Sometimes, it may seem like your child’s life can be measured with every cold, scraped knee, or earache that comes along. Colds will pass and knees will heal, but ear infections are potentially a bigger problem.
Frequently recurring ear infections require more than simply another course of antibiotics. Tympanostomy tubes are a safe solution to help middle-ear drainage and reduce the frequency of infections.
As ear infection specialists, our team at Austin ENT Associates in Round Rock, Texas, are your partners in pediatric ear care. Today, we’ll look at five signs that your child’s ear infections may require tubes.
Sure, kids often plow through illness and infection without slowing down much, but it’s important to note when and how they’re getting sick.
Having three or more ear infections over the course of six months, or having four or more infections in a 12-month stretch may be signs that it’s time to step up treatment.
Ear tubes are an effective way to drain fluid buildup from a current infection while improving drainage to ease future problems. Between a child’s developing anatomy and immune system, fluid collecting in the middle ear is common, and it’s an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
Untreated recurrent ear infections are tied to permanent hearing loss, which can then slow natural development and learning. Adding ear tubes allows air into the middle ear (which is normally air-filled) to encourage drainage and reduce the frequency of infection.
Fluid can remain in the middle ear even after a course of antibiotics clears the infection. Symptoms of this include:
Since the middle ear is normally filled with air, fluid interferes with the mechanisms that transfer sound to the inner ear, leading to hearing loss.
This may be the most noticeable sign that ear tubes could help. In toddlers, their voice may be less clear and they could stop picking up new words. Older children might have difficulty following instructions.
The impact of ear infections may be enough for you to consider tubes, even if your child falls below the infection frequency thresholds. Ear infections can lead to interrupted sleep, which in turn contributes to concentration problems, mood changes, and reduced participation in life.
For some kids, ear infections never seem to clear up fully, even with antibiotics, medical monitoring, and repeat visits to the doctor. Ear tubes may be the answer, and they’ll help prevent any further developmental delays brought on by the range of middle-ear infections.
Contact us at Austin ENT Associates to discuss your child’s ear infection frequency and symptoms. We’ll recommend treatment options based on exams and testing. Call 512-458-6391 or click the appointment request button on this page to plan your visit today.
