Ear tube placement is the most common childhood surgery in the United States. If your child has chronic ear infections, you can trust the professionals at ENT Specialists of Austin to provide the most effective treatment possible.

If ear tubes are necessary, our team makes the surgery as easy as possible. We are now offering in-office ear tube placement for properly selected pediatric patients. If you think your child needs tubes, make an appointment online or over the phone today.

Click Here to Read About Our New Tula In-Office Ear Tubes

pediatric ENT

Ear Tubes Q & A

What are Ear Tubes?

Ear tubes (also called myringotomy tubes) are the most common surgical procedure for children in the US. Almost 700,000 ear tubes are placed annually in the US every year. They are minuscule plastic tubes placed inside your child’s eardrum to help create a drainage passage for fluids. Fluid accumulation behind the eardrum can cause recurrent ear infections and hearing impairment; ear tubes help prevent those complications by adequately ventilating them.

Ear Tubes Austin TX

When Do Children Need Tubes in Their Ears?

When fluid builds up behind the eardrum and won’t go away, it may start to affect your child’s hearing and speech development. The fluid also leads to recurrent ear infections for some children. In these cases where medical management doesn’t clear up the issue, tubes are recommended.
 Ear tubes usually result in:
  • Improved hearing
  • Improved speech
  • Fewer ear infections
  • Diminishment of the severity of symptoms caused by infections
  • Better balance

What Happens During Ear Tube Placement Surgery?

There are 2 pathways to tube placement:

1. Under general anesthesia

– Historically, ear tubes are placed under general anesthesia in an operating room. This involves anesthesia delivered to your child with only a gas mask. IV’s and breathing tubes are not typically needed. To begin the operation, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in your child’s eardrum. Then, they remove any fluid buildup inside the middle ear. Finally, they place the tube inside the hole in the eardrum. The entire procedure takes about 5 minutes.

2. Under local anesthesia in the office

– We are now performing in-office ear tube placement for pediatric patients using the TULA system. This is a revolutionary procedure for children aged 6 months and older. In the office, the ear canals and eardrums of the patient are anesthetized for 10 minutes after which the tube can be placed in just a few minutes. The patient is able to leave the office immediately and enjoy their day.

What Happens After Ear Tube Placement Surgery?

After recovery, you can usually take your child home within a few hours if there are no complications. Your ENT specialist provides you with all necessary aftercare instructions and schedules your follow-up appointments.

Your child can rest at home for a day and resume normal activities after that. They may need to use earplugs to go swimming.

Ear tubes usually stay in place for 6-9 months while the eardrum heals around them. Then, the tubes naturally fall out on their own.

If your child seems to have recurring ear troubles or problems hearing, make an appointment for a professional evaluation at ENT Specialists of Austin online or over the phone.