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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to delay my daughter's operation while I look into the options?

118 replies

Runoutofideas · 10/06/2009 16:57

Hi,
This is a genuine question as I really don't know what to do for the best. DD1 (4) has just been diagnosed with glue ear and the specialist has recommended grommets and adenoids out which will involve a general anaesthetic. I took her initially to the GP as I didn't think her hearing was 100% and she permanently sounds quite nasal, but her speech and language development luckily does not seem to be affected particulary. Her pre-school teacher was shocked when I told them the recommendation as she said she hadn;t noticed there was a problem, and was talking about dd1's fantastic vocabulary and sentence structure etc. I have been researching online and found that for some people cranial osteopathy has helped and also herbal remedies for shrinking the adenoids. Am I being unreasonable for trying these first rather than rushing into an operation which may not be entirely necessary...? If anyone has experience of grommets I'd love to hear from you.

I should add that we have private health insurance through my husband's job so waiting lists fortunately aren't too much of an issue.

OP posts:

Yuletidespamlog · 23/12/2009 13:46

YANBU - we also went for hearing aids rather then putting her through an operation.

itsmeolord · 23/12/2009 13:58

BELOGO - sometimes hearing aids are used as an alternative to operating for glue ear as some children grow out of the condition.

The hearing aids improve the hearing temporarily until the problem has subsided. I think it is normally 18 months to two years.

belgo · 23/12/2009 14:43

itsmeolord - hearing aids might help with the hearing problem but what about the long term effects of the increased pressure behind the ear drum?

Original poster

Runoutofideas · 23/12/2009 14:46

Just seen that this thread has been ressurrected. Just wanted to thank everyone for their input and let you know that we eventually decided to have the grommets fitted and adenoids out about 6 weeks ago. We tried cranial osteopathy and removing dairy, neither of which made any difference. The grommets however have been fantastic. The difference was immediate and very obvious. Lying in her hospital bed afterwards she said "Mummy, that's odd. I can hear the cars outside and the window's not even open." Then during her first experience with ear plugs in the bath "Oh Mummy, that sounds like normal again" - meaning her previous "normal" hearing was as bad as having ear plugs in! She's coming out of school each day happier and less bewildered and the teacher has noticed a big change in how involved she is in the class. (Previously she kept herself to herself and was often in her own little world.)
In summary, I'm very glad we did it, although the decision to see your child go through a general anaesthetic can never be taken lightly. Thanks again everyone and if anyone is in a similar boat, please ask me whatever you like!

OP posts:

belgo · 23/12/2009 14:51

That's very interesting Runoutofideas- I'm glad that your dd's operation was successful and she can now hear well.

The difference when my dd1 first had grommets was immediate and her speech started to improve immediately. This september she went in for a second grommet operation (nearly two years after the first) because they had fallen out and her hearing was getting worse again. Again the operation went very well.

It is nerve wrecking though sending your child for an operation.

Original poster

Runoutofideas · 23/12/2009 14:55

I'm concerned that might happen to dd too Belgo. How old was your dd the first time? They say they'll fall out in a year to 18 months, but that she'll outgrow it by 7 to 8, therefore I'm guessing she might need it again. Glad they are working for you too. Did you know when the first lot came out?

OP posts:

belgo · 23/12/2009 15:02

I think it took about 20 months for them to fall out, in fact I think only ne fell out, but because the glue ear had come back, they still thought it worth while to replace the grommmets.

I know people with hearing problems in later life due to untreated ear problems (the ear drum has lost it's tautness due to constant pressure behind it), so I'm glad it's been sorted.

itsmeolord · 23/12/2009 15:14

Hi Belgo, I have no idea!

I had grommets as a child and still have issues now. It is genetic though in my case, most of my family have hearing issues. I lip read quite alot and find background noise difficult although I can play piano to a high standard and love to sing as well. Its different types of noise that are an issue for me.

DD had hearing issues but when she had her tonsils out the specialist said that her hearing would probably improve, sometimes, when the tonsils are very enlarged they can affect the hearing by blocking the tubes or something......

She is absolutely fine now, no need for further action.

twinmum2 · 23/12/2009 16:12

Hi Belgo
The consultant said hearing aids or grommits were equably viable for my daughter, both would achieve the same result. I chose hearing aids as they are less invasive. I was dreading a GA. Plus I knew of children who'd had problems with them. Hopefully her glue ear will improve in the next few years if not grommits might be a possibility we still have that option. 2 days in she loves her hearing aids. The care we've had has been fantastic.

mattellie · 23/12/2009 16:22

Runoutofideas ? I?m glad the grommets are working well for DD. My DD had 3 lots between the ages of 4 and 8 (first lot lasted 19 months, second lot only 1 year). I would say if anything each time was easier because she was that much older and consequently could understand more about what was going on.

Yes, it?s always a bit scary putting them through a GA, but with such a short operation the chances of anything going wrong are pretty slim and we felt the improvement in hearing and the decrease in ear infections and pain made it well worth while.

belgo · 23/12/2009 16:24

glad to hear that your dd is getting the best care Twinmum.

Romanarama · 23/12/2009 16:33

Try to get an opinion from an NHS doctor. My personal experience of private medicine is that there is always a very quick recommendation for rather invasive treatment. The NHS goes the other way, desperately trying to avoid anything that costs anything. You may be able to work out a happy medium. There's no real evidence to support herbal remedies or other complementary therapies, homeopathy, or whatever. I wouldn't entrust my kids to the placebo effect if I were you.

brandybutterfly · 23/12/2009 16:49

So glad all went well for you.

My DS both had this op and so have I so from personal experience I think you did the right thing!

wearthefoxhat · 23/12/2009 17:24

Have only read the OP, so apologies if this has already been said

My ds had glue ear when he was a baby, and was almost totally deaf. The specialist told me that he would definitely need grommits.
I took him to an osteopath, and he had 2 sessions. The next time we saw the specialist, she couldn't believe that he could hear perfectly.

If it was me, I would try to see an osteopath - it can't hurt to try, and may mean she doesn't need an operation.

wearthefoxhat · 23/12/2009 17:26

Ah That'll teach me to read the whole lot before posting!
Glad everythings OK now

Romanarama · 23/12/2009 19:08

Me too

Nefertari · 24/12/2009 09:57

I know this is an old thread, but one point that I think people should note, is that just because a child's speech seems perfect, it doesn't mean they can hear.

I am partly deaf, but I learned to lip read, of a sort, when I was little, so it seemed as if I didn't have a problem. It took ages to get properly diagnosed (going back over 30 years here). I was sent aged 7 to have an operation on my ears, which may have been for grommets (Mum is a bit vague here). when operated on, nothing was found in the middle ear, so it wasn't glue ear. (But, they whipped out my adenoids and tonsils instead, seems to have been the fashion at the time for "preventative" reasons.)

To cut a long story short, I'm trying to get new hearing aids. Luckily both of my DCs have proved to have their lovely daddy's excellent hearing. My son was actually checked at 15 DAYS old, due to my known history.

I'm sure both the DCs can hear a £10 note before it hits the floor.......

purplepeony · 24/12/2009 10:24

I have not read all the posts andmay be too late - but here goes.
My son had glue ear and constant ear infections, with antibiotics every couple of months. We were offered steroid nasal sprays to try to calm the inflammation.

At the same time we took him to a specialist- a top immunologist- about his allergies. He suggested that dairy products which are known to exacerbate the production of mucous might be to blame.

Once he was put back onto soya milk and taken off dairy, his ear problems disappeared.

It might be worth considering food allergy or intolerance.

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