Why Are So Many Children Having Tubes Placed In Their Ears?
Over the past 30 years, ear tube placement has become an accepted procedure for the treatment of ear disease. In fact, ear tube placement is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in children. Ear tube surgery should be considered only after medical therapy has failed. The indications for surgery can be broken down into 3 major categories: 1) Recurrent ear infections, 2) Chronic ear fluid, and 3) Complications of ear infections. Recurrent ear infections that have not been controlled with numerous antibiotics are a very common reason for ear tube placement. These children may have failed an attempt to prevent the ear infections with a trial of low dose antibiotic maintenance as well. Chronic ear fluid which has not drained for 3 or more months is the most common reason ear tubes are for language development between birth and 5 years of age, it is important that children in this age range have normal hearing. Many studies have shown that continuous hearing loss due to ear infecti
