So my wife has just been to the hospital to have another hearing test with one of our girls (coming up 5 years old).
She has had hearing problems due to glue ear for several years and grommets seem to provide some help, but the gunk builds up again and she slowly loses hearing again each time (currently already had x3 ops).
Today they talked through options - 'long term' grommets that last longer (but needs another op to remove in two years) or a hearing aid.
I am not keen on a hearing aid (mainly because of potential ribbing at school but also because she hates things that are uncomfortable (ie, tights not right, shoes feel funny etc) so I imagine a hearing aid would come under fire in the same way.
Now (as this was on the NHS) time was inevitably short so my wife didn't get to ask the questions she had (or had time to think about potential questions). So, does anyone have any experience of grommets (are the long term ones better than the standard (ie, will they prevent gunk build up more?) Am I being overly protective in not wanting her to have a hearing aid? Speaking of which, surely a hearing aid (although it solves the immediate issue) the wrong approach - surely the gunk is still behind the aid anyway?
Has anyone had any experience or able to offer any advice?
BTW, the consultant did say he recommended the grommets (but didn't express any particular enthusiasm for it over the hearing aid and my wife is concerned that the last three lots of grommets didn't work).
Her underlying hearing is fine, it's just the glue ear causing the issues (she is very slightly built which apparently means all her airways etc are correspondingly narrow).
I am sorry to read that and can understand your concern. My son had them for 14 years along with other ENT ailments. His did not last long and was regularly in hospital which was obviously pretty traumatic for him.
My own opinion now would be to investigate all possible allergies just in case something is causing a reaction. For this I reckon a naturopath or functional medicine doctor would be better placed to help.