Why Do I Need Grommet Ear Tubes Fitting?

Why Do I Need Grommet Ear Tubes Fitting?

Grommets are tiny flanged plastic tubes shaped like cotton reels.  They are often fitted to the eardrums of people who suffer from many ear infections.  A surgeon makes a tiny hole in the eardrum and puts a grommet in to hold the hole open and stop it healing.  This ventilates the middle ear which drains it and makes infection far less likely.  Most bacteria which cause ear infections thrive in an environment where there is no oxygen. By allowing air into the middle ear space, bacteria are killed and infection is prevented.

Grommets are usually fall out on their own after a few weeks or months.  Repeated ear infections are worth avoiding as they can permanently damage hearing and result in time off school and work.  An alternative to grommets is hearing aids; if the problem is glue ear, persistence of fluid in the middle ear, then hearing aids can enable a child to develop speech normally and avoid having grommets.

There is no evidence whether or not it is harmless to get water in the ears with grommets in or with any other cause of a perforated eardrum.  Take advice from your own ENT specialist.  If they are happy for you to go in the water it is a good idea to wear well fitting moulded ear plugs such as ZenPlugs.  This will stop water getting in your ears.  Always wear a swimming cap pulled low or a swimming headband over the plugs to keep them in and avoid putting your head under the water.  More information on swimming ear plugs is available from ZenPlugs website.