Glue ear and gromits

[Hilary]

Sorry, but I am unsure of the spelling of gromits.

Anyway, what does anyone know about glue ear? My youngest ds is 17 months and we have been told that he can either have gromits in now or wait a few months til he is a bit older and see if the warm summer helps his ears clear up on their own. The thought of general anaesthetic on my little boy terrifies me and I'd rather hang on to see if it clears up but what are the chances of that? Do people grow out of glue ear as they get older anyway? It doesn't seem to affect his hearing very much so is it necessary?

Basically I don't know much about it all, but knew someone here would. Help, please!

Thanks

But Tigermoth you obviously have some concern (the safety aspect) or you wouldn't be having it done now. I guess my DS has only moderate hearing loss as well. Its so hard to know. I thought his pronunciation was improving but DH said just last night that he expected him to need speech therapy.

He heard the ice-cream van outside last night and thought it was an ambulance.

Bozza, rightly or wrongly I have always gone along with the audiologist's opinion - and my sons and his teachers. If they are concerned I am concerned. I would have felt OK about him having grommits earlier, but the audioligist felt it wasn't necessary and his teachers didn't think his less than perfect hearing was a huge issue. My son felt he could hear what was being said in the classroom as long as the teacher was sensitive to his needs.

Now the audiologist feels he needs grommits and so that's OK with me too.

I just wanted to say that IME you don't have to be too pessimistic about moderate hearing loss affecting speech or development.

Again IME I do think it's important to have regular check ups with an audiologist and really just go from there.

robin, thanks for your message. It's a shame we didn't start xylitol a few years ago, but my son's hearing did seem to be improving of its own accord. No, we didn't try the dairy free diet. Perhaps it would have made the difference.

Sorry to hear your dd's teachers were slow to pick up on her hearing problem.

Ds1 has grommits and they have been superb. New research is being conducted, however, into giving children with persistent ear infections hearing aids until they have grown out of the recurring infection stage. Just a thought that you could run past our consultant if you're unhappy at the thought of surgery.

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robinw ... I have just discovered a children's multi vitamin that has xylitol in it ...

I've done the same actually Tigermoth - gone along with the audiologist's opinion. Dairy free diet and xylotil never mentioned, mind you.

I've got a question though for anyone who's child has had grommets. DS had his on 30 May and since that point his nose has not stopped running. Is this normal? Or is it just a coincidence since it sort of matches up with the hayfeer season (although at first it was thick yellow/green stuff). Or has he just had a cold? He's now also got a sore throat and been coughing.

Bozza-not sure if this is relevant but I have noticed the same with my ds since she has had her ear drops-constant runny nose etc.
I wondered if it was just that everything that was congested is being expelled-have no idea what I am talking about really, but it may be possible with gromets??!!

lizzyjo - we guessed at that too but just thought it sounded a bit simplistic.

Ghosty mentioned a childrens multi vit with xylitol in. I'm keen to give it a try as my 20 month old has failed four hearing tests so far. He needs to go back in 3 months so i'd like to give this alternative methood a try before docs mention grommets. He too has problems with speech. My daughter was putting words together at this age
What/who is the manufacturer? Where can i buy them?
.

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Hi Hilary, my little girl has glue ear but the specialist she sees doesn't believe in using grommets as he thinks they are very old fashioned. Also Lottie has Down's so has narrower passages and therefore maybe he's less keen to use them for that reason. Anyway what I was going to say was that someone reminded me on another post a month or so ago that paediatric osteopaths can really help this condition. There is a centre in Harley St London and you pay what you can afford. if you live near London and want more detials let me know and i'll pass them on to you.

that's very userful to know, thomcat. I will store it away in my mind. My son has just had a grommit fitted, but if things don't work out, I'll know what to do. Thanks.

Hi there, its been interesting reading this thread, my son is about to have his 4th set of grommets!!! He had his tonsils out in December and has had 2 adenoidectomy's. He is now on a dairy free diet and swims with earplugs and an ear bandit, anyone got any other advice?

2 adenoidectomies?? Didn't they take them all away 1st time, or did they grow back?

Sorry, no advice, but tons of sympathy. Been through 1 adenoidectomy (rather ds has) and that was bad enough.

I dont know if this is any help but my dd had glue ear from about 3 years of age, this was watched until at 7 they began to talk about grommits. her hearing definately was appalling for long spells but not many ear infections. Anyway to spare you the details we tried reflexology and homeopathy which had her discharged from the audiologist and gromit free within 4-6 months. Loads of sympathy to you I know its worrying

I had a hospital appointment last Monday for DD with the audiologist consultant. DD is very, very blocked up and firstly they have given me a decongestant to give her every night before bed time which should help clear her up. Her ears are also very blocked and they couldn't see the insides very well. They are going to book us in and put DD under general anaesthetic and clean her ears out and also, while she is asleep, carry out a hearing test by putting sensors on her skull behind her ears and doing the hearing test and then seeing if her brain is registering the sounds.

She will be out for about 20 minutes and they have said that they will fit grommits if they feel she needs them - but they won't just fit them when she is under if she doesn't really need them.

They also showed me some grommits (or however you spell the damn word). I thought they would be the size of a piece of tube pasta (can't remember the word for that either!) but they are tiny - about the size of a pin head, a bit like a flies leg.

I feel a lot happier having seen them.

I would obviously prefer it if she doesn't need them, but if she does, then that is fine too.

I had 3 sets of gromits put in at age 3, 5 and 7. I started hardly being able to hear proeprly at all but my hearing's been fine ever since. I know the GA is a worry, but the worst part of the ops for me was not being able to have any breakfast in the morning! The GA really never bothered me so don't be too worried.

I saw a couple of the gromits when they fell out on my pillow and I thought they looked like tiny models of a loo!

Adenoids can grow back if they are taken out before the age of 3, the tonsillectomy was a great help as we were stuck in a cycle of tonsillitis every 2 weeks! The grommets are definitly of benefit and we know when they have fallen out, T doesnt get many ear infections now the tonsils are out, but gets loads of colds which affects his hearing. With the dairy free diet is it just "cow" free? I am concerned about female hormones in Soya and, more importantly for T, have found a source of Goats milk ice cream! Anyone got any more info on xylitol?

My dd1 (age 4) has spent the last 4/5 months with constant ear problems. It started with one bad ear infection which ended in a perforation. since then the same ear is on a cycel of infections which always end iith perforations. Numerous antibiotics later things are continuing. she saw a specialsit who gave her antibiotic ear drops about three weeks ago. we went back last week and had all clear, her perforation had healed up. She also had a hearing test whci was fine. But she woke up this morning with masses of pus so I presume its another perforation.She is in no discomfort at all. She hadn't had a cold or anything. She sees an osteopath, I give her toothpaste with xylitol and she has little dairy. i'm concerned that the continuing perforating will finally effect hearing. i'm back to see specialsit soon, are grommits the right way forward??

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