Well, Hunt's follow up didn't go so hot. His right ear is looking fluid free, but his left doesn't have much of a change in the fluid level(which is appearently a whole lot!) So she wants us to consider putting tubes in. She said she would let us go maybe a month of just monitoring it, but nothing more since we don't know how long he has had fluid, and around 3 months is when the damage starts to take place. She is concerned with the flu and cold season coming up too. This is only the 2nd time she has seen him, but knows how many times he has had fluid and ear infections (2 or 3..that we know of-he tends to hide his ickies well) and she is actually wondering if he has been battling this on and off since January. She also thinks there is a small chance that it will help his equilibrium so he has better balance, and of course his hearing would improve(it was at 30 decibles-anyone know what normal is?)
I know lot of our munchkins had this done, so my question is, is she jumping the gun? She has alot of experience with ds, and was giving me alot of info on our angels' ears. What had your kids gone through before they got tubes-and what was the deciding factor? How long before they mentioned tubes (if it was a specialist and not your ped who brought it up)? How old where they when they got them?
I am calling his ped in the morning to see what he thinks, but I need to know what you all think too...
Thanks!

Get it done! You don't want to mess with fluid in the ears. Really, in my opinion, if a child has DS, and fluid, get the tubes. It is a very simple proceedure that litterally takes MINUTES to do. Well worth the benefits.

And at 30 db's, that's the line for when they should be wearing a hearing aid. Get the tubes, I bet he'll be within normal limits right away.

Oh, and Angela got her first set at 5 months, second set at a year. She's ended up with 4 sets, but hasn't had any now for abuout 3 or 4 years.

Both of my girls had them and did great. I actually got them as an adult and could not believe the instantaneous relief. I wished I had gotten them sooner. I had it done in the office at 11 and met my coworkers for lunch. If they didn't have to knock them out, it really would be no big deal at all. I would certainly do it.

Kayla

Abby's readings flatlined so she had so much fluid that there was no reading whatsoever. We have had two sets up tubes put in. One set in January 2005 and the second in Febuary 2006.

I would definately do it too. Abby came through with flying colors.

My advice is to ask the ENT if she would see Hunter every 3 months instead of every 6 (the norm). Abby has much wax buildup and with her canals being so small, the 6 months wait is too long and wax buildsup to the point that the ENT isn't able to view her eardrum. Then we do a loverly game of drops for two weeks, go back, and it just stresses me out.

I'm going to echo everyone else. Get it done. Jaymes has had three sets of tubes so far. The first when he was about 9 months old. He was flatlining as well - way too much fluid. He never had an ear infection, but had CONSTANT sinus issues. The fluid was just building up behind his ears. When the tubes were in (super easy procedure BTW!) the fluid draining was really gross and drained for 2-3 weeks, despite the doctor saying he took quite a bit out. Having the tubes really helped with his balance and sinus issues (although not completely). The first set lasted almost a year (as expected) then he got a new set and his adnoids taken out. That set lasted 2 months! He know has another set that seems to be working well. Which reminds me I need to make him an ENT appt!!!

Good luck!

I agree with Everyone! Get it done! Simple procedure! Instant difference!

My doctor explained it to me like this! Go and lay down in a tub full of water (submerging your head) and then talk to yourself! This is how a child with fluid hears everything!

I vote yes! This made a HUGE difference for Koby! It is a big help for a little procedure! He was imporoving the next day! Seriously! It is great to do!

Darah got her first set summer '05 and her second set this past summer. We did them after they started seeing a little fluid that wouldn't go away in one of her ears. She also didn't respond at all to the antibiotics. It's such a simple procedure and like Leah said, takes minutes. Darah didn't have any problems at all afterward. I'd hate to see permanent damage from the fluid!! When her tubes fell out, I decided to go ahead and get them done again just in case fluid came back.

Luke had tubes placed at 10 months. At 8 months he had RSV and the ENT saw fluid. He was back 6 weeks later to check the fluid. He failed the tympanogram and was scheduled for tubes. In the book by Libby Kumin, "Early Communication Skills in Children with DS" she notes that the American academy of pediatrics and the academy of otolargynolgist recommend a wait and see approach for typically developing children but recommend no waiting in children with cognitive delays. After 5 months, one tube fell out. The dr. wanted to wait 6 months for follow up on the last tube and fluid. I called back and made an appt for 3 months- to check fluid, the remaining tube and remove ear wax. Luke will probably need tubes again. My goal is to get them as soon as possible to give him to best opportunities for speech.