Ear Tubes

What are ear tubes?

Ear tubes (myringotomy tubes) are small tubes that are surgically placed into your child’s eardrum to help drain the fluid out of the middle ear in order to reduce the risk of ear infections.

When does a child need ear tubes?

Your child’s doctor may recommend ear tubes if one or more of the following conditions are present:

• Fluid in the ears for more than three or four months following an ear infection
• Fluid in the ears and more than three months of hearing loss
• Changes in the actual structure of the eardrum from ear infections
• A delay in speaking
• Repeated ear infections antibiotics over several months

Ear tubes allow time for the child to mature and for the Eustachian tube to work more efficiently. By the age of 5 years, the Eustachian tube becomes wider and longer, allowing for better drainage of fluids from the ears. The tubes usually fall out on their own after six to twelve months. After they fall out, if ear infections recur, they may require replacement.

My child has recurring ear infections. Will they need ear tubes?

During an ear infection, fluid builds up behind the eardrum in a place called the middle ear space. Normally, when the ear infection has run its course, the fluid drains out of the middle ear into the back of the nose through the body’s natural drainage tube called the Eustachian tube.

Sometimes this fluid doesn’t go away because the Eustachian tube remains swollen and can’t open. Fluid trapped behind the eardrum causes hearing loss because it prevents the eardrum and hearing bones from vibrating normally.

Ear tubes are small tubes placed into the eardrum to help ventilate the middle ear and prevent recurrent ear infections. They are the size of a pen tip and are typically made of

• Silicone
• Fluoroplastic
• Titanium

When does my child need ear tube surgery?

Tubes are placed when a child has recurrent or chronic ear infections (otitis media). Tubes are generally recommended when a child has three infections in six months; four infections in one year; or persistent ear fluid lasting three months or more with associated hearing loss. Your ENT specialist can help determine if ear tubes are needed.