Tubes

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi,

Do you know whether the tubes were plastic or metal? My daughter had metal

ones put in and they stayed in for over a year. I actually found one that

came out. I notice it lying in the outer part of her ear while I was giving

her a bath.

~ Mom to ,7, DS

Kasey,16, PKU

[Guest guest]

has tubes also. Her first set went in when she was about 2yrs

old. She had been diagnosed with a mild hearing loss in both ears.

But once she got her first set of tubes in, and all the junk was able

to drain out, her hearing improved. She now just has a

borderline loss in one ear. However, it has been a constant

battle to keep the tubes in. Usually within 6 months, and sometimes

as soon as 3 months, they pop out, and we have to go in and do it

again. It is rather frustrating. She is currently on her 9th

set of tubes I believe. I've kind of lost track. lol

~Heidi... mom to 5yrs w/ds & 6yrs.

[Guest guest]

has tubes also. Her first set went in when she was about 2yrs

old. She had been diagnosed with a mild hearing loss in both ears.

But once she got her first set of tubes in, and all the junk was able

to drain out, her hearing improved. She now just has a

borderline loss in one ear. However, it has been a constant

battle to keep the tubes in. Usually within 6 months, and sometimes

as soon as 3 months, they pop out, and we have to go in and do it

again. It is rather frustrating. She is currently on her 9th

set of tubes I believe. I've kind of lost track. lol

~Heidi... mom to 5yrs w/ds & 6yrs.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/12/01 8:07:43 PM Central Daylight Time,

DiHansbury@... writes:

> had four sets of tubes, starting when he was one years old. They have

> done well for him. The last pair was three years ago and I noticed one

> fell

> out at the beginning of the summer. He has gotten many ear infections this

> summer and this last month, he had a lot of drainage. I'm thinking about

> having another pair put in. He will go to the audiologist again for a

> hearing test as soon as I can get the infection cleared up. I was really

> hoping that he wouldn't need tubes anymore but I am afraid that his hearing

> has gotten worse because of all the drainage. Has anyone gotten tubes for

> their child after age 10?

>

> Dianna

>

Dianna,

didn't get his first set until after he was 10 years old. I guess after

that age they tend to put in the tubes that stay longer. The danger is that

they leave a bigger hole if they come out.

Karyn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/12/01 8:07:43 PM Central Daylight Time,

DiHansbury@... writes:

> had four sets of tubes, starting when he was one years old. They have

> done well for him. The last pair was three years ago and I noticed one

> fell

> out at the beginning of the summer. He has gotten many ear infections this

> summer and this last month, he had a lot of drainage. I'm thinking about

> having another pair put in. He will go to the audiologist again for a

> hearing test as soon as I can get the infection cleared up. I was really

> hoping that he wouldn't need tubes anymore but I am afraid that his hearing

> has gotten worse because of all the drainage. Has anyone gotten tubes for

> their child after age 10?

>

> Dianna

>

Dianna,

didn't get his first set until after he was 10 years old. I guess after

that age they tend to put in the tubes that stay longer. The danger is that

they leave a bigger hole if they come out.

Karyn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/2001 9:11:25 PM Central Daylight Time,

KVanRyzin@... writes:

<< didn't get his first set until after he was 10 years old. I guess

after

that age they tend to put in the tubes that stay longer. The danger is that

they leave a bigger hole if they come out.

Karyn

>>

I'm kinda curious about the hole thing. lol

if you insert set after set of tubes that only last for a few months, does

that leave some type of scar on the ear drum?

if you don't insert tubes and the eardrum bursts, does/can that also leave a

scar or a weak point which could again burst if their was another buildup?

if the eardrum bursts is that worse then if the tube leaves a little hole?

Personally we didn't know which type of tube was going to be inserted when

she went into surgery, the ENT bases the type on what the fluid buildup looks

like when he actually has the child sedated and can get a decent look. (can

you tell didn't like having him look, hehe) We found this dr. to be a

great ENT, and personally I'm happy he inserted the longer lasting ones. :-)

( doesn't come out of sedation happy as a lark, besides once every few

yrs is enough risk. :-))

I know of a teen, nda, who had to have a burst ear drum surgically repaired,

had the longer lasting tubes inserted at 18 months, one eardrum still

has a hole because they wouldn't repair it before she was 10 (we still

haven't had it repaired, tho a dr. recently said she couldn't see it)

So those are my questions, what have you all been told by your ENT's

regarding them? Are they dumb questions? LOL

Joy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/2001 9:11:25 PM Central Daylight Time,

KVanRyzin@... writes:

<< didn't get his first set until after he was 10 years old. I guess

after

that age they tend to put in the tubes that stay longer. The danger is that

they leave a bigger hole if they come out.

Karyn

>>

I'm kinda curious about the hole thing. lol

if you insert set after set of tubes that only last for a few months, does

that leave some type of scar on the ear drum?

if you don't insert tubes and the eardrum bursts, does/can that also leave a

scar or a weak point which could again burst if their was another buildup?

if the eardrum bursts is that worse then if the tube leaves a little hole?

Personally we didn't know which type of tube was going to be inserted when

she went into surgery, the ENT bases the type on what the fluid buildup looks

like when he actually has the child sedated and can get a decent look. (can

you tell didn't like having him look, hehe) We found this dr. to be a

great ENT, and personally I'm happy he inserted the longer lasting ones. :-)

( doesn't come out of sedation happy as a lark, besides once every few

yrs is enough risk. :-))

I know of a teen, nda, who had to have a burst ear drum surgically repaired,

had the longer lasting tubes inserted at 18 months, one eardrum still

has a hole because they wouldn't repair it before she was 10 (we still

haven't had it repaired, tho a dr. recently said she couldn't see it)

So those are my questions, what have you all been told by your ENT's

regarding them? Are they dumb questions? LOL

Joy

[Guest guest]

Knock on wood, so far Kaitlyn has had no trouble with her ears!

Darcy

tubes

>I want to thank you all for your help and input on Myah ear tubes. Next

question... Does anyone have a child who did not ever have/need ear tubes???

Just wondering.

>

>, mom to Myah 9 mo

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Knock on wood, so far Kaitlyn has had no trouble with her ears!

Darcy

tubes

>I want to thank you all for your help and input on Myah ear tubes. Next

question... Does anyone have a child who did not ever have/need ear tubes???

Just wondering.

>

>, mom to Myah 9 mo

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/01 7:09:56 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

kspilious@... writes:

> I want to thank you all for your help and input on Myah ear tubes. Next

> question... Does anyone have a child who did not ever have/need ear

> tubes??? Just wondering.

>

> , mom to Myah 9 mo

>

Hi ,

My is 10, he never needed ear tubes, he doesnt get many colds...I guess

his immunities are good. He does have hypothroidism, has been on synthroid

since birth. He was also born with an atrial septal defect, which closed on

it's own by age 2. Until the hole closed eric suffered with 4 pneumonias and

a collapsed lung.......He is doing fine now, health wise.

Debbie NY

Mom to 4 sons 1 daughter

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/01 7:09:56 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

kspilious@... writes:

> I want to thank you all for your help and input on Myah ear tubes. Next

> question... Does anyone have a child who did not ever have/need ear

> tubes??? Just wondering.

>

> , mom to Myah 9 mo

>

Hi ,

My is 10, he never needed ear tubes, he doesnt get many colds...I guess

his immunities are good. He does have hypothroidism, has been on synthroid

since birth. He was also born with an atrial septal defect, which closed on

it's own by age 2. Until the hole closed eric suffered with 4 pneumonias and

a collapsed lung.......He is doing fine now, health wise.

Debbie NY

Mom to 4 sons 1 daughter

[Guest guest]

well right now does not have and has never needed ear tubes... she

is 16.5 months old and has never had an ear infection that we know of and her

hearing is screened every four months... The doc says that it was a

combination of her not having to be in daycare thereby exposing her more

frequently, breastfeeding, and a good dose of just plain luck or genetics...

her older brother only had I think 3 ear infections in and 4 years and the

only difference was that he did go to daycare.

ann, mom to Webb III 10.75 years old.... those fractions are so important it

seems at this age and 16.5 months (ds)

[Guest guest]

well right now does not have and has never needed ear tubes... she

is 16.5 months old and has never had an ear infection that we know of and her

hearing is screened every four months... The doc says that it was a

combination of her not having to be in daycare thereby exposing her more

frequently, breastfeeding, and a good dose of just plain luck or genetics...

her older brother only had I think 3 ear infections in and 4 years and the

only difference was that he did go to daycare.

ann, mom to Webb III 10.75 years old.... those fractions are so important it

seems at this age and 16.5 months (ds)

[Guest guest]

my son (16ds) has never had tubes in his ears> yippee for that.

kerrie

[Guest guest]

my son (16ds) has never had tubes in his ears> yippee for that.

kerrie

[Guest guest]

--- Spilious <kspilious@...> wrote:

> I want to thank you all for your help and input on

> Myah ear tubes. Next question... Does anyone have a

> child who did not ever have/need ear tubes??? Just

> wondering.

>

> , mom to Myah 9 mo

My has never had/needed ear tubes. He is 11

(will be 12 next Saturday) and has only had one ear

infection

sissy

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

--- Spilious <kspilious@...> wrote:

> I want to thank you all for your help and input on

> Myah ear tubes. Next question... Does anyone have a

> child who did not ever have/need ear tubes??? Just

> wondering.

>

> , mom to Myah 9 mo

My has never had/needed ear tubes. He is 11

(will be 12 next Saturday) and has only had one ear

infection

sissy

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/14/01 11:32:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

writes:

>

Yes, Sheila (14 years old) has never had or needed ear tubes.

nancy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/14/01 11:32:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

writes:

>

Yes, Sheila (14 years old) has never had or needed ear tubes.

nancy

[Guest guest]

That's the thing with Myah, she has only had 2 ear infections and only 1

recently. and they haven't been real bad. I was just having her checked for

fluid every 2 weeks at her school. Those keep showing fluid, but a friend of

mine who is an audiologist tells me that judging by the numbers on the test,

they are inaccurate. I just don't want to do unnecessary surgery, but don't

want to not do it if she will benefit from it or needs it. What it boils down

to is that we will be doing surgery based on so called inaccurate test results

of fluid in the ears with no other symptoms. Hearing tests haven't been great,

but she will not cooperate.haha You could yell her name and she won't look at

you, but if you have a cool sounding toy that barely makes a noise, she will

look at it!! I'm thinking of cancelling-I can always reschedule-I don't think

it's an emergency. Thanks for your help!!

Re: tubes

Hi -I " m Sue, mom to Alyssa 4 1/2 years old. So far Alyssa hasn't had ear

tubes and never had an ear infecton. But I may be jumping the gun here. They

did a hearing test on her during her school physical and found fluid. She's been

on medication for over 6 weeks now. We got Tuesday to see if it's gone. Sue &

Alyssa-MI

[Guest guest]

That's the thing with Myah, she has only had 2 ear infections and only 1

recently. and they haven't been real bad. I was just having her checked for

fluid every 2 weeks at her school. Those keep showing fluid, but a friend of

mine who is an audiologist tells me that judging by the numbers on the test,

they are inaccurate. I just don't want to do unnecessary surgery, but don't

want to not do it if she will benefit from it or needs it. What it boils down

to is that we will be doing surgery based on so called inaccurate test results

of fluid in the ears with no other symptoms. Hearing tests haven't been great,

but she will not cooperate.haha You could yell her name and she won't look at

you, but if you have a cool sounding toy that barely makes a noise, she will

look at it!! I'm thinking of cancelling-I can always reschedule-I don't think

it's an emergency. Thanks for your help!!

Re: tubes

Hi -I " m Sue, mom to Alyssa 4 1/2 years old. So far Alyssa hasn't had ear

tubes and never had an ear infecton. But I may be jumping the gun here. They

did a hearing test on her during her school physical and found fluid. She's been

on medication for over 6 weeks now. We got Tuesday to see if it's gone. Sue &

Alyssa-MI

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/01 9:45:02 PM Central Daylight Time,

JTesmer799@... writes:

>

> I'm kinda curious about the hole thing. lol

>

> if you insert set after set of tubes that only last for a few months, does

> that leave some type of scar on the ear drum?

> if you don't insert tubes and the eardrum bursts, does/can that also leave

> a

> scar or a weak point which could again burst if their was another buildup?

> if the eardrum bursts is that worse then if the tube leaves a little hole?

>

> Personally we didn't know which type of tube was going to be inserted when

> she went into surgery, the ENT bases the type on what the fluid buildup

> looks

> like when he actually has the child sedated and can get a decent look.

> (can

> you tell didn't like having him look, hehe) We found this dr. to be a

> great ENT, and personally I'm happy he inserted the longer lasting ones.

> :-)

> ( doesn't come out of sedation happy as a lark, besides once every

> few

> yrs is enough risk. :-))

>

> I know of a teen, nda, who had to have a burst ear drum surgically

> repaired,

> had the longer lasting tubes inserted at 18 months, one eardrum still

> has a hole because they wouldn't repair it before she was 10 (we still

> haven't had it repaired, tho a dr. recently said she couldn't see it)

>

> So those are my questions, what have you all been told by your ENT's

> regarding them? Are they dumb questions? LOL

>

> Joy

>

Joy,

I'm also a bit confused about the hole thing. We have a new ENT and he will

be our ex-ENT as soon as someone else comes along.

He told me that they can't repair the hole until he is an adult (18 years

old). I had never heard that before. I have heard that the holes usually

close on their own but 's is soo big that it probably won't.

Actually, a little hole wouldn't be a bad thing since it would allow for

drainage without having to put tubes in. The problem is a big hole that

interferes with speech.

My non-ds baby (11 months) has had several ear infections and repeated exams

with fluid in the ears. We decided to take the wait and see approach with him

and some alternative techniques. That has worked for him but he doesn't have

the issue of small eustation tubes like many of the kids with ds.

My criteria for tubes is 1. is it possibly impeding speech progress. It was

for . He couldn't tell the difference between final consenant sounds.

2. Is it affecting them behaviorally. I believed it was affecting .

So I'm not sorry we did it. Just sorry it didn't work out better.

Karyn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/01 9:45:02 PM Central Daylight Time,

JTesmer799@... writes:

>

> I'm kinda curious about the hole thing. lol

>

> if you insert set after set of tubes that only last for a few months, does

> that leave some type of scar on the ear drum?

> if you don't insert tubes and the eardrum bursts, does/can that also leave

> a

> scar or a weak point which could again burst if their was another buildup?

> if the eardrum bursts is that worse then if the tube leaves a little hole?

>

> Personally we didn't know which type of tube was going to be inserted when

> she went into surgery, the ENT bases the type on what the fluid buildup

> looks

> like when he actually has the child sedated and can get a decent look.

> (can

> you tell didn't like having him look, hehe) We found this dr. to be a

> great ENT, and personally I'm happy he inserted the longer lasting ones.

> :-)

> ( doesn't come out of sedation happy as a lark, besides once every

> few

> yrs is enough risk. :-))

>

> I know of a teen, nda, who had to have a burst ear drum surgically

> repaired,

> had the longer lasting tubes inserted at 18 months, one eardrum still

> has a hole because they wouldn't repair it before she was 10 (we still

> haven't had it repaired, tho a dr. recently said she couldn't see it)

>

> So those are my questions, what have you all been told by your ENT's

> regarding them? Are they dumb questions? LOL

>

> Joy

>

Joy,

I'm also a bit confused about the hole thing. We have a new ENT and he will

be our ex-ENT as soon as someone else comes along.

He told me that they can't repair the hole until he is an adult (18 years

old). I had never heard that before. I have heard that the holes usually

close on their own but 's is soo big that it probably won't.

Actually, a little hole wouldn't be a bad thing since it would allow for

drainage without having to put tubes in. The problem is a big hole that

interferes with speech.

My non-ds baby (11 months) has had several ear infections and repeated exams

with fluid in the ears. We decided to take the wait and see approach with him

and some alternative techniques. That has worked for him but he doesn't have

the issue of small eustation tubes like many of the kids with ds.

My criteria for tubes is 1. is it possibly impeding speech progress. It was

for . He couldn't tell the difference between final consenant sounds.

2. Is it affecting them behaviorally. I believed it was affecting .

So I'm not sorry we did it. Just sorry it didn't work out better.

Karyn

[Guest guest]

Hi

Ramona was left with a hole in her left eardrum that had to be surgically

repaired. In her case, it was done when she was 15 years old, the

determination being made then because she hadn't had an ear infection for a

while, so they figured her eustachian tubes had 'matured' and begun to slant

correctly.

I think 18 is an arbitrary number, but nothing to get all worried about.

We actually talked about waiting that long, but then she had a two year no

infection stretch. The fact is, she has had a few infections since the

repair was done, and has a bad one right now. Thank heavens it didn't blow

through her new eardrum!

It's a fairly major surgery, certainly much more than placing tubes. In

our case, a piece of fascia (the membrane that covers muscle) was taken from

underneath her scalp, just above her ear.

I go back and forth about whether or not all those tubes were warranted.

I think they were, because after each set her hearing improved so much, which

helped her speech and everything else. Also, at 18 she now has normal

hearing in her right ear. Her left, which always had the worse infections,

has a mild loss.

With her ear infection right now, she definitely has decreased hearing,

but I don't know how much and I'm sure it's temporary. We are currently at

war over the volume on anything she listens to, so the loss is definitely

there.

Would I do it all again? Yeah. I wanted her to still be able to hear,

and thus speak more clearly, as an adult. I think we accomplished that, at

least.

Take it easy,

mom to Ramona 18 ds

<< I'm also a bit confused about the hole thing. We have a new ENT and he

will

be our ex-ENT as soon as someone else comes along.

He told me that they can't repair the hole until he is an adult (18 years

old). I had never heard that before. I have heard that the holes usually

close on their own but 's is soo big that it probably won't.

Actually, a little hole wouldn't be a bad thing since it would allow for

drainage without having to put tubes in. The problem is a big hole that

interferes with speech. >>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Ramona was left with a hole in her left eardrum that had to be surgically

repaired. In her case, it was done when she was 15 years old, the

determination being made then because she hadn't had an ear infection for a

while, so they figured her eustachian tubes had 'matured' and begun to slant

correctly.

I think 18 is an arbitrary number, but nothing to get all worried about.

We actually talked about waiting that long, but then she had a two year no

infection stretch. The fact is, she has had a few infections since the

repair was done, and has a bad one right now. Thank heavens it didn't blow

through her new eardrum!

It's a fairly major surgery, certainly much more than placing tubes. In

our case, a piece of fascia (the membrane that covers muscle) was taken from

underneath her scalp, just above her ear.

I go back and forth about whether or not all those tubes were warranted.

I think they were, because after each set her hearing improved so much, which

helped her speech and everything else. Also, at 18 she now has normal

hearing in her right ear. Her left, which always had the worse infections,

has a mild loss.

With her ear infection right now, she definitely has decreased hearing,

but I don't know how much and I'm sure it's temporary. We are currently at

war over the volume on anything she listens to, so the loss is definitely

there.

Would I do it all again? Yeah. I wanted her to still be able to hear,

and thus speak more clearly, as an adult. I think we accomplished that, at

least.

Take it easy,

mom to Ramona 18 ds

<< I'm also a bit confused about the hole thing. We have a new ENT and he

will

be our ex-ENT as soon as someone else comes along.

He told me that they can't repair the hole until he is an adult (18 years

old). I had never heard that before. I have heard that the holes usually

close on their own but 's is soo big that it probably won't.

Actually, a little hole wouldn't be a bad thing since it would allow for

drainage without having to put tubes in. The problem is a big hole that

interferes with speech. >>