Grommets - How many sets & long term damage?

DS1 has a very long and quite complicated medical history, one issue is his hearing. It's never really been good. He's almost 8 now and has had 2 sets of grommets previously. He still has glue ear but ENT are reluctant to insert more grommets for a few reasons, one he is almost 8 and his ears "should" have matured by now and two he has a perforated ear drum on one side (due to the last grommet) and a collapsed ear drum on the other side along with a blockage of wax. His last ENT appointment was Tuesday just gone (9th) and I'm left feeling quite frustrated. They are concerned about the risks associated with the surgery (DS1 has not had a good run with surgeries) and at this point have taken the wait and see approach. I didn't expect a quick fix but I did expect to have some sort of treatment plan in place. At this point we will go back in 3-4 months, in the mean time I have to keep track of the infections etc. He also has to blow up balloons to try and push the ear drum back out from the inside. He also has issues with his sinuses not draining properly, pretty much all the tubing in there isn't maturing how it should. His hearing is very poor atm and the last 3ish months have not been good health wise (viruses, infections, etc). Tonsils & adenoids were removed at 4yr9m old, yet he still snores and breathes through his mouth.

Now my question... has your child had more than 2 sets of grommets, if so what was the outcome? I'm particularly interested in hearing from those who have older children who have had these hearing/ear issues for a long time. DS1 has been with ENT for quite a few years now.

I guess I'm also looking for some advise from people in similar situations, is there any natural methods that I could look in to to help. I feel like I need to be doing something rather than sitting back and waiting for him to get worse.

FYI we cannot use ear candles or insert any liquid in to his ears. He is also currently on nasonex & fess (saline spray) to help with his nose and due to other health issues takes a daily multi-vitamin and pro-biotic. Fruit & wheat are limited and he is on lactose-free milk and other dairy is also limited.

Thanks :)

I am nearly 40 and can only give you my very dated experience.
I had in excess of 20 (yes, 20!) grommet ops between the age of 2 and 12.
At 12 my mum decided that I would have no further surgeries.
I prob had my last really good infection at 13.
I have been pretty much fine since, although my sinus situation is pretty dismal.
Be careful with the fess sprays, I find that prolonged use gives temporary relief, but longer term is a bit of an irritant.
Maybe give him a bit longer to grow out of it?
Beach swimming had always worked for me too. Cleans everything out.


ETA, my hearing is ****e... I am fully expecting to need a hearing aid by the time I am 70.

Have you taken him to a dr specialising in allergies? Might be worth a shot. Also, i have terrible ear/sinus things & had lots of problems as a child & I find that chewing gum helps when my ears are blocked - might be worth a shot.

Thanks for the replies :)

WOW Livinthedream, 20 :o Thanks for the tip on the Fess spray :)

No Marydean, no allergy Dr, at this point I'm reluctant for more poking, prodding and testing.
He regularly chew gum for sensory reasons anyway :)

We have been told to give him time to grow out of it, but without good hearing his schooling will be affected. To be honest I am sick of waiting for him to "grow out of things" So many things we've been told that for and it always got worse.
I'm sad and angry that there isn't much I can do for him. He already has a lot going on without this :(

Boytwin has had 2 grommets in his right ear and 3 in his left. The extra left grommet is because the previous grommet became stuck, infected and a large polyp grew which blocked the entire ear. He is 6 at the moment and the right ear seems fine without a grommet but we get his hearing tested regularly. Before the last grommet I was concerned about his hearing and school performance, everyone told me there wasn't an issue, then we found out he was completely deaf in that ear. I wish they would listen to parents more.