Frequent middle ear infections ( chronic otitis media) that are difficult to treat with antibiotics, especially if children retain fluid in between the infections.With decreased ventilation and drainage, children can become prone to developing negative pressure and fluid build-up, which leads to frequent ear infections.Įar tubes are often recommended for children with: These normal anatomy issues mean children have inherently poorer eustachian tube function, which causes inadequate ventilation and drainage from the eustachian tube. The eustachian tube permits air to ventilate the middle ear and allows the drainage of normal ear fluid into the nasopharynx.Ī child’s eustachian tube is narrower, shorter and more horizontally positioned than an adult’s. Middle ear infections and fluid are thought to result from problems with a child’s eustachian tube - the tube that connects the open space behind the nose (the nasopharynx) to the middle ear space. If the tubes fall out and your child still has frequent ear infections, continues to accumulate fluid, or his eardrum collapses again, he may need to have the tubes reinserted. The average age for ear tube insertion is 1 to 3 years, but babies can get ear tubes as young as 6 months.Įar tubes are generally extruded (forced out naturally as the child’s ear grows) from the ear drum anywhere from six to 18 months after insertion. After a brief recovery in a post-operative unit, most children will be sent home the day of surgery. The ear tube insertion surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes on average eight to 15 minutes. Surgeons in the Division of Otolaryngology at CHOP surgically implant ear tubes in more than 4,000 children each year. Ear tubes may also be called tympanostomy tubes, myringotomy tubes or ventilation tubes.Įar tube surgery, also known as tympanostomy tube insertion surgery, is the most common childhood surgery performed in the United States. These tubes allow air to flow in and out of the middle ear, which prevents the development of negative pressure as well as fluid build-up. If your child has frequent ear infections and tends to retain fluid in the middle ear between infections, has chronic fluid build-up in the middle ear, or has hearing or speech problems related to fluid and infections in the ears, your child’s doctor may recommend ear tubes.Įar tubes are tiny cylinders, usually made of plastic and sometimes metal, that are surgically inserted into your child’s eardrum.
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