The hearing bones may also need repair. Ventilation tubes usually cause few side effects. Chronic ear drainage, ear cysts, infection and further hearing loss are other possible complications. The tubes last for 6 to 12 months on average. Surgery in and around the ear may fail to get rid of the infection completely or fail to restore all of the hearing loss.
Side effects can include a disturbance of taste on part of the tongue.
Other side effects may include nerve damage leading to deafness, dizziness, facial paralysis on one side, or breakdown of the repaired eardrum. If synthetic materials are used to restore the bones for hearing, the materials can become dislodged or fail. In middle ear inflammation with fluid behind the eardrum, hearing is usually restored very quickly after treatment. If ventilation tubes are required, drainage through the tube may continue for a short while. After tubes are placed, some care needs to be taken to prevent bacteria in the middle ear space.