So Your Child Need Ear Tubes? What Are They?

Ear Tubes also called:

PE Tubes or Pressure Equalization Tubes, Ventilation Tubes or Myringotomy Tubes, are very small metal, Teflon or plastic cylinders.
They are used mostly for insertion in the ear drum of children who repeatedly develop ear infections or otitis media.

There are two basis types of ear tubes.

Short term: These are smaller in size and will stay in for six months to one year before falling out.

Long term: These are larger and they have flanges that help to secure the tube in place.
They fall out after a longer period than the short term or may be removed by the surgeon.

Annually there are over 500,000 ear tubes insertion or myringotomy procedures performed on children usually around the ages of 1 - 3 years old.
There are occasions that a teenager or an adult may need an ear tube insertion. Example: In the case of a patient having an hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment, or having a severe ear infection as a result of a brain infection or meningitis.

Ear tube placements are usually recommended by the pediatrician to parents whose children are repeatedly having ear infections. These ear infections are sometimes accompanied with pain, fever, discomfort and irritability. Initially the child may be treated with antibiotics and the symptoms will be resolved. However after ongoing or repeated episodes of ear infections, tube insertion or myringotomy will be recommended.

Signs and Symptoms of Otitis Media.
Pulling or rubbing of the ears due to pain and middle ear pressure.

Fever

Fluid leaking from the ear.

Hearing problems.

Difficulty sleeping.

Change in eating habits.

Advantages of a Tube Insertion Procedure are:

This procedure will allow air to enter and ventilate and stabilize the pressure in the middle ear.

It will allow the fluid to flow out of the ear.

Reduction of repeated ear infections.

Restoration of hearing loss which was due to the build up fluid behind the child's ear drum.

The improved hearing will result in improved speech and learning.