Posted on 08/19/2006 12:01:52 AM PDT by neverdem
When my sons were preschoolers in the early 70s, ear tubes were all the rage for children with recurring ear infections. Parents were bombarded by warnings that if fluid in the middle ear lingered long after treatment of an ear infection it could impair hearing and cause lasting developmental abnormalities, including problems with speech and language, learning and behavior.
Two decades later, ear tubes were still very much in fashion. A newsletter published in November 1993 for parents of young children proclaimed that hearing loss resulting from otitis media with effusion, or O.M.E., as the problem is known medically, can cause serious retardation of a childs language skills, teasing and tormenting by playmates and siblings, anger and punishment from parents or teachers who may think the child is deliberately ignoring them and even permanent hearing damage.
What conscientious parent would not want to prevent such disastrous consequences? And so a million or more children each year underwent surgery to have ventilation tubes inserted in one or both ears to clear the eustachian tube and allow the eardrum to move properly in response to incoming sounds.
Acting With the Best Intentions
The tubes were intended to remain in the ear for up to 14 months. By then, many children outgrow the problem. After age 3 or 4, Dr. Robert Stenstrom of St. Pauls Hospital in Vancouver explained, the eustachian tube lengthens and changes position, reducing the risk of middle ear infections and fluid buildup.
Still, after the tubes are removed or fall out on their own, many children need to have them replaced at least once. Each operation involves general anesthesia and the risks it entails.
According to a new long-term study by Dr. Stenstrom and colleagues, when young children were randomly assigned to receive ear tubes or to be treated...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
My hearing is sub par, has been for years. It's still extremely annoying when my wife walks into another room talking in a low voice the entire time. But I still love her.
When I was 20 years old I had my nose almost literally ripped from my face, except from one side. I of course had a nasal pack. I was shocked one morning to find it was down my throat and the slightest swallow would pull it down more. I was afraid I would choke on the thing. I drove my self to the emergency room where they pulled it out the way it was suppose to come out.
It felt like they were pulling out my brains .Hurts very very bad and takes quite a while to pull it all out.
People do not take nearly enough Vit C. It solves all kinds of medical problems but I've found almost NO ONE wants to hear it. I've almost quit telling people what it's done for me.
I fully agree about the benefits of breastfeeding. And yes, hubby has had many ear infections as a child, the genetics you mention are probably a very real factor.
Not a single person here who has made claim has given any references.
And to lay ANOTHER guilt trip on women who could not breastfeed, is just plain crass.
Oops! Sorry, I should have posted to message #1. I was rushing out of the house to a professional conference this morning.
And to lay ANOTHER guilt trip on women who could not breastfeed, is just plain crass.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
No one is laying a guilt trip on you.
Is it because **you** feel guilty that you see externally imposed "guilt trips" where there are none?
Well to be quite honest with you, I watched women get beat on by the breastfeeding nazis. I didn't have a problem with it myself, but any young woman who goes through the guilt popped on by family, friends and lactation specialists deserves none of this.
Including my SIL who what harrassed by lovely people like you.
She had breast cancer and could not breastfeed.
Thank you for your kind concern.
"Croosh" (initial touch) "rrr rrr rrr" (twisting swab)
Oh you are wrong We nasty physicians do it all the time. It is routine so you cal see the ear drum to examine it. You will learn this within 3 days of Pediatric Rotation. Now as for the ear tubes. I have questioned to need of these for years. Send a child to a ENT physician and they will place the tubes every time. I think a small number of children may need them but the large majority do not. I am amazed how ofter parents now take their children to physicians. Some how I grew up in the 1960's and only went to a physician one time. Ear infection got tylenol and hot water bottle. Now I see children with a runny nose for one day or just pulling at the ear and no other symptoms. A total waste money for the parents.
btt
It does make sense. Thank you.
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