What do ear tubes look like

The type of tube used will depend on your condition and how your ear canal and eardrum are shaped. Short-term tubes, commonly used in children, last six to 18 months and typically fall out on their own. Long-term tubes typically used in adults are shaped like a T to stay in place longer. Ear tube placement in adults is a quick and relatively uncomplicated procedure. It is typically performed in your healthcare provider's office under local anesthesia and takes approximately 15 minutes.

Your healthcare provider will give you instructions to follow prior to the appointment. Most people are safe to drive after the procedure, but you may want to arrange for a ride just in case. Remember to bring your insurance paperwork and identification to the appointment. Ear tube placement is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States each year. After arriving at the healthcare provider's office, you will be brought back to the procedure room and may be given a gown to change in to or a waterproof drape to put over your clothes.

Your healthcare provider will examine your ears and ask you to tilt your head so your ear is facing up and numbing drops will be placed in your ear. Once the drops have taken effect and your inner ears are numb, the healthcare provider will perform a myringotomy. This involves making a small hole in the eardrum with a scalpel or laser.

Once the incision is made, the healthcare provider may ask you to tilt your head so your ear is down to help the fluid drain. If there is a lot of fluid in the eardrum, your healthcare provider may use a small suctioning device to remove it.

Then the healthcare provider will use small forceps to gently guide the ear tube into place. If both ears require tubes, the procedure is repeated on the other side. Once the procedure is done, your healthcare provider may pack your ears with cotton to catch any additional drainage.

If the procedure was performed due to hearing loss, your healthcare provider may perform an audiogram after the ears have drained to see if it helped. You will be given instructions for aftercare and to schedule a follow-up visit in two to four weeks. Most people are able to drive themselves home after having ear tubes placed in-office. You may experience continued drainage and some mild pain in the days following ear tube placement.

Be sure to follow your healthcare provider's instructions and call the office if you have any questions or concerns. Most people can return to school or work the day after having tubes placed, but recovery times vary between individuals.

Recovering from ear tube placement surgery is typically quick. Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic ear drops to use following surgery that need to be taken for a few days after the procedure. Complete the full course of medication to avoid the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

If you experience any discomfort, over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol acetaminophen or Advil ibuprofen should help. Over time, the eardrum will heal around the tube, helping to keep it in place.

Complications, such as infections, may occur following ear tube placement. Keep an eye out for signs of infection and call your healthcare provider if you experience:. Your healthcare provider will give you instructions regarding when it is safe to submerge your head underwater or get your ears wet. It is typically recommended to avoid getting water in your ears for the first week following the procedure. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, it is safe to swim and bathe with ear tubes after the initial healing period.

In most cases, the total time spent in the hospital is a few hours. Very young children or those with other medical problems may stay longer.

Your child may vomit a little on the day of the surgery or have a minor earache. Some children's ears will pop when they burp, yawn, or chew. This should go away as the eardrum heals. Ear tubes help prevent ear infections by allowing air into the middle ear.

Other substances, such as water, may sometimes enter through the tube, but this is rarely a problem. Your surgeon might recommend earplugs for bathing or swimming. It's OK for your child to travel in airplanes after having ear tubes placed. The ear tubes will help even out air pressure inside and outside the ear. Ear tubes won't prevent all ear infections, but they can make them milder and happen less often.

In some cases, the tubes might need to be put in again. In most cases, surgery to remove an ear tube isn't necessary. The tube usually falls out on its own, pushed out as the eardrum heals. A tube generally stays in the ear anywhere from 6 months to 18 months, depending on the type of tube used. For other patients, it may stay in too long. Although rare, these situations can result in a small or large hole in the eardrum that may need to be repaired.

The most common complication, however, is that the tube clogs. This is a quick, five-minute procedure. Patients can get back to normal immediately following the procedure. Learn more about Dr. Scolaro is a board-certified Otolaryngologist servicing the South Plains area.

He has been practicing in Lubbock since and has earned a reputation as a skilled and experienced surgeon. Crafted with Care by Primitive. Please bring your own, even if it is homemade.

We ask patients to check in by phone and then wait in their vehicle until an exam room is ready. If ear tubes were inserted, they should fall out within months. In some cases, surgery to remove the ear tubes may be necessary. Most ear drums heal normally after tubes come out, but visible scarring is not unusual. Edits to original content made by Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.

This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. In This Section. Myringotomy: Ear Tubes. Make an Appointment. Phone Number.