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Hearing Tubes for Kids
October 27, 2009 |
Most kids tend to get them but sometimes frequent ear infections may require more
than just antibiotics. They may need hearing tubes.
“It depends on what’s going on with the child in the terms of their loss of hearing,”
says Dr. James Newlon, an otolaryngologist on the medical staff of Lee Memorial
Health System.
He says new guidelines are shedding new light on the use of hearing tubes. “Right
now, the criteria right now from the American Academy of Otolaryngology is if they
have as many as three infections in a time span of six months or four infections
over the course of a year, that’s probably too many.”
Hearing tubes are shaped like tiny cylinders. They’re made out of metal or plastic
and are surgically inserted into the eardrum to drain fluid that may be causing
the infections.
“Most of them will outgrow the problem so, you have a lot of kids that need tubes
and you know, about 80-85 percent of kids only need one set of tubes and they kind
of outgrow the problem and get past it,” explains Dr. Newlon.
Persistent ear infections that are not treated can lead to other health problems
such as speech delays, heart irregularities, even blood pressure problems.
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