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.