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Why it's done

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Image showing middle ear
Middle ear

If your child has had one of the following conditions, he or she may need ear tubes.

  • Persistent middle ear fluid caused by ear infections, allergies, enlarged adenoids or other medical conditions that are associated with temporary hearing loss or speech delay
  • Recurrent ear infections that don't respond to antibiotics
  • An ear infection that caused structural damage to the eardrum (tympanic membrane) or middle ear
References
  1. Ear tubes. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Ear-Tubes.cfm. Accessed March 10, 2009.
  2. Isaacson GC. Overview of tympanostomy tube placement and medical care of children with tympanostomy tubes. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 10, 2009.
  3. Otitis media (ear infection). National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/otitism.htm. Accessed March 23, 2009.
  4. Rowe LD. Conductive hearing loss. In: Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2006.
  5. Lous J. Which children would benefit most from tympanostomy tubes (grommets)? A personal evidence-based review. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2008;72:731.
  6. Keyhani S, et al. Overuse of tympanostomy tubes in New York metropolitan area: Evidence from five hospital cohort. BMJ. 2008;337:1607.

MY00601

April 24, 2009

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