my son has a retracted left ear drum and retraction pocket in right ear...can anyone explain???

[mindermummy]

Anyone on here work in that field or know about it??

what does both of them mean??

I know they have said he needs grommets in his left ear.
what does it all mean though in easy speek!!! lol.

thank you.xxxx

I think they are talking about glue ear where a build up of fluid behind the ear drum can make it retract/pulled back.

Hi MM

I'm a teacher of the deaf so hopefully can help!

A retracted eardrum means your son has glue ear in the middle ear. In small children the eustachian tube lies horizontally (until they are about 7) and so fluids cannot drain away. They go back up into middle ear and turn into this thick glue like substance.

This prevents the eardrum from moving freely and it gets sucked the other way (retracted). Having glue ear is a bit like having your fingers in your ears, everything sounds a bit muffled. The movement of the fluid means that sometimes your son will hear really well and at other times he may struggle.

Grommets are small tubes that are surgically placed in the ear drum. during the operation they will make a small hole in the eardrum, suck out all the fluid and put the grommet in. This allows air to circulate freely and prevents build up of more fluid.

Grommets fall out naturally as the eardrum grows.

Hope that helps, never fails to amaze me how consultants don't give parents information. Do come back and ask any other questions x

And don't be afraid to question the doctors at next appointment. I think sometimes they rush from appointment to appointment without thinking to explain their thoughts and plans properly. Plus they get used to talking in medical jargon language and forget they are doing it!

Thank you so much.

Do you think it sounds like he will need grommets in both ears??
as she only mentioned the one ear! but cos botht those things in the title were mentioned in the letter.....its making me think grommets may be in both ears???

what happens with swimming and grommets too??

thanks

This might be useful. It mentions swimming with grommets.