Re: are ear tubes helpful?

[Guest guest]

I think they would help if he's always fighting ear infections!! I'm also

surprised the doctors aren't concerned with how often he's on antibiotics....

when taken too often, bacteria mutate and the antibiotics become USELESS.

Many kids get them...its a quick and simple procedure...my daughter was

ABOUT to have them, and then sorta outgrew her ear infections by 2 yrs old.

They

do often help with speech issues too, if he's not hearing properly because

of constantly clogged ears!

good luck!

Angel

's Mom

[Guest guest]

Shyanna is 10. She is on her 3rd set of tubes. I LOVE them. I believe she

hears better with them. The tubes actually keep the fluid out of the ears. Our

ENT told us that with fluid in her ears, she is hearing as if we plug our ears

and listen to people talk.

The first set stayed in for about 18 months which is considered good. The

second set were semi-permanent, just shaped a little different. She tends to

get a few more ear infections when she doesn't have them in. When she lost the

first ones it was at the end of school and we actually waited until school was

about to start before having them put back in.

The third set were put after one of the two had fallen out. They actually

repositioned the one still in and put the second one in her other ear. I know

for Shyanna they cut down on ear infections, therefore cutting down on missed

school time and extracurricular activities.

If you think you want them, you could request a 2nd opinion or just maybe

express your concern that you would like to give them a try. Another option

would be wait this one out and see how long before his next ear infection

arrives. Also, are you having him checked at the end of his medicine to make

sure the infection is completely cleared?

are ear tubes helpful?

hi everyone! our 3 year old son, jake, is not being treated for his

second ear infection already this fall! He has had many ear infections

in the past and many antibiotics, which don't seem to work! Last year

we took him to a pediatric ent and to our surprise, he said jake did

not need them. Our concerns are mounting because it is not even winter

yet and here we go again! Plus, now he is in preschool. we are going to

take him again for a second opinion about ear tubes....jake is very

delayed in speech and I can't help but wonder if he would be able to

hear and speak better with ear tubes. I don't know anything about ear

tubes. Could you please help me and give me your advice, feedback and

personal experiences with them. are they even worth it? HELP!!

[Guest guest]

My Jake got ear tubes this last winter because he had recurring ear

infections that didn't seem to clear up with antibiotics. My other son

was also getting them at the same time. I took both boys to the

pediatric ENT who said Jake needed ear tubes " because he has down

syndrome " but wanted to try allergy meds on my other son first. I was

upset with the comment and argued with him because I thought

needed tubes too, but instead Jake was the only one that received them.

Before he had the tubes put in, Jake had what we thought were allergies

because his eyes and nose were always running. Since his tubes were put

in this last January he has not had one single runny nose, watery eyes

or ear infection. We haven't had to give him allergy medication since

they were put in. I LOVE THEM! I can't say I've noticed any

improvement in his speech though.

Going back to my other son , he has had two more infections since

that time and allergy medication seemed to do nothing for him. I tried

to explain to the doctor that he doesn't have allergies but he wouldn't

listen to me, so I took him off the allergy medication. With winter

time coming again, I'm sure will continue to get more ear

infections. I have to see his pediatrician next week so I think I'm

going to push for her to refer me to another pediatric ENT so I can get

the tubes for him as well.

Since were on the subject, when I saw the ENT he said that had

enlarged adenoids. He was originally going to put tubes in and take out

his adenoids at the same time but that's when he came up with the bright

idea to try allergy medication. has a moderate speech delay and

is currently getting speech therapy. The therapist keeps thinking it's

something medical that is causing his delay because he's speaking, it's

just not clear (she suggested his hearing or something to do with a

short gap with the tongue?). I've had his hearing tested twice, both

times came back within normal range. I don't think it's his hearing

because it seems like he can hear like a hawk around the house. I also

know ear infections can cause delays but I was curious about his

adenoids, because they are enlarged. I've researched and read that

sometimes when you have enlarged adenoids it can muffle your speech

because your congested (which always is). Has anyone had

experience with enlarge adenoids and if so, was there a problem with

speech? I really think I need to get a second opinion from another ENT.

Krysten

Mom to /mds (just turned 2!)

and (3-1/2)

are ear tubes helpful?

hi everyone! our 3 year old son, jake, is not being treated for his

second ear infection already this fall! He has had many ear infections

in the past and many antibiotics, which don't seem to work! Last year

we took him to a pediatric ent and to our surprise, he said jake did

not need them. Our concerns are mounting because it is not even winter

yet and here we go again! Plus, now he is in preschool. we are going to

take him again for a second opinion about ear tubes....jake is very

delayed in speech and I can't help but wonder if he would be able to

hear and speak better with ear tubes. I don't know anything about ear

tubes. Could you please help me and give me your advice, feedback and

personal experiences with them. are they even worth it? HELP!!

[Guest guest]

I am all for tubes. OUr son Caden had an ear infection the whole winter they

were out of antibiotics for him to use! I had to push them to see an ent and

then I had to force him to do the surgery!!! Caden has not had an ear infection

since he had the tubes. I believe he was 1 when he got them and they fell out

last winter already and he is 3. My niece is deaf in 1 ear because of too many

ear infections and my sister who is a Speech Pathologist said every time Caden

has an ear infection he has trouble hearing sounds which could delay his speech.

I know it is hard to see your child be put under so that is a personal decision,

but it really worked out well for us.

Hope this helped.

- mom to Ella (5) and Caden MDS (3)

IMDSA Fundraising Chairperson

---- lancasterhorses wrote:

> hi everyone! our 3 year old son, jake, is not being treated for his

> second ear infection already this fall! He has had many ear infections

> in the past and many antibiotics, which don't seem to work! Last year

> we took him to a pediatric ent and to our surprise, he said jake did

> not need them. Our concerns are mounting because it is not even winter

> yet and here we go again! Plus, now he is in preschool. we are going to

> take him again for a second opinion about ear tubes....jake is very

> delayed in speech and I can't help but wonder if he would be able to

> hear and speak better with ear tubes. I don't know anything about ear

> tubes. Could you please help me and give me your advice, feedback and

> personal experiences with them. are they even worth it? HELP!!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, if treated properly Tubes do make a MAJOR differrence. After you get them

you can't get ANY water (even from bathing) down in the ears. They recommened

that you put vaseline on small peices of cotton and insert just at the opening

of the ear before washing there hair. But....I think that the vaseline itself

builds up so I always just bath Trinity with me and put her on my lap to wash

her hair (she's only 3 so we still gotta a little time left) anyway My daughter

(Trinity's mother) had 14 sets growing up and Trinity has already had 3 sets.

But I've also learned with ALL these Doctors you gotta be persistent. I would

highly suggest you get a second opinion. And Kick and Scream and Holler!!!!!!!

Blessings.....

Terrie (Trinity's mammy)

lancasterhorses wrote:

hi everyone! our 3 year old son, jake, is not being treated for his

second ear infection already this fall! He has had many ear infections

in the past and many antibiotics, which don't seem to work! Last year

we took him to a pediatric ent and to our surprise, he said jake did

not need them. Our concerns are mounting because it is not even winter

yet and here we go again! Plus, now he is in preschool. we are going to

take him again for a second opinion about ear tubes....jake is very

delayed in speech and I can't help but wonder if he would be able to

hear and speak better with ear tubes. I don't know anything about ear

tubes. Could you please help me and give me your advice, feedback and

personal experiences with them. are they even worth it? HELP!!

---------------------------------

Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.

[Guest guest]

My daughter had tubes put in and her tonsils and adenoids taken out all at the

same time. She was about 2 1/2 at the time and still not eating solid foods -

The ENT took one look at her tonsils and adenoids and told me " I bet she's not

eating solid foods yet. " I told her, she was right and it was the best thing I

could have done for Katy. It is not a fun surgery to go through - but she did

much better after she had time to heal. Also the ENT put what she called the

longer tubes in Katy's ears and they lasted till she was probably 8 or 9 - The

ENT wasn't sure she could get the longer tubes in because of how small Katy's

ear canals were, but said she would try, if not, she would put the shorter tubes

in and they would probably have to be redone in a year or so - I was glad she

able to get the longer tubes in - they lasted many years and Katy did not have

any ear infections.

Charlotte Siegmund (Mom to Katy now 15)

are ear tubes helpful?

hi everyone! our 3 year old son, jake, is not being treated for his

second ear infection already this fall! He has had many ear infections

in the past and many antibiotics, which don't seem to work! Last year

we took him to a pediatric ent and to our surprise, he said jake did

not need them. Our concerns are mounting because it is not even winter

yet and here we go again! Plus, now he is in preschool. we are going to

take him again for a second opinion about ear tubes....jake is very

delayed in speech and I can't help but wonder if he would be able to

hear and speak better with ear tubes. I don't know anything about ear

tubes. Could you please help me and give me your advice, feedback and

personal experiences with them. are they even worth it? HELP!!

[Guest guest]

I would like to pipe in on the ear tube issue. Children with MDS can

have small ear canals and because of this, it makes it very hard for

the fluid to drain properly. Thus, multiple ear infections that wont

go away with antibiotics.

Tim has 3 sets of tubes when he was younger. Some kids don't need

more than one set, but every time his tubes fell out he got more

infections. Tim was deaf until his first set of tubes when he was

19months old. The fluid had backed up so much in his ears that he

was unable to hear anything. (When you have fluid in your ears, the

ear drum does not move properly to hear sound) Immediately after the

first set of tubes, Tim's speech began to dramatically improve. (If

you can't hear you don't speak!)

The proceedure is a quick day proceedure that causes NO PAIN at all

to the child. Some children with MDS do have trouble with anestesia

so you definately want to talk with the doctor about that.

I think that it is important to have the tubes in when your child is

having repeated ear infections or ear infections that wont heal with

antibiotics.

Kristy

>

>

> ---- lancasterhorses wrote:

> > hi everyone! our 3 year old son, jake, is not being treated

for his

> > second ear infection already this fall! He has had many ear

infections

> > in the past and many antibiotics, which don't seem to work! Last

year

> > we took him to a pediatric ent and to our surprise, he said jake

did

> > not need them. Our concerns are mounting because it is not even

winter

> > yet and here we go again! Plus, now he is in preschool. we are

going to

> > take him again for a second opinion about ear tubes....jake is

very

> > delayed in speech and I can't help but wonder if he would be

able to

> > hear and speak better with ear tubes. I don't know anything

about ear

> > tubes. Could you please help me and give me your advice,

feedback and

> > personal experiences with them. are they even worth it? HELP!!

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Have his hearing tested with an Audiologist. They can even test for the

amount of fluid in his ears.

mom to 11, 9, 6 and 3 and 11 months MDS

are ear tubes helpful?

> hi everyone! our 3 year old son, jake, is not being treated for his

> second ear infection already this fall! He has had many ear infections

> in the past and many antibiotics, which don't seem to work! Last year

> we took him to a pediatric ent and to our surprise, he said jake did

> not need them. Our concerns are mounting because it is not even winter

> yet and here we go again! Plus, now he is in preschool. we are going to

> take him again for a second opinion about ear tubes....jake is very

> delayed in speech and I can't help but wonder if he would be able to

> hear and speak better with ear tubes. I don't know anything about ear

> tubes. Could you please help me and give me your advice, feedback and

> personal experiences with them. are they even worth it? HELP!!

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

My son without MDS, who is now 4 has had ear tubes twice(at age 1 and again

at 2) and then at age 3 had his tonsils and adneoids removed. He had a huge

speech delay from all the ear infections his first year. He had the first set of

ear tubes placed started speech therapy and within six months was talking non

stop! The next Winter he needed a new set because he was still getting ear

infections (although less than the year before) and they became clogged and non

functioning. We had a huge decrease in ear infections after that with the rare

2-3/ year. Since his T+A were removed at 3 he hasn't had one. (he had them

removed not only because of ear infections but Loud Snoring, frequent waking up

at night and some apnea, as well as a long winter with repeated strep throat!

Its amazing. He was so skinny before the surgery because he couldn't breathe

and eat. He didn't gain any weight between 2-3. Well he just had his 4 year

check up and he gained 11 pounds since his surgery in Feb! He started eating

non-stop once they were removed! My daughter 14 months old with MDS had ear

tubes

placed last Spring for frequent ear infections. She had 9 ear infections from

last October to May. They were placed in May and she has only had one infection

so far. The real test will be this winter!! She did have a hearing test

before the tubes were placed and they said she had so much fluid in her ears

that

everything she heard probably sounded muffled. She is 14 months and says 3

words and babbles alot. It is kind of hard to see if she will be speech delayed

yet. Good Luck. I feel the ear tubes benifited both my kids, and if your

Instinct says your son would benefit, you are probabably right!

and 14 months old

MDS

[Guest guest]

My son (without MDS) had his tonsils and adneoids out last winter at age 3.

The ENT said he could tell he needed them out just by listening to him talk.

His Speech was fine at this point (not delayed) but he said he had a very

nasally muffled speech sound. He said he could tell the way he tried to

prounounce

words and make sounds. His voice was so different after his surgery. I never

noticed the problem before surgey but the change was dramatic. His voice after,

was a much more crisp high pitch voice with clearer sounds. I hope that

helps! (mom to 14 months MDS)