Adenoid Removal/Glue Ear

[sherrardk]

One of my children is having grommets fitted (because he has glue ear) but I have found out today that they are considering removing his adenoids too. Searching on the internet I have found some information that this can lead to speech problems (which may involve a second operation to rectify the problem). Does anyone know if removing the adenoids in response to glue ear is a common thing (my eldest had grommets fitted but there was never any suggestion of removing his adenoids). We are reluctanly going ahead with the grommets anyway (as they fell out twice for my eldest son and we are not keen on the idea of general anesthetic (sp?)). Thanks

[jno]

grommets are supposed to fall out - they're inserted through the skin but as the skin heals they are gradually pushed back out. If the problem isn't sorted he may need more (this happened to jno jnr).

Sorry, can't help with the adenoids, that didn't happen to jno jnr either. Ask your doctor - he certainly shouldn't be undergoing an operation without your knowledge and approval.

[Sqad]

It is very common to remove the adenoids at the same time as inserting Grommet tubes.
Although the cause of glue ear (secretory otitis media) is not fully understood, there is unanimous agreement that the major cause is obstruction to the Eustachian tube causing negative pressure in the middle ear.
Enlarged adenoids do cause obstruction to the entrance of the Eustachian tube at the back of the nose.
To insert SG tubes into the middle ear, without removing the adenoids would be madness.

Nasal speech following adenoid removal is very rare and I have never seen it, if present it would be due to poor surgical technique.

[Sqad]

Another thought......if this is the 3rd time of insertion, ask your surgeon if he would consider inserting long stay tubes........easy to insert and no big deal.

[stoofur]

I had grommets and my adenoids removed about 30 years ago (time flies) and I have had no problems.

[Hugh Spencer]

I have had middle ear disfunction for many years and have been offered a grommet but I refused. Then I discovered Eardoc, invented by an Israeli doctor for his children. It is battery operated and produces vibrations on to the mastoid bone behind the ear. I have used this a few times a day and it clears the eustachian tubes and inner ear. I haven't had to see a doctor at all since using it. Google 'eardoc' to find it.

[Dris]

That sounds interesting Hugh.

sherradk -my son only had 30% hearing in one ear and 70% in the other due to glue ear when he ws 5 and had the op to have grommets fitted.The surgeon just whipped out his adenoids at the same time and he hasnt had any ill effects at all and he's 25 now.

Just an aside as you'll likely have noticed-but when he came round totally someone dropped something which was something and nothing just a background sound to us and R almost jumped out his skin.Little wonder he was sleeping in the class-he was bored as he couldnt hear -bless:)

[sherrardk]

Just wanted to say that my son went for his pre-op assessment yesterday and his hearing is now normal so he doesn't have to have the grommets or his adenoids removed.