How long do ear drops take to work to clear a blocked ear?

[whispywhisp]

My DD is 9yrs old and has had grommits fitted since she was 5yrs old. She has regular check ups etc.

On Wednesday night she washed her hair and cleaned her ears with a cotton bud. Immediately afterwards she said her left ear felt blocked. I expect she's pushed some wax back. She is now partially deaf in that ear as a result of it being blocked so I've been giving her ear drops since last night. She's now saying her ear itches - does this mean the drops are working? She still can't hear very much through that ear but it doesn't hurt.

I can get her to the Dr next week but just wondered if anyone knew how long it took for drops to break the wax down and clear the ear?

My dc's have grometts and the doctor tells me to be very careful of putting anything in them, including drops, as these can pass straight into the ear through the grommett. It is possible that she has an infection which is causing the itching - my 2 are very prone to infections.

If you can I would get her to a doctor to have a look to be sure of the position ASAP - I have found the out of hours service fine with things like this and the earlier you can treat any infection the better.

Out of interest has she had the same set of grommetts for 4 years? Mine seem to only last a year or so

Good luck

Hi - yes she's had the grommets in since she was 5yrs old - her hearing was virtually zero up until that point and we had no idea because she'd taught herself to lip read. At her last check up, which was in October, one grommet had come out but the other was still in, as far as they could see, but she had a lot of wax blocking their view, so they didn't know for certain.

She's had her ears syringed since the grommets were fitted - quite soon after in fact. She remembers washing her hair on Wed night and some bubbly water went in her ear so she stuck a cotton bud in and its been blocked ever since so we're guessing she's pushed some wax down.

Since putting the drops in her ear has popped a couple of times and has become itchy so I'm guessing the drops are beginning to loosen it up a bit?

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Olive oil works better than over the counter ear drops. It will take a few goes to work though. When I get ear infections my ears get itchy so I would take her to the gp.

Hi & thanks goingfor3.

She's been to the Dr this morning because she has had another bad dose of diarrhoea (she has IBS) and I asked him to check her ear - he couldn't see the drum because the ear was solid with wax. She has grommets in both ears too. I asked if olive oil was ok with grommets and he said yes but said the ear drops I've been putting in are just as effective as OL.

What do you suggest I do? She says she can hear slightly better through it this morning - I've been putting the drops in since Friday on a regular basis. Last night, whilst in the bath, it actually popped and seemed to clear for a short while. I'm guessing that was due to being in a hot bath with steam etc?

Could you put the bottle of ear drops inbetween your thighs for a while to warm it up a bit as that will help the wax soften fasten. I really hope she feels better soon.

Oh I hadn't thought of that! Good idea! I could put the bottle in a mug of warm water. She can feel the drops going down now, which she couldn't before, plus we had a very small piece of wax come out last night whilst she was in the bath.

I took ds to the docs this morning as his only remaining grommet is blocked and he said use olive oil warmed to body temperature.

Glad to see your drops seem to be working

I am amazed that your dd has retained both gormmets for 4 years - ds first lot fell out after 12 and 16 months, and the latest only lasted 9 months. I suppose it depends on how fast they are growing - he has shot up recently!

Dd's are both still in after 16 months and she is older so maybe that makes a difference

Hi eucalyptus - I think I might try the olive oil suggestion especially as you're doing the same with your ds has a blocked ear with a grommet fitted.

Yes we're still surprised she still has them in - she has been through some major growth spurts during the last four years too!

We think one has come out - at her last ENT appt back in October they couldn't see the grommet in the ear drum - whereas this particular ear that is blocked was too full of wax for them to see.

When she had the grommets fitted we were told they'd be out within 9mths - 1yr. We were then told if they hadn't come out at the 3yr point they would remove them with her sedated. But because of the ear wax situation they won't commit themselves to removing them. She's had to have her ears syringed since having them fitted too.

I did read on the internet last night that we're not supposed to put anything in the ear - drops or oil - because of the grommets in case the oil goes through the grommet and into the ear drum itself? Yet my GP said this morning it was ok to do so.

I've recently completed an ear (aural)care course, we were taught that sodium bicarb drops are better than olive oil, as it fizzes and breaks down wax, rather than softening it, and that audicare spray is a good product for repeatedly waxy ears. I don't know as I've never used it. They also recommend when instilling drops to put them in the affected ear while lying down with head tilted over to one side, put a bit of cotton wool in to stop them dribbling out and lie still, with head tilted over to stop them dribbling out for at least 10 mins then repeat in the other ear if needed. I realise it's not easy trying to get a child to keep still and it probably feels very uncomfortable.

Hi brightwell and thank you!

When I give dd her drops I do get her to lie down but its not easy getting her to stay there for ten minutes! Typical child! I also put cotton wool in for about ten mins afterwards. The drops must be going somewhere because they don't come out again!

Could I use bicarb on an ear with a grommet?

Hi brightwell.

Just thought I'd let you know that after having a bad night with dd1 - she was up and crying with ear pain all night - went back to the Drs this morning - they are fairly confident she has an inner ear infection - although they can't see the ear drums for wax but have guessed this to be the case due to the intense pain she is getting and they have also prescribed sodium bicarb drops. She has had one lot of drops so far - both with her lying down - each ear getting 10 mins for the drops to go down and she is already saying she can hear her ears popping...wait and see time! Thanks for your very helpful post. Much appreciated. x