I believe my two and a half year old is cutting his molars, typicall cranky, headachy, etc. However, we have also noticed that is balance is off. It started yesterday...he is just a lot more accident prone that normal and cant seem to compensate for any type of uneven footing. Could this be related to the teething? It is kind of unerving. Thanks in Advance!
Thank you for all the kind responses...I feel a little more at ease now. He does have tubes in his ears so an infection is not likely, assuming they are still in. I will keep a close eye on him for the next couple of days but a tleast I am not feeling like rushing him to the ER anymore. :). Love this website!!!!
I would bet it's an ear infection. Get him to the doc to check it out.
It could be. The ear passageways are all connected to the jaw and everything in that area. Teething can really effect the ears...which could effect equilibrium. He could also be having some inner ear problems. Is he tugging at his ears and sticking his fingers in? Typically inner ear infections are too painful to do this. My son tugged and poked when he was cutting his two year molars.
yeah, it's a good possibility it could be. but if it lasts very much longer you might want him to get checked for an inner ear infection.
Pain effects balance... so do drugs that interrupt the pain pathway (not tylenol or motrin, but narcotics, alcohols, etc.).
Inflammation from the eruption sites of molars can extend a good way into the ear canal... in fact triggering ear infections from the blockage in prone individuals
Increased saliva can trigger an increase in mucous (mucagon reacting to the increase in fluid, creating mucous... not on accident... it aids in both swallowing & vomitting & foreign object displacement)... but can also create sinus pressure from increased mucous production, which can effect balance... both because of pressure on nerves, pain pathways, and people's natural tendency to avoid pain (ever bend over with a sinus infection and suddenly *Stop* bending over, or come upright slowly/ change your gait in order to do so?)
So... yep. Teething can cause effects on the ability of children to balance. HOWEVER... children in particular are highly adaptive. The effects "wear off" in about 3 days as their brains adjust for the alterations. If the balance issues last for longer than 3 days (or if other symptoms present) head on in to get ears and sinuses checked for infection.
Super observant mama!!! Kudos & High 5s :) :) :)
My youngest had ear pain with his teeth and my nephew and niece ot ear infections with every tooth so I'm sure it could effect his balance especially if it's bothering his ears.
Yes, it could be one thing, with all of the fluid in his sinus, they can also affect his ears.
Also How about allergies up there? I know here is Austin we are covered in the yellow pollen and everybody is having trouble with their allergies.
The other thing is he may be going through a growing spurt and not used to his new height.
