Medically reviewed by Dr. Benjamin B. Cable, MD, board-certified Otolaryngologist · Last updated May 15, 2026
Ear tube placement — medically known as myringotomy with tympanostomy tube insertion — is the most frequently performed surgery in children in the United States. For children with recurrent ear infections, persistent middle ear fluid, or hearing loss from chronic effusion, ear tubes provide an immediate restoration of normal middle ear function and a dramatic reduction in future ear infections.
Dr. Benjamin Cable is a board-certified Otolaryngologist with fellowship training in Pediatric Otolaryngology from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He performs ear tube placements at Stonebridge Surgery Center and Children’s Medical Center Plano. The procedure itself takes under 15 minutes, and most children are back to normal activity the same day.
Quick Facts: Ear Tube Surgery at a Glance
- Most common pediatric surgery in the United States — safe, brief, and highly effective.
- Procedure time: Under 15 minutes total.
- Anesthesia: Brief mask anesthesia for young children — no IV needed in most cases. Adults receive standard general anesthesia.
- Setting: Stonebridge Surgery Center and Children’s Medical Center Plano
- Recovery: Same-day discharge. Most children return to normal activity the same or next day.
- Hearing improvement is usually immediate once middle ear fluid is removed.
When Are Ear Tubes Recommended?
Ear tube placement is recommended when a child’s pattern of ear infections or middle ear fluid is no longer responding to medical management, or when the fluid itself is causing hearing loss or speech delay. The American Academy of Otolaryngology guidelines for ear tubes include:
- Recurrent acute otitis media: 3 or more ear infections in 6 months, OR 4 or more in 12 months — especially when at least one episode has occurred in the past 6 months.
- Persistent otitis media with effusion: Middle ear fluid present for 3 months or longer, in one or both ears.
- Conductive hearing loss from chronic middle ear fluid — documented on audiometric testing.
- Speech or language delay associated with hearing loss from middle ear fluid.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction not responding to medical management.
- Recurrent ear infections in children with Down syndrome, cleft palate, or other conditions associated with eustachian tube dysfunction — often considered earlier and at lower thresholds.
Why Ear Tubes Work
The middle ear is a normally air-filled space that needs ventilation to stay healthy. That ventilation comes from the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and allows pressure equalization and fluid drainage.
In young children, the eustachian tubes are short, narrow, and nearly horizontal — making them prone to dysfunction, especially during colds, allergies, or after exposure to second-hand smoke. When the eustachian tube fails to ventilate the middle ear properly:
- Negative pressure develops behind the eardrum.
- Fluid is pulled from surrounding tissues into the middle ear space.
- That fluid is an ideal culture medium for bacteria — leading to recurrent infections.
- Chronic fluid also dampens the eardrum’s movement, causing conductive hearing loss.
An ear tube creates a small, controlled alternate ventilation pathway through the eardrum itself — bypassing the dysfunctional eustachian tube. Pressure equalizes, fluid drains, hearing returns to normal, and infections become far less frequent.
Types of Ear Tubes
- Short-term grommets (most common): Tiny plastic or fluoroplastic spool-shaped tubes that remain in place for 6 to 18 months and then extrude (fall out) on their own as the eardrum heals. These are appropriate for the majority of children getting tubes for the first time.
- Long-term T-tubes: T-shaped tubes designed to stay in place for several years. Appropriate for children who have already had multiple sets of short-term tubes or who have ongoing severe eustachian tube dysfunction. May require surgical removal.
- Both tube types are tiny, painless once in place, and made of medical-grade materials with decades of safety data.
How the Procedure Works
Ear tube placement is one of the briefest and best-tolerated surgeries in pediatric medicine. There are no external incisions — everything is performed through the natural ear canal:
- Anesthesia: For young children, brief mask anesthesia is sufficient — no IV is needed for the typical case. The child is asleep within a minute or two of breathing the anesthetic.
- Myringotomy: Dr. Cable uses a microscope to make a tiny precise incision in the eardrum.
- Fluid removal: Any middle ear fluid is gently suctioned out through the incision.
- Tube placement: The tiny tube is positioned in the incision, where it sits within the eardrum.
- Total operating room time: Typically 10 to 15 minutes. The child wakes up shortly after the procedure ends.
Recovery and Aftercare
- Same-day discharge: After a brief observation in the recovery area, your child goes home the same day.
- Activity: Most children return to normal activity the same day or the next day. There are no significant restrictions.
- Drainage: Mild ear drainage for 1 to 2 days after surgery is normal — this is fluid that was inside the middle ear now draining through the tube.
- Pain: Most children have minimal or no pain. Acetaminophen for one or two doses is sometimes used. Stronger pain medication is rarely needed.
- Water precautions: Current guidelines suggest routine bathing, showering, and swimming in clean pool or lake water generally do not require ear plugs. Dirty water, diving, and persistent submersion may warrant precautions. Dr. Cable will give specific guidance for your child.
- Follow-up: First post-op visit at 1 month to check tube position and confirm hearing improvement with audiometry. Subsequent visits every 6 months until the tubes extrude.
Benefits of Ear Tubes
- Drastic reduction in ear infections compared to children without tubes.
- Immediate restoration of normal hearing once middle ear fluid is drained.
- Improved sleep, behavior, and attention — many parents notice their child is happier, less irritable, and more responsive within days.
- Speech and language catch-up when delays were related to hearing loss from middle ear fluid.
- Fewer courses of antibiotics — reducing antibiotic exposure and the risk of antibiotic resistance.
- Restored quality of life for the whole family — fewer doctor visits, fewer missed school days, fewer sleepless nights.
Long-Term Outcomes — What to Expect Over Time
- Tubes extrude on their own: Short-term tubes typically fall out at 6 to 18 months as the eardrum heals from underneath. You may find the tube in your child’s ear or on the pillow — or it may go unnoticed.
- Eustachian tube maturation: Most children outgrow eustachian tube dysfunction by ages 5 to 7, when the eustachian tube becomes longer, narrower, and more vertically angled.
- Second sets of tubes: About 20 to 30% of children need a second set of tubes after the first set extrudes. This is normal and doesn’t reflect any failure of the first surgery.
- Long-term hearing: The eardrum heals fully in over 95% of cases. Long-term hearing outcomes are excellent for the vast majority of children.
Why Choose Dr. Cable for Pediatric Ear Tube Surgery
- Fellowship-trained Pediatric Otolaryngologist. Dr. Cable completed a dedicated pediatric ENT fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, with thousands of pediatric ear procedures performed over his career.
- Surgical privileges at facilities near you. Pediatric ear tube placement is performed in a caring environment with highly experienced anesthesia doctors in a child-friendly facility.
- Audiometric evaluation included. Every child receives a comprehensive hearing test before surgery to document baseline hearing, and again after tube placement to confirm improvement.
- Family-centered care. Dr. Cable takes the time to walk parents through every step — what happens during the procedure, and what to expect at home.
- 20+ years of experience including service as a U.S. Army Colonel and lead ENT consultant, with over 40 peer-reviewed publications and 470+ citations in the medical literature.
Learn more about pediatric ENT care at our practice, or about ear infections in children as the underlying condition tubes often treat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ear Tubes in Frisco, TX
How long do ear tubes stay in?
Will my child need a second set of ear tubes?
Can my child swim or bathe with ear tubes?
Are ear tubes painful?
Will ear tubes improve my child’s hearing?
What happens when the ear tubes fall out?
Schedule a Pediatric ENT Consultation in Frisco
If your child has had recurrent ear infections or persistent middle ear fluid, Dr. Cable will perform a full evaluation including audiometry and recommend the right next step. New patient appointments are typically available within 1 to 2 weeks.