

Ongoing middle ear infection, also known as chronic middle ear infection.These delays can cause problems in school. Ear tubes might help with hearing problems that cause a delay in speaking or other learning delays. Other causes include problems with the eustachian tubes or another condition that keeps fluid from draining.įluid buildup can cause hearing loss and balance problems. One cause of this is fluid that stays in the ear after an infection. Children who have three or more infections in six months or four or more infections in a year might be helped from ear tubes.īuildup of fluids without infection, also known as otitis media with effusion. Ear tubes might help prevent new infections. It causes inflammation and fluids in the middle ear. Bacteria or viruses cause this infection. Middle ear infection, known as acute otitis media.Swelling and irritation, also called inflammation.Įar tubes might treat the following conditions:.So they're harder to drain and more likely to get clogged.

The eustachian tubes of young children are narrower and more level than adults' eustachian tubes are. Keep air pressure even in the middle ear.An opening in the middle ear leads to a tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat, also known as the eustachian tube. The middle ear is the space behind the eardrum that has three tiny bones that vibrate. An ear tube is used to treat and prevent the buildup of fluids in the middle ear.
