5 year old DD Grommets and Adenoids...Does she have to have both?

[VikVal81]

In a few weeks my DD will have grommets fitting and adenoids removal, but my question is does she really need adenoids removed?

She is deaf in one ear and has struggled with speech although is getting there, she is behind compared to her peers. Adenoids was suggested as removal as she has quite large ones and if she get colds and sick a lot then this could cause problems with the grommets, although touch wood she doesn't get colds a great deal.

My question is can I refuse or should I refuse adenoid surgery? I'm extremely anxious about grommet surgery as it is but also the adenoid part concerns me greatly plus it's my understanding that although they go by adulthood, adenoids are there as a line of defence.

Any of you lovely ladies with experience, knowledge or just a helpful insight/opinion would be greatly appreciated. The nurse has said I can talk it through with the surgeon on the morning, but just want some clarity as to how I should proceed with this.

Thanks ladies x

My DD has grommet and adenoids surgery at nearly 6yo. When they got in there they found her adenoids to be even larger than they suspected. For her it was almost a miracle cure, she slept better (no sleep apnea and snoring) and the glue that kept building in her ears and making her have moderate hearing loss disappear within months. She now have mild loss in one ear, but it's really changed her life having both done. Her case may not be the same as your ds' though. That said the drs didn't recommend tonsils removal for dd as though large they didn't get infected often. They're not going down in size at all and its something the ent team have ummed and ahhed about since. I'd rather she had just had one lot of surgery than be possibly facing a second tbh.

Yes this is my concern that she would need more surgery if the grommets were to come out before they should. I think it's surgery in general that worries me and with the adenoids it just adds more to the worry, she doesn't really have coughs or colds often, doesn't snore the docs just said they're large. She did have a bad case of tonsillitis though where she had to be hospitalised because she got an added complication of the lymph node in neck becoming infected and needed IV antibiotics. I don't if this and that are related though.

My ds had grommets 3 times. He now has paper thin ear drums.
I later found out that an osteopath can often help and perhaps avoid surgery. They work on the scalp and face to stretch the Eustachian tube to improve air flow.
I would definitely discuss your child with an osteopath before committing to surgery.

I was told by the paediatrician that if adenoids are very enlarged they might not disappear by adulthood. Both of my children had adenoids removed during other surgery - barely any issues (if that helps at all). Large adenoids can stop drainage from the ear.

Although just rereading your post my paediatrician said you can tell the size of adenoids before taking the out (2 different doctors for 2 different children) - did they definitely say they were large? I would expect snoring if they were

Sorry - typo 'Can't' tell the size not 'can'

@Stillmuddlingthrough

See she doesn't snore at all and yes the reason why the doc said about removing the adenoids is that he believed they were large and causing the issue with the glue ear although she rarely has colds and viruses thank God!

@Stillmuddlingthrough

Sorry just to add I meant to say could cause an issue with the glue ear and that the grommets could come out if she gets colds and the adenoids starts leaking (or something to that affect) pushing the grommets out.

Are they expecting the grommets to help in both ears?

I had grommets 4 times and adenoids out (obviously once!) when younger. Having the grommets fitted was amazing, I still remember hearing planes and birdsong that I had never heard before. The adenoids made everything feel freer in my nose/sinuses. I also used to snore and haven't since they were removed. I have no idea if they impacted on my hearing. It wasn't painful and the recovery was OK. Had a couple of nosebleeds afterwards, that was about it.

@VikVal81 have a look while she is sleeping to see if she sleeps with her mouth open - that might give you a bit of a clue about adenoids - can she generally breathe ok through her nose?

@Stillmuddlingthrough

Mouth little bit open now, no snoring or noise yeah generally she does breathe through her nose ok.

Thanks to everyone who has replied thank you x x

My adenoids were removed twice and grew back again!

I would get them done. Having them removed never caused me any issues. And hopefully grommets will help with hearing. They did make a difference to me. I had hearing problems and the grommets sorted them.