If your child gets frequent ear infections, they aren’t the only one. In fact, about 25% of children experience repeated ear infections.

While many ear infections go away on their own in a couple of days, they’re still unpleasant. So, if your child gets multiple ear infections throughout the year, you may be wondering what can be done to reduce their frequency or prevent them entirely.

This is where ear tubes may be able to help.

On this episode of the For Health’s Sake podcast, we talk to ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist Lindsey Klocke about ear tubes and ear tube surgery, with and without adenoid removal. We cover:

• What causes ear infections
• Why ear infections are more common and serious in children
• When ear tubes are recommended
• Ear tube placement and how they work
• What happens during ear tube surgery and recovery
• How long ear tubes stay in and whether ear tubes need removal
• What adenoids are and how removing them might reduce the likelihood of ear infections

Find out what’s right for your child

If you have questions or concerns about recurring ear infections, ongoing nasal blockage or drainage, or how ear infections may be affecting your child’s hearing, a great first step is talking with your child’s doctor. They can listen to your concerns and answer your questions, do a physical exam, and work with you to develop a treatment plan – which could include connecting you with an ENT if needed.

Make a primary care appointment

If you’ve already spoken to your child’s primary care doctor or if you prefer to see a specialist right away, you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see an ENT. So, you can go ahead and make an appointment.