When is the time to discuss surgery (chronic)

Posted , 2 users are following.

So, im 14 and have had chronic ear infections since I was very young. I used to get them every 3 months, but now i get them at least 1 time a month, sometimes up to 3 in one month. I have very bad scarring on my ear drum from the infection as well as rupturing it so many times, sometimes 3-5 a year. I have monderate to severe hearing loss in both ears, so i use a hearing amplifier.

I am so... fustrated. My ears are so scarred you cant see behind the ear drum (hardly) so you cant see if my bones behind the ear are erroded, making diagnosing and treating my condition hard. What can i do???

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi, are you under an ear specialist and do you see them regularly?  Is your hearing loss conductive (meaning that a lot of the hearing loss comes from your middle ear), of is it sensorineural (meaning the cochlea is damaged?
    • Posted

      loss conductive. I see an audiooligist but my regular doctor for infections. I made an appt for an ENT
  • Posted

    You definitely need to be under an ENT. There is treatment and surgery they can do to help clear your ears of infection. If you have no luck with one ENT, find another. Try and see if you can find an ENT that specialises in otitis media. Most paediatric ENT's will do this because it is such a problem in children. Don't stop looking until you find an ENT that resolves this. It can take some time but would be lovely for you to have your hearing back. What sort of hearing amplifier are you using? Is it one that blocks your ears up and if so, do you think this is part of the cause of your constant ear infections? If it is you can be fit with a bone conduction aid such as a BAHA. This way you don't block your ears to hear and it may reduce the frequency of your infections. Good luck!!! smile

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.