Ear Tubes

Here at Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin we are happy to evaluate your child for ear tubes if they have ear infections frequently.

Ear tubes, also known as tympanostomy tubes, are placed in the eardrum to release
and equalize pressure within the middle ear thus reducing pain and the frequency of
infection.

Reasons ear tubes are considered include:

  • Frequent middle ear infections – Depending on the age of the individual and
    the frequency of middle ear infections, ear tubes may help prevent recurrent ear infections.
  • Persistent middle ear fluid – Tympanostomy tubes can drain fluid from
    behind the eardrum. This is important because constant fluid in the middle ear
    can contribute to decreased hearing which especially in young children, can
    significantly delay or impair language, speech and overall learning development.
  • Chronic ear pressure and discomfort without infection – Even chronic
    pressure apart from infection can be relieved by ear tubes as they release and
    equalize pressure to repair or prevent structural abnormalities or abnormal growths in the inner ear.

The tympanostomy surgery takes just about 10-minutes and is an outpatient procedure.
It is performed under general anesthesia and is done by our ENT surgeons. Anesthesia is used to make your child comfortable and not feel the pain or anxiety of the procedure. Once your child is comfortably sedated, a small incision is made in the eardrum to release pressure and fluid out of the middle ear. A small, hollow tube made from surgical-grade plastic or metal is placed in the incision. The tube acts as a conduit or tunnel from the middle to the outer ear.

The purpose of the ear tubes is to equalize pressure between the middle ear and the
outside. It is a safe and effective procedure performed over several decades relieving
the pain of many susceptible children (while also relieving the stress of their parents).
The ear tubes keep fluid from building up in the inner ear, which reduces inflammation
and allows the ear to heal from infections quicker. This procedure often helps reduce
ear infections, relieve their symptoms, and prevents common complications including
hearing loss.

Post procedure follow-up usually takes place in our office three to four weeks after
surgery to make sure the tubes are working well and there are no complications from
the procedure. A hearing test will often be conducted at that time also.

Contact Us if you think ear tubes may be an option for your child. We will be
happy to determine and discuss the best options available.

Hear Better

Dr. Meyer & the staff at ENT Specialists in Appleton are wonderful! They eased my daughter's anxiety while having tests done. Very friendly and knowledgeable.

— Kelly F.

Very good experience with a very professional, detailed and caring practice. They took the time to diagnose the issue, and took no time at all to start treatment. I would recommend this practice to everyone!

— Heather S.

Dr. Keller was thorough and listened to my concerns, he did a complete exam and offered options to procced with types of treatment. I was pleased with the appointment. Again he listened to what I was saying, some doctors don't have that skill.

— Warren D.

Great service! The audiologists in Neenah and Oshkosh truly care about a client with hearing loss. They take the time to provide individualized hearing loss education and also provide excellent follow up support after selling hearing aids. Highly recommended!

— Matt B.

Great staff. The location is easy to find. Very accommodating and well organized. Would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Mjaanes and his staff.

— Douglas K.

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