Are ear tubes bad for babies?
Ear tubes typically stay in place for six months to a year before falling out on their own. Once ear tubes fall out, your child may need another set placed if they still experience frequent ear infections. However, they may also be fine without ear tubes.
At what age are ear tubes no longer needed?
May 13, 2002 — Plenty of kids get ventilation tubes put in their ears to prevent chronic ear infections, or otitis media. A new study shows that up to age 7 — the period when kids are at highest risk for infections — they can safely have tubes for two to four years.
Can ear tubes cause problems later in life?
Treating children’s ear infections with ventilation tubes in their ears increases their risk of minor hearing loss as adults.
Are tubes in your ears permanent?
Are Ear Tubes Permanent? Ear tubes are not permanent, but there are different types of tubes we can use depending on the duration we want them to remain in the ear. We usually start with tubes designed to stay in the ear 3-6 months before the eardrum pushes them out naturally.
Can you swim with tubes in your ears?
You may be wondering if your child can swim after getting ear tubes – yes, but with certain precautions. Though surface-level swimming is not known to cause more ear infections, we recommend using ear plugs while swimming. Additional protection can be provided by using a swim cap over the ear plugs.
Can ear tubes be removed?
Some ear tubes are soft and flexible, and in some patients can be safely removed in an office setting using a microscope and fine instruments to gently slide them out. Other types of tubes are more rigid and would need to be removed under a brief inhalational anesthetic.
What to expect after baby gets tubes in ears?
Your child may vomit a little on the day of the surgery or have a minor earache. Some children’s ears will pop when they burp, yawn, or chew. This should go away as the eardrum heals. Ear tubes help prevent ear infections by allowing air into the middle ear.
Are ear tubes risky?
Are There Any Risks From Ear Tube Surgery? This is a very common and safe procedure, although there are risks with any surgery, including infection, bleeding, and problems with anesthesia. Rarely, the hole in the eardrum does not close after the tube comes out, and might need to be fixed surgically.
Can ear tubes make things worse?
According to a new long-term study by Dr. Stenstrom and colleagues, when young children were randomly assigned to receive ear tubes or to be treated daily with antibiotics, those with ear tubes suffered greater damage to their eardrums and had, on average, poorer hearing 6 to 10 years after the tubes were removed.
Why do some babies get tubes in their ears?
Ear tubes are often recommended for children who have persistent fluid buildup behind the eardrum, especially if the condition causes hearing loss or affects speech development. Your child’s doctor may also recommend ear tubes if your child gets frequent ear infections.
How serious is ear tube surgery?
Ear tube placement is a relatively safe procedure with a low risk of serious complications. Possible risks include: Bleeding and infection. Persistent fluid drainage.
Is ear tube surgery painful?
Your doctor may give you some ear drops to use after surgery to help control the ear tube drainage. Your child may experience some pain after ear tube surgery in the form of an earache. This is caused by pressure changes in the ear and/or hearing louder sounds than he or she is used to.
What happens when your child has ear tube surgery?
Your child may vomit a little on the day of the surgery or have a minor earache. Some children’s ears will pop when they burp, yawn, or chew. This should go away as the eardrum heals. Ear tubes help prevent ear infections by allowing air into the middle ear.
Where can I get ear tubes for my child?
At The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia alone, surgeons in the Division of Otolaryngology (ENT) surgically implant ear tubes in more than 4,000 children each year at CHOP’s Main Hospital and the CHOP Specialty Care Center & Surgery Centers in Brandywine Valley, Bucks County, King of Prussia and Voorhees.
What are the risks of having ear tubes?
If these conditions are not treated, they can lead to larger problems, such as difficulties with speech or permanent hearing loss. In addition to draining fluid from the ear, ear tubes let air in to prevent buildup of fluid in the middle ear.
Why do you need an ear tube in the middle of your ear?
The opening to the middle ear (the area behind the eardrum) lets air flow in and out. This keeps air pressure even between the middle ear and the outside, and helps to drain fluid that builds up behind the eardrum. Most kids won’t need surgery to have a tube taken out later. Ear tubes usually fall out on their own, pushed out as the eardrum heals.