5...again
no meds and maybe 1 or 2 ear infections/sinus infections in 3 years...the tubes were a god send to him...no hearing loss and he is almost 9 ...so much better than the pain of the ear infections and the massive use of anitbiotics. His doctor is Dr. Adam Pearl in Trumbull, CT..CT Ear Nose and Throat ###-###-####
The best thing I ever did for my son!! Unfortunately he went through 3 sets of tubes, but he NEVER got one ear infection while having the tubes. Prior to the tubes, ear infections ALL the time and Aintibiotics all the time. I was told the magic age is 3 yrs old and sure enough after the 3rd set fell out he was 3 yrs old and still has not had one ear infection (and he has had multiple colds - which usually leads to the ear infections).
I felt the same way, and to make matters worst my son had a head injury last May. So, I did not want him to be put under. I went to doctors first before making my disition. I choose the second doctor because of his almost 5 star rating. Its been 3 weeks now since the surgery, my son is doing great and NO Ear infections. Every 2 weeks he was on anitibiotics since September. Thank goodness no signs of anything with the ears as of yet. I do not know where you live by i choose Dr. Levits in West Orange, NJ. You have to call your insurance first to be sure u are covered. He is expensive but the best in what he does in my area. Good Luck!!! :)
my daughter had tubes put in at a young age. I was terrified however she was developing hearing issues. When she came out of the operating room she looked up at me and said "wow, I can hear now!". I wish I had done it much much earlier. Look for someone who has done alot of proceedures. Good luck. Bes thing I ever did.
Having moved around the country three times before 4 my sons recurrent ear infections weren't caught in time to get tubes until he was 4 yo.
He now has some auditory precessing issues, he hears just fine at the dr's offices but he cannot differentiate between some human sounds.
Had he gotten tubes at 18 months or 2 he probably wouldn't have these issues. But I'm just a mom not a dr. - or so I've been told.
Anyway,
We got tubes at 4. They can fall out, but ours didn't. He has had one ear infection since, he is now 10.
I would ask for references regarding ENT's. We went with a recommendation from a friend, our pediatrician also recommended the clinic he worked at.
This may sound odd, but peel a clove of garlic and place it in his ear. My Mother-in-law swares by it. She had a friend who's child had been on 3 different antibiotics that didn't work and she did this. It worked. Check into home remedies that work.
Tubes are controversial - they are very overdone in the opinion of many child experts, and they don't always work. The tubes sometimes fall out. You could try a nutritional solution first - give it 3 months. I have many friends who have done this and never had another ear infection or tubes, and I've helped a lot of moms achieve this. Cheaper and less aggravating.
It's hard to select credentials off a website - they tell you nothing about the doctor's ability or bedside manner, or the way in which he/she makes decisions. You might find one who has done a lot more of these procedures, but that doesn't tell you if the doctor is more experienced or just pushes the tubes on every patient. One medical school (or residency) is not necessarily a lot better than another - does it matter what classroom the doctor was in, or is it more important to know what sort of attending physician mentored him/her? So I would go on referrals from your pediatrician and friends. See if one name keeps popping up. Then have a consult and see if you like the doctor's manner, way of handling your questions, style of addressing your fears. Does he acknowledge them or just brush you off and hustle you out the door? That sort of thing.
