Dr. White doesn't agree with this at all. Generally, when chronic ear infections make life miserable despite antibiotics, or when fluid remains in a child's ears for more than three months, it's time to see a specialist. Long-term hearing loss from lingering ear fluid is the greatest concern, which is why experts urge parents to pay attention to their child's hearing and speech development. But if she seems to miss sounds, asks you to repeat things, or lags behind peers in speech, I'd say she needs attention now. A child with a suspected hearing loss should be seen by an audiologist experienced in testing babies, toddlers, and preschoolers for subtle hearing problems.
Many pediatric otolaryngologists have such audiologists on staff.
Tympanostomy tubes, as they're called, are tiny, usually plastic tubes inserted in the eardrum that allow air and fluid to flow from the middle ear. Implanting them usually requires brief general anesthesia, as the doctor needs to make a small incision in the eardrum. Improvement in hearing is nearly immediate. Tubes require surgery, though, so they shouldn't be taken lightly. One new treatment, laser myringotomy, may offer an alternative for some ear tube candidates.