For many children, ongoing ear infections cause more than discomfort. Fluid buildup in the ear canals also can cause hearing difficulties during a critical period of speech development.
For young children who experience a series of ear infections, ear tubes are a surgical treatment that may be considered if other options do not produce the desired results. The first line of treatment is typically an antibiotic, but if your child continues to get ear infections, your pediatrician may suggest ear tubes.
“When a child has a cold or ear infection, fluid can build up in the ear canals due to underdeveloped Eustachian tubes,” says Judy Lieu, MD, pediatric otolaryngologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “The tubes help prevent infections, create a way for the fluid to drain properly, and ensure that the child can hear well.”
The surgical procedure itself is short—small metal or plastic ear tubes are inserted into the eardrum after fluid is suctioned out. The child is usually given general anesthesia to enhance comfort.
“There’s very little discomfort after the surgery, and kids should be back to themselves the day following the procedure,” Dr. Lieu says. “Ear tubes don’t cure ear infections, but they can be of tremendous benefit to many children—they help reduce the number of infections, make the infections less painful and improve a child’s ability to hear.”
For more information about ear tubes, call the nurses at 314.454.KIDS (5437) or 800.678.KIDS.