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Patient Information
Patient Information
Ear Tubes — A Caregiver's Guide
1. Why are ear tubes recommended?
Ear tubes are recommended for frequent ear infections or prolonged fluid in the
ears. They will:
• Help decrease the number of ear infections
• Allow any future ear infections to be treated with antibiotic ear drops instead of
antibiotics that are taken by mouth
• Help prevent fluid from backing up into the area behind the eardrum
(middle ear)
• Improve hearing that is decreased because of fluid in the middle ear
2. How long will my child's ear tubes last?
Most ear tubes last about 6 to 18 months. By the time the tube comes out about
80% of children will need to have the tube replaced.
3. When does my child need to be seen again after the tubes are placed?
• After Surgery: We will see your child within 3 months to make sure that the ear
tubes are in place and working. We often check your child's hearing at that visit.
• Ongoing Follow-Up: After this first visit, we should see your child regularly,
usually every 6 months, while the tubes are in the ears to make sure that the
tubes are working and to check for any possible problems, as discussed in the
next section. Keep in mind that regular follow-up visits are important, even if
your child has no obvious issues with ears or hearing, to prevent problems.
• Final Visit: Once the tubes fall out, your child should return after 6–12 months
so your ear, nose, and throat doctor or other health care provider can check the
ears to make sure they are healthy.
