17 Mo Old Who W/several Ear Infections

My friends daughter is 22 Months old and had the same problems. She started giving her probiotics and echinacea/goldenseal drops and they helped clear the ears up. I would look at going to a pediatric ENT in the meantime you don't want to cause speech or hearing issues.

He needs tubes. You will be amazed how much he will increase in talking just because he has no muffled hearing. The problem is when the fluid sits behind the ear it gets to be sticky like glue and is difficult to drain out. I think you should at least talk to a peds ENT. A great web site is entnet.org -go to the area for kids. It explains a lot. I am a Nurse Practitioner and used to work in peds ENT!!

Hi D.
My 20 month old just had tubes put in last week. He's had 5 ear infections since October! I just took him to an ENT myself, I didnt wait for my DR, my DR did even mention tubes, they just kept giving him antibotics! I am so happy I did, he is a twin and his brother talked so much more than he did up until he got the tubes put in, now he talks so much more,and repeats everything he hears! It like a new child. A friend of mine works at Childrens Memorial Hospital and gave me a name of and ENT. He's great. Dr Schoeider. Let me know if you would like his number, he's downtown and at the Childrens in Westchester.

Definetly push for tubes!!!!! Also, push for a hearing test.

D. - I'd clear it with the doctor first before you go seek a Chiropractor. They are not licensed to practice medicine.

Before resorting to tubes, please go see a well-respected chiropractor! In some children, there is a vertebrae (or something like that) that can cause blockage in the ear canal. Once adjusted, the canal can open up and drain... reducing the risk he will get persistent infections! While this is not the case for every child, it's worth exploring to keep your little guy from having surgery. My daughter is 15 months and has been seeing an excellent chiropractor in Naperville every 2-3 months (Dr. Whitney). Good luck!

Hi D.. My name is S. and I kinda have the same problem as you. My son is 3 and can't talk. He has had a lot of ear infections as well. I wouldn't push for tubes yet. I have my son in Headstart with a speech therapist. As a matter of fact I met with a group of woman who evaluated my son yesterday and I won't know the outcome for like a week. If I would of known sooner, I would of gotten with a spech therapist sooner. You might want to try finding a speech therapist first and see what they say. Then if they say tubes then do it. My son has been with this therapist for a couple of months now and I tell you what, He has gotten a lot better on his talking.
I hope that works. Let me know what happens

Hi D.,

My daughter doesn't have the same problems. But when I was a baby my mom said that I did. I constantly had ear infections. From what I have been told I was the around the same age. The doctors told her because I had the ear infections there was always a lot of fluid build up in my ears so my hearing wasn't as good as what it should have been and that is why they did put the tubes in my ears. She said that I really didn't talk until they put tubes in my ears. So you might want to push the doctors to do it. I hope this helps.

G.

I would suggest you bring him to an ENT. Maybe have his ears tested by their audiologist. If he's had that many infections,and you think something else may need to be done, don't hesitate to see someone else to help you make a decision. Rule out any potential physical possibilities. Our Dr. kept telling me that it's just a speech delay, but then she didn't pass a hearing test at school(she's 5). No one -- had any clue she didn't hear well. Even after finding out she did, her teachers didn't notice it. She has such excellent compensation skills and is very visual. She learned to read lips on her own. We went to ENT,he said she had a lot of fluid in her ears. he put tubes in and her hearing is now normal in some tone ranges (more of the conversational tones) and the tubes didn't help other areas at all. If I would have looked further, earlier, she would be speaking near normal by now. She just got a hearing aid this week so I'm sure we're on the road to better speech in no time.

go to: www.fightearinfections.com I've known several who have gone there and found natural solutions and avoided tubes.

when my daughter was 22 months, she had the tubes put in. Immediately her speech improved and no more ear infections.

However, there are other alternatives. I've heard it can be a milk allergy so there might be another way to help your child. But definitely talk to the dr because there is no need to suffer.

A.
wahm of 2
www.myfamilyathome.com

D.:

have you considered that he may be allergic to something...

P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com

Having had a child who had chronic ear infections definitely get a referral to an ENT specialist. The difference in my son's speech after getting tubes was unbelievable!! If you have any questions please feel free to ask. What area are you in? I have a 4 yr old son.

Get a second opinion from an pediatric ENT. You can also have his hearing tested to see if there is any hearing loss. We went through UIC for my son's tubes - Dr. Baroody specifically and he was wonderful - he also has office hours in Merrillville, depending upon where you live.

Also about playgroups check out MOMS Club international they have a website and there may be a group in your area - its a wonderful organization we have one in our town (LaPorte) and it is wonderful.