My child may need ear tubes. What are ear tubes?
Ear tubes, or tympanostomy tubes, are ventilation tubes that are placed in the ear drum to drain fluid in the middle ear. This procedure is most often done under general anesthesia but can be done in the office in some cooperative adults. Tympanostomy tubes help drain fluid from the middle ear, help decrease the number of ear infections, and can improve the hearing level. They usually stay in place for 9 18 months and fall out on their own. Some children need multiple sets of tubes while others grown out of the problem rapidly.
