Anyone hear of putting in ear tubes for excessive ear wax?

[Snoozan]

My little 8 month old DGS has started with ear infections and had a quick check by an ENT(it was actually his brother's appt). He mentioned that he might be a candidate for ear tubes as due to the excessive ear wax, my little DGS might end up with speech issues due to not hearing as well as he should. He goes back again next week to the ENT for his own consult so not sure what his mom should be asking the doctor. It seems to me that ear tubes are overkill when nothing else(except antibiotics)has been tried to get rid of the fluid/wax in his ears.

 

[onelilspark]

I'm 99% sure that's the reason I had tubes as a kid. My ears still build up with excessive ear wax, I need to constantly clean them...ugh, and I went deaf in my left ear because I forgot to do it before flying (to Disney of all places!) and it hardened. Not fun. I had ear infection after ear infection when I was young. After a few rounds of tubes, I haven't had them since. I certainly wouldn't rule it out.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I wouldn't rule it our either. I have excessive earwax now and as far as i know there's really nothing that will stop it. Antibiotics will help with fluid in the ear but not the wax. I have to debrox on a regular basis and your DGS is likely too young for that.

 

[clh2]

My DD had tons of ear infections, and tubes were never suggested. We treated each one with antibiotics.

Now - we did all this through the pediatrician, NOT the ENT.

We wouldn't have been opposed to tubes, it just wasn't ever brought up.

My niece had tubes put in when she wa less than a year old. You have to be careful with swimming after that, but it has been awhile, and I do not remember why.

 

[HelenePA]

My dd who is 9 got them TODAY for this same reason! She was a deaf as a doorknob. It was awful. Very very awful. Her speech has suffered this year because of it. For her to hear us (or her teachers) we had to yell into her ear. I"m sure I got some looks doing this at the park and what not but she couldn't hear you otherwise! We got there today at 6:45am (UGH!) and were home by 9:30am. The "surgery" it self was less than 10minutes start to finish. The results were immediate! When we got home she even said to me mom I can hear again. No more yelling at her to do simple things, no more having to go into the next room to talk to her because she could NOT hear you from 5ft away. No more loud Taylor Swift in the mornings I hope She is much happier already! We did try just cleaning them out and then trying to maintain them but she had it done in December and by March you could see it was affecting her again. I'm SOOOOO glad we did this! I'm sure her teachers will be happy next year as well! Good Luck to them.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I'm 99% sure that's the reason I had tubes as a kid. My ears still build up with excessive ear wax, I need to constantly clean them...ugh, and I went deaf in my left ear because I forgot to do it before flying (to Disney of all places!) and it hardened. Not fun. I had ear infection after ear infection when I was young. After a few rounds of tubes, I haven't had them since. I certainly wouldn't rule it out.

This is where a cochlear implant is a disadvantage, cause If i forget I can tell i have it but no way to know just how bad it is if I've let it go for awhile. OTH its also an advantage because no need to actually hear with the unimplanted ear.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since you mentioned the ear infections, I want to remind you that gentle chiropractic care is well known for helping babies and small childrens end the ear infections. I highly recommend they try that route before any holes are made in the eardrum.

 

[Sparx]

I had tubes when I was a child and since they've fallen out, my ears have been "draining" like they were before I had the tubes put in. I do have to say that I distinctly remember having the tubes put in and waking up from the surgery and really hearing well for the first time. I didn't know it before, but my whole life had sounded like my head was under water.

 

[wdwmom2]

I must admit, I never heard of it. We send kiddos to the ENT for tubes, but it is because the fluid behind the eardrums won't drain, so it sits there and becomes infected. Tubes allow the draining to occur. It's the fluid behind the eardrums that makes it sound like you are underwater.

We do get children of all ages, infants (not as common) up through teenagers (more common), that get a wax buildup. We either use a loop to dig it out, or flush it out with warm water and a waterpik. Then the parents are instructed how to avoid this buildup at home. Some children are just habitual heavy wax builders, so we see them every so often to flush their ears.

 

[golfgal]

How would tubes help with ear wax build up? The tubes are placed in the ear drum but the wax collects in the outer ear? Is there another kind of tube that they would use for this? I don't see how it would work. Now, FLUID behind the ear drum, yes, but I can't see it helping for ear wax.

 

[HelenePA]

I'm going to take a shot in the dark with this.. but my dd also had fluid.. I'm going to GUESS that fluid helps push out the ear wax thus helping for excessive wax.. if you'd like I'll ask my dd's dr next week when we go back for a check up exactly how it works.. all I freaking care about right now is that it IS working. No loud music this morning She can hear the TV at a normal volume and doesn't need it up all the way its so great...

 

[tiggger1]

Helen, My friends daughter was the same way, got tubes this year ( she is in 5th grade) because of ear infections and not hearing. The only issue she had is that she is still a bit sensitive to loud noises.


My son has had tubes since he was 18 months and he is 3 1/2 now. I would do them again in a heartbeat. He just went the other day for a checkup and they told me it looks like they just put them in!

 

[moburg]

My little 8 month old DGS has started with ear infections and had a quick check by an ENT(it was actually his brother's appt). He mentioned that he might be a candidate for ear tubes as due to the excessive ear wax, my little DGS might end up with speech issues due to not hearing as well as he should. He goes back again next week to the ENT for his own consult so not sure what his mom should be asking the doctor. It seems to me that ear tubes are overkill when nothing else(except antibiotics)has been tried to get rid of the fluid/wax in his ears.

Ear wax or fluids, if he's getting chronic ear infections, get the tubes! I was very reluctant with my then 1 year old, but it has been miraculous!

He had a lot of fluid buildup, which affected his balance and hearing. He is still lagging a little behind with his speech, most likely because of the hearing loss caused by all the fluid. And he went from taking at most a few steps (for months before the surgery) to full on walking within days of the surgery. His balance was most definitely affected.

Do it. You will not regret it.