It’s that time of year when kids are coming down with colds, the flu and ear infections. Ever wonder what causes these ear infections? Infections happen when fluid gathers in the ear with nowhere to go. And, even when the infection is gone, fluid may remain in the ear, which can affect your child’s hearing. Children who cannot hear properly may not develop speech normally. If your child has frequent ear infections, ear tubes may help.

Ear tubes allow the middle ear to drain and prevent fluid from building up. The procedure itself takes about 10 minutes, so you can take your child home the same day. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has ENT doctors who deal with these procedures every day, in fact, Children’s did more ear tube procedures than any other hospital in Georgia in 2009.* Our ENT doctors did over 5,000 ear tube procedures last year.

At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, specialists have additional training in pediatrics. Children’s knows that adults and children are physically different and so are their healthcare needs. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), pediatric surgery specialists have the widest range of treatment options, the most extensive and comprehensive training and the greatest expertise in dealing with children and in treating their needs. The AAP states that infants and children should be managed by a pediatric surgical specialist in a pediatric facility.

For additional information, to watch educational videos on ear tubes, or to contact us with questions visit choa.org/eartubes.

Read a first-hand account from a mother whose child had ear tube surgery at Children’s.

*Ranking based on 2009 GHA data.

Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals who perform services at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are independent providers and are not our employees.