Many parents of toddlers have faced hearing the dreaded phrase “ear tubes” for their little ones. These tubes, technically called middle ear ventilating tubes, are a way to open up the Eustachian tubes and can help with chronic otitis media, or ear infections.
What are the Eustachian Tubes, and Why are They Important?
Eustachian tubes are the connector between the ear and the throat. They control the balance of air inside and outside your eardrum and are the reason for the “popping” of ears on airplane flights. In an adult, the tubes are a good size and point downward to drain any excess fluids that may be present. In little ones, however, the tubes are narrow and become obstructed easily. They also start out horizontal, which means that they allow fluid to sit without draining. A malfunction of the Eustachian tubes can cause ear infections, imbalance, and difficulty hearing.
The most common cause of an ear infection is a buildup of fluid in the middle ear. This fluid may get there when sinuses drain or from a common cold. The mucus and other fluids in the head become trapped in the middle ear because the Eustachian tubes won’t let that fluid drain. Then it acts like a stagnant pond that breeds bacteria. The fluid gets infected and begins to hurt, even causing fevers. The ear infections can be treated with antibiotics, but if the fluid cannot drain because of the ear’s natural tubes, then the fluid simply gets infected again and again.
When a toddler has had numerous ear infections and rounds of antibiotics over the course of a few months or even a year, a pediatrician may send the little one to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. This doctor will examine the patient and may suggest tubes. (Other possible remedies are allergy treatments and the removal of the tonsils and/or adenoids.)
When the child has the surgery for tubes, he or she will be put under general anesthesia. Though it sounds frightening to the parents, the anesthesia really is just so that the child will be still. The doctor then will perforate the eardrum with a tiny hole and insert a plastic tube. This tube holds open the child’s Eustachian tube and allows the fluid to drain.
The tubes will allow the child’s hearing to return to normal. The buildup of fluid causes the child’s hearing to be muffled, much like an adult feels when she or he has a cold. If the child lives this way for too long, impaired hearing or speech can result. The tubes will allow the child to begin to hear again and should clear up the frequent ear infections the child has. The tubes fall out on their own after six to 18 months, by which time the child’s natural tubes should be able to control the fluids.
