Download Middle Ear Fluid and Tubes

Middle Ear Fluid and Tubes
Normally, the middle ear is filled with fluid. In young children, the eustachian tube can
become swollen, usually as a result of a cold or allergies. The swollen eustachian tube
prevents air from being equalized behind the eardrum and may lead to fluid building up
behind the eardrum. Fluid alone usually clears up on its own within several weeks.
However, fluid in the middle ear creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth and
occassionally the fluid becomes infected.
Anytime there is fluid in the middle ear space, a slight decrease in your child's hearing
may be noticed. Fluid, infected or not, that stays in the middle ear for a long time, often
several months, prevents the eardrum and 3 bones from vibrating normally in response to
sounds. If hearing loss continues for a long period of time, your child's speech
development may be delayed.
If your Ear, Nose and Throat Physician recommends tubes for your child, it is most likely
due to a recurrent buildup of fluid in the middle ear space. Drainage tubes are tiny metal
or plastic tubes that are inserted into an incision made in the eardrum.
The tubes help drain fluid, ventilate the middle ear, and equalize the pressure between the
outer and middle ears. Tubes stay in the eardrum for about 6 months or longer. As the
eardrum grows, the tube is eventually pushed out into the ear canal. Some tubes need to
be removed by a physician.
By the time a child is 7 to 9 years old, the eustachian tube has grown longer, straighter,
and more vertical, therefore, providing better ventilation and drainage for the middle ear.