Parents of chilren with tubes in their ears.

zyxst

I had tubes put in when I was 8. I think it was because I had an extremely bad ear infection and the fluid build-up would cause a rupture in the ear drum. I didn't have speech problems before, though I did have hearing problems (according to those tests in school). I remember being dosed twice with adult-size anesthesia and waking up with goo leaking from my ears. I had to roll over every 15 minutes and allow my ears to leak onto a thick cloth. I found out after that the doctor had removed my adenoids, so for the past 34 years I've had to deal with perpetually runny noses.

I still get ear infections. I had a double infection 2 years ago. I did have one tube fall out when I was either 12-13.

cindybowcut

My daughter had tubes in her ears when she was 5. When she was younger she always had to have the TV really loud to hear it. I didn't think anything of it at the time. When she started kindergarten they told me that she had failed her hearing test. We immediately took her to an ENT. They tested her and she had no movement in her ear drum in her left ear. She had so much pressure behind her ear drum from infection. After having the tubes put in it was like night and day difference. The doctor told me that after the surgery she would probably just lay around the rest of the day. No, not my child she wanted food as soon as we left the hospital and didn't stop once that day. They bounce back so quickly when they are young. She didn't have her tonsils out until she was 16. Our family doctor wouldn't take them out even with her having strep throat 3 times that year. So we went back to her ENT. He couldn't believe how bad they were and schedule the surgery right away. It took her longer to heal since she was older. But she has so much healther after having them out.

gauchogirl

Lot's of experience in this dept. I had chronic ear infections myself and had tubes. 2 of my three daughters also had them. My middle girl sounds like your son. She was a healthy, solid baby when she was getting mostly liquids and baby foods for her diet, but as she got older, she was always tiny, weighing 34 lbs exactly from age 2 to 5. She had a speech issue, unable to pronounce many words ("wemembo" would be a could descriptor for her also.) She snored like a trucker. She didn't like to eat much. Always got ear infections that would rupture her ear drum... When they decided to take her tonsils and adenoids out and put tubes in, it was like a night and day difference. She finally put on weight. The snoring stopped, her appetite increased. We put he in speech therapy. The doctor explained that kids with enlarged tonsils/adenoids don't like to eat because there isn't much room in their throats for swallowing food. It's uncomfortable. It causes the snoring also. She didn't have another ear infection for many years later, after the tubes were out (they come out on their own after a couple years usually) and in general only had a few growing up since (she's 20 now.)

My youngest had such frequent and severe ear infections (ruptured ear drums probably a 7-8 times before she was 6 months old) that they put her tubes in at only 6 months. Helped tremendously. I remember the pain myself of ear infections so bad the drum ruptures. I would have the surgery in a heartbeat again, or for my kids, if they were young still. Of course you are worried about the surgery, but it really is a common one and so very helpful for the child.

readyforchange

I had my daughters tonsils taken out when she was 5. She is now 13 and hasnt had one single ear infecctiom since. She also had tubes putb in her ears when she was 2, but after they kept coming out (3 times) I wasnt willing to put her through anymore surgeries. I would say if there is a problem with tonsils, get them out! Ans the sooner the better!!

magj0y

feel free to inbox me if you want more details on how the surgery and recovery feels

ReneeJ814

I'm not a parent, but I'm a graduate student in speech-language pathology and will soon graduate, so I think I can provide some insight here. You made the right move by making an appointment with the ENT. He/she will be the person who can identify whether or not your son will need tubes in his ears. I'm sure they will probably check his hearing there, but it probably wouldn't hurt to see an audiologist for a full evaluation if you're concerned about your son's hearing. As lauramac said earlier, chronic ear infections can do permanent damage to your son's hearing if they go untreated.

Here's my two cents about his speech. Based on your description of your son's speech, it sounds to me like he has trouble pronouncing his R's. This is not uncommon because R is the hardest sound to learn and also the hardest sound to teach. Some children can pick it up very easily and have the R sound when they are as young as 4 years old; however, in some chidren the R sound doesn't fully develop until age 7-8, which is your son's age range. Based on your description, this is the sound that gives him trouble, which shouldn't greatly affect the way others understand him. Do strangers have a hard time understanding him? By the way, his speech may not have anything to do with his hearing.

For now, I believe you are making the right first step. See the ENT and get the ear infections resolved first. If there are hearing problems, get those resolved as well. After this, if you are still concerned about his speech, you should see a speech-language pathologist to evaluate his speech. If he goes to public school, he can be evaluated and possibly treated there. If not, there are probably university speech and hearing clinics or private practices. Talk to your son's pediatrician or ENT about this and I'm sure he/she can refer you to somebody. I hope this helps!

SlimmingSarah2012

I have two boys and both of them got tubes before the age of two. Super easy procedure and neither of them had ear infections once they were in. My oldest had to have speech therapy because he was experiencing hearing loss from all of his infections and now he's at 100% hearing and his speech is just fine (he's 8 now but everything was fine by the time he hit 4/5). I think more than likely your son will benefit but just see what the ENT says.

Good luck!

Jenny_Taylia

They do take tonsils out, I had mine out last month and I'm pushing 40. Do it while he's younger.

Think ice picking stabbing at your ear, that is how it feels. This has plagued me for many many years and for the last ten years I've had upper respiratory infections and the last 5 years strep -at least once a year-

if you've never had strep, it's a burning ring of fire in your throat.

My daughter had her adnoids & tonsils out and eartubes in, after that she was fine.

Please do it. It's a LOT of suffering for a little kid. I wish my mom cared enough to get my tonsils out when I was a kid. I have scarring in my ears from so many ear infections.

swab his inner ear with a bit of rubbing alcohol to evaporate the water after he gets out of the bath to kill bacteria and get the water out.

Also, his speech could be due to the many ear infections making it hard for him to hear exact pronunciations. So you may want to get him some speech therapy, they should provide it free at the school

Oh I didnt ask IF I should do it because I without a doubt am. Im tired of seeing him in pain and Im positive he is tired of being in pain. Ive had strep throat...Last year when I was pregnant with baby # 4! Not fun!

Jenny_Taylia

I've had both my kids into an ENT and he told us they look for 4 infections in 6 months or 6-7 in 12 months. Both of my kids qualified but we decided to wait and see what happens. So far, so good. My son got 4 in 4 months this spring/summer, AND a bout with strep. But so far this fall, he's been fine.

I've heard tubes help TREMENDOUSLY. I was just concerned with getting my kids off the constant antibiotics!

As for his speech, I had the exact impediment as your son, but never had ear issues. I went to a speech therapist when I was about his age and now I'm fine.

If he's in THAT much pain, I'd see if you can get him in sooner. That's 2 months!! What does his normal DR say?

Actually...this appt Dec 17th is for our FAMILY doctor!!! To see him about referring Michael to the ENT. He is all booked up for a week and a half then on Holidays for 2 weeks!

Jenny_Taylia

I'm not a parent, but I'm a graduate student in speech-language pathology and will soon graduate, so I think I can provide some insight here. You made the right move by making an appointment with the ENT. He/she will be the person who can identify whether or not your son will need tubes in his ears. I'm sure they will probably check his hearing there, but it probably wouldn't hurt to see an audiologist for a full evaluation if you're concerned about your son's hearing. As lauramac said earlier, chronic ear infections can do permanent damage to your son's hearing if they go untreated.

Here's my two cents about his speech. Based on your description of your son's speech, it sounds to me like he has trouble pronouncing his R's. This is not uncommon because R is the hardest sound to learn and also the hardest sound to teach. Some children can pick it up very easily and have the R sound when they are as young as 4 years old; however, in some chidren the R sound doesn't fully develop until age 7-8, which is your son's age range. Based on your description, this is the sound that gives him trouble, which shouldn't greatly affect the way others understand him. Do strangers have a hard time understanding him? By the way, his speech may not have anything to do with his hearing.

For now, I believe you are making the right first step. See the ENT and get the ear infections resolved first. If there are hearing problems, get those resolved as well. After this, if you are still concerned about his speech, you should see a speech-language pathologist to evaluate his speech. If he goes to public school, he can be evaluated and possibly treated there. If not, there are probably university speech and hearing clinics or private practices. Talk to your son's pediatrician or ENT about this and I'm sure he/she can refer you to somebody. I hope this helps!

Only sometimes do other people not understand him but not very often. He has been referred to speech therapy since he started kindergarten and I havent heard anything back about it yet! He is now in the middle of grd 2.

magj0y

Only sometimes do other people not understand him but not very often. He has been referred to speech therapy since he started kindergarten and I havent heard anything back about it yet! He is now in the middle of grd 2.

Sometimes you need to push it, I know I did! The school is obligated to provide for it.

Also, can't your dr just call out for a referel? seems really weird that the fam dr. would want to see him (again)!

karenjoy

Part of my job involves going into schools to check 4 year olds for speech and language development, I also test hearing and refer to audiology and speech and language therapy dept, this is one of the most important aspects of my work, I also screen for vision, growth, comprehension, fine and gross motor skills etc etc

This is provided by the NHS School Nursing team and we go into all our local schools and see all the children, unless their parents opt out of course, but it means we pick up on all sorts of things like glue ear and speech issues that might have an impact on the childs development and education, we can refer directly to the consultant so no need to see the Dr, I am not sure if you have this service where you are, but it might be worth asking the school if they have access to this kind of thing and you might be able to bypass the Dr and fast track, like I can x

We also see any child if asked by the school or parent, its not just 4 year olds

MeMyCatsandI

My son (he's 20 now!) had tubes put in his ears THREE times. The first two times they came out in a year or so. His ears just pushed them out in an effort to heal. The third time, the ENT put in the tubes and took out his tonsils and adnoids. That was about 13 years ago. Hasn't had a problem since.

I haven't heard that tonsils aren't removed anymore, and I highly doubt that to be true. If he has recurring infections, they'll likely remove them.

AimersBee

I had them as a kid, I think I was around 8ish. I had a TON of ear infections... not sure what they told my mom but they did put tubes in. I don't recall much about having them in except for being made to wear earplugs while swimming (and a seriously style cramping headband to keep them in :laugh: ). I do know that I haven't had an ear infection since. :happy:

I also had a TON of ear infections as a child, and even all the way until about 3 years ago (i'm 27)... The ear infections were pretty painful, and I as well had to get tubes in my ears when I was around 6-7 years old. Had to wear the earplugs as well while swimming. I'm not sure if the tubes really helped? Maybe.. They fell out randomly though, I remember freaking out cus a piece of metal or whatever it was came out of my ear unexpectedly, thought it was some tool an alien used, hahaha, (I watched a lot of scary movies when I was younger).

Anyways.... I had such pain a few years ago with ear infection, it would feel like someone was hitting me in the side of the head with a hammer, it was unbearable, I had to take 3 tylenol 3's with codene (taking one pill every 30 min or so until the pain went away)to actually somewhat knock me out.

As of now though, I haven't had an ear infection in quite some time. I do have tinnitus (constant ringing in the ear) though, didn't know there was an actual word for it until I was 16, and I thought it was normal, but apparently not, who knows if I was born with it or it actually came about after the tubes? I couldn't tell ya..

AimersBee

dbl post *deleted*

stljam

I had tubes put in my ears and my adenoids removed when I was around 4 or 5, granted this was 30+ years ago. I was literally going deaf and the ear infections were very frequent and bad. I better knock on wood but I haven't had an ear infection since the surgery and have not had any issues other than what my wife calls selective hearing, lol.

If you want to know more or have specific questions, pm me.

katie070563

Grommets can be really effective for relieving glue ear, reducing the pressure in the middle ear that is causing the pain, and restoring hearing loss as the fluid drains out. Grommets can fall out occasionally, but it is a simple, quick procedure to insert them but can have lots of benefits. Good luck

vidald

My son was 18 months old when the ear and throat infections started. I spent every second week at the doctor's office, it was the most frustrating thing. He would spike 104 fevers and become delirious and hallucinate! I allowed a doctor to put tubes in his ears but got angry because it didn't help him. I saw 4 ear and nose specialists and had one dr tell me to stay home and stop sending him to daycare! Seriously, I almost clocked him for that! 2 years my son spent on antibiotics and since he had been on it during the development of his teeth, he had most of the enamel of his teeth wear off because of the antibiotics. I had to get most of his molar teeth crowned.

One day I had to use a different medi clinic, the doctor I saw there took one look at his throat and said he needs his tonsils out! After all of my visits to all of the quacks, none of them would take the tonsils out because they said kids need them to prevent infections! GRRRR! We were referred to a doctor in a city 45 mins from us and didn't actually see the dr before the surgery due to bad weather and couldn't travel. After my son had the surgery, the dr explained to me that his tonsils were sooo swollen and his adnoids had filled 90% of his sinus cavity! He was surprised that my son could even breathe!

I also had tubes put in my ears at 17 and it was the worst thing I ever had done. Water getting into your ears was the most painful experience. I had custom ear plugs but they never kept the water out! When the holes finally closed up, I could finally enjoy going back into the water!

Whatever you do, make sure that it isn't the child's tonsils or other underlying issues that may be causing them.

Jenny_Taylia

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Now....

Does he have to be in the middle of an ear infection or throat infection for them to want to do something? Or can he go in pain free with no infections for them to say he needs tubes or his tonsils out?

smiley245

Usually your referal papers will indicate that this is a recurring problem and when you meet with the specialist he will discuss the history of ear infections/health of your child.

I also see that you are in TO (I'm in Ottawa) I have been told the same thing when it comes to Strep. My dr told me one has to have strep 7 or 8 times a year to be considered.
It sucks my daughter suffers from these a lot (we did strep back to back 5 times one spring....)
The clinic nurse also informed me I would have better chances of having them remove the tonsils, if we asked for a throat swab every time. This way it builds up a "confirmed case" as to why we should have them removed.
frustrating!