Posted by Jennifer H on 4/30/2008, 7:23 pm, in reply to "Ear tubes?"
141.213.243.188
The tubes remove fluid buildup from the ear canals. This can reduce ear infections but can also improve hearing if there was fluid causing hearing problems. So your son would need tubes if he had recurrent ear infections and/or hearing loss.
Our ENT told us that about 10% of kids with clefts do not need tubes. For some kids the problem is corrected with palate surgery and for others the palate repair can create a fluid problem. Has your son been tested for fluid in the ears or hearing tests?? If he doesn't have hearing problems or ear infections your doc is probably just suggesting tubes as a precaution or because that is what they always do.
My son didn't get tubes with his recent palate repair (he has good hearing and no ear infections) and we had to keep reminding people, including our ENT, that we didn't want them because it is just assumed. Jackson was even prepped in the OR for tubes (they rubbed that disinfectant yellow stuff on his ears), thankfully someone remembered he wasn't getting any.
Definitely ask about this!! There are side-effects of tubes, particularly the long-term problem of permanent holes in the eardrum requiring a surgical repair (my husband just had it and it was really no fun). I am sure these risks are worth it for kids with a medical necessity, I would just make sure that is the case for your son,
Jennifer
--Previous Message--
: My 7 month old son has PRS and a cleft soft
: palate to go along with it. We have already
: done a cleft repair surgery, but he had a
: multiple cleft, so the surgeon just made it
: into a normal cleft palate. We have another
: surgery soon. The surgeon mentioned
: something about ear tubes being placed when
: his next surgery takes place. I was too
: caught up in the fact that my baby was ok
: and kind of zoned out when he was telling us
: about the ear tubes. What exactly are they
: for? I know that they help prevent ear
: infections, but he has never had one, so are
: they really needed?
:
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