Questions About Getting Ear Tubes in Preschoolers and Travel

Updated on April 19, 2012
K.B. asks from Detroit, MI
6 answers

Of course we have less than 2 weeks before we leave for vacation (Hawaii and Disneyland!) and this has to come up. My daughter was given a hearing test at her preschool on March 7. Then I get a letter a month ago (dated March 15) that she had some very mild hearing loss in one ear and they wanted her evaluated either hrough the county health department, or through her own doctor. We went with the county health department since the appointment was already scheduled for 4/18. So had her checked today, they did not re-test her hearing but they did have a ENT specialist examine her ears and he said there was fluid present in both, that it had probably been there at least a couple of months (she did have a couple of ear infections over the winter), and he recommended getting tubes put in as soon as possible. He was of the opinion that if it did not get corrected soon, she could end up with worse hearing loss. DD has not been complaining of any pain or pressure or discomfort in the ears, and they are not infected.

I told him what we were up against - namely that we are supposed to leave in 10 days and we will be gone 3 weeks. He said he would be concerned that the pressure in the ears from flying could cause DD some pain and felt it would be best if we could get it taken care before we leave. If she wants to go swimming after the tubes are placed, she could wear ear plugs. Otherwise it would have to wait a whole other month from now until we got back. I've tried calling a few offices, and his office can see her next week Monday the 23rd for an intial exam, but can't say if they could do the surgery before the 28th. I talked with my husband, and he is nervous about any complications that could arise from having the tubes placed, or the anesthesia (which I was told was very brief - like 5 minutes), and then having her on a plane so soon afterwards, or out of town. He doesn't want to see her have any worse hearing issues but he doesn't know if it's wise to have to done so close to traveling (if they are able to fit her in at all).

Does anyone have any experience with this? I know I will be talking with her own pediatrician of course and would like to talk to the ENT doctor again too, but I've left messages and I am waiting for a call back, and I am just looking for some opinions. Would be best to have it done first if we can and still keep our travel plans? Or would it be okay to wait until we return? Could not having it done first really create that much of an issue while we are flying, or would it be best to wait so that we are home with her as soon as it is done? TIA!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Managed to get in with her pediatrician tonight - they checked her out and really didn't think she had a significant amount of fluid in the ears at all, and certainly did not think it warranted putting ear tubes in. If she had been getting an ear infection every month for the past 6 months, then yeah, sure...but she had one in October, one in January, and that's been it. She's also had a recurrent cruddy phlegmy cough and it's possible it's all connected. Pediatrician was surprised he didn't offer any other alternative, and just wanted to jump to ear tubes...she put DD on Flonase nasal spray once a day and said let's see her back in a month. I also spoke with a friend of mine whose daughter went through the same thing, except she took her to their own ENT specialist, who also recommended a nasal spray to start. She thought actually going through with getting tubes put in just for a little ear fluid sounded crazy too and even gave me her ENT doctor's name if I decide to go for another opinion. I will consider the ear tubes if they are recommended after our trip but it's also not as if DD has been completely deaf and her hearing and verbal development are way behind (if anything, it's just the opposite!).

More Answers

K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

My 5 year old son is getting tubes put in, tonsils and adenoids taken out.. On June 1st... My son has had 2 ear infections since December... The ent did a hearing test, saw there is fluid in both of his ears as well.. One ear drum is bulging.. My son has also had a on/off cruddy cough for about 3 months(no other symptoms).. He doesn't have allergies, and was put on 2 different antibiotics.. Did nothing.... His tonsils are huge and when the ENT went down my son's nose, he has mucus covering his adenoids... All are connected.. I am waiting 5/6 more weeks before I do the surgery (we have pre-op visits and they are sending him for blood work).... Just wanted to tell you my story :)
I have lots of friends that their kids had tubes put in. NO DOWN TIME for any of them!!!! The tonsils is where the town time comes in..
Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Chicago on

We were in a similar boat and honestly she was recovered by the afternoon and actually having the tubes in will eliminate the pressure all together when flying.

I would get a second opinion but I wouldn't worry about doing it so close to travel.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.K.

answers from New York on

Personally, I would go on vacation and have it done when you return.
A few weeks will not make a difference. I also would probably get a second
opinion. Have a blast. I absolutely love Hawaii.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

No experience with ear issues but DS had oral surgery (obstructed salivary duct) the day before we flew cross country. No problems at all. It was a conference we couldn't move and his cheek suddenly became very painful so we didn't really have any timing options. I figured they have doctors in California where we were going.

R.B.

answers from Dallas on

We fly quite a bit. I suggest trying to get her ears to be as clear as possible before flying as the pressure is really not a good thing with any fluid built up.
Just my two cents,
R.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My grandson that is 3 was deaf due to his ear infections that the antibiotics had not touched. They went in to put tubes in and the doc was cleaning out debris for half an hour in each ear.

He could hear after he had the tubes put in.

I would do the tubes, an ENT is a specialist, a pediatrician is not.

Do the tubes after your trip but do consider doing them. The anesthesia is hard, it's gas not IV and they don't come out of it calm. They come out screaming like a banshee. They told us that was very common and it happened with a different grandson. He was perfectly normal within 30 minutes though. He was back in the back less than half an hour. With all the other stuff they have to do I can imagine it would only be a few minutes under the actual gas.

The tubes come out in just a few months naturally.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions