DEAR DR. GOTT:
My four-year-old grandson recently had tubes put in his ears because of several earaches.
I remember as a child using ear drops, heating pads and bags of heated rock salt. My question to you is will these tubes dissolve or need to be removed as he grows older? Will they affect his balance and equilibrium during everyday activities and sports? I am completely clueless about this. Please help.
DEAR READER:
Tubes placed in the ear are surgically implanted through the eardrum to allow fluid to escape easily rather than building up causing infection. They will not dissolve and in most cases fall out after about a year or so. The tubes are minute and chances are, he will never know when they have fallen out.
As far as affecting his balance, yes it will affect it, but in a positive way. An ear infection is basically a build up of fluid within the ear, often behind the eardrum. This can push on the sensitive ear parts causing pain, swelling and a loss of balance. With the tubes in place, this fluid can freely drain away which means no infection, swelling or balance problems.
I, too, as a child remember the drops and heated water bottles. Thankfully today, our children and grandchildren do not have to suffer as we did. Repeated middle ear infections can cause permanent damage and hearing loss. Drops and heating pads merely made the infections more bearable. Tubes, however, are helping these unfortunate repeat sufferers to avoid these risks.
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