Grommets and ear infections

**Traveller** · October 20th, 2010, 08:04 AM

Boytwin had grommets put in when he was 15 months, and he is now almost 3. One grommet cam out a few weeks ago, and he now has an ear infection in that ear. The other grommet is almost out and that ear is causing him some pain. So far I have only taken him to the GP who has prescribed the usual abx and ear drops, but he is seeing an ENT surgeon next month.

So my question is, what are the chances he will need more grommets straight away?

**Olive** · October 20th, 2010, 08:08 AM

poor thing

i guess it may be a case of wait and see if he gets another one and how soon, but seeing as he got one so soon after it fell out they may do i t straight away.
do you had private health insurance? that may be the other factor to hoe soon it gets done

**~clover~** · October 20th, 2010, 08:27 AM

DD1 was supposed to have grommets in at 3, but the waiting list was too long & she was 5 when it was done.
The second they came out she started getting earaches & suffering hearing loss again. I took her straight to the gp, who gave her the usual abs to clear the fluid, but thats all he's willing to do at this stage. They won't look at grommets again unless she starts showing signs that its delaying her learning/speech etc. We just let the school know when there's a hearing problem, so she sits at the front & do the abs again.
But, my DD is 8. Her speech developement is very different to a 3 year olds, so things could be completely different for you guys.

**Traveller** · October 20th, 2010, 08:37 AM

nope, no PHI. We are on an enhanced care plan through medicare which reduces the cost of private appointments but I think that only covers consultations, not operations, and would definitely not cover a hospital stay so we will need to go public for any operation.

**Traveller** · October 20th, 2010, 08:39 AM

Boytwin was completely deaf until 15 months, so his speech is already behind. He is seeing a speech therapist to catch up already, I don't want him to fall any further behind

**~clover~** · October 20th, 2010, 08:49 AM

Well hopefully they'll do them asap then. Its hard isn't it. While DD1 had the hearing problems, her speech is suprisingly good. Its DD2 who has a speech delay here, with no hearing issues at all

**Party-of-five** · October 20th, 2010, 09:51 AM

My DS had to have his put in after they fell out because the infections started again, ear problems suck

**Traveller** · October 20th, 2010, 10:04 AM

How long is the waiting list likely to be if we go public? We will have to wait 12 months if I get private health insurance due to it being a pre-existing condition but if it is a 2 year wait publicly then it might still be worth it. I am in Victoria if that helps.

**Amaunet** · October 20th, 2010, 10:11 AM

A friends dd had grommets put in yesterday. The wait was long for public and they don't have phi, but paid $2000 to have it done via the private system with no wait.

**~clover~** · October 20th, 2010, 10:41 AM

Depends on your area Traveller. I know here on the coffs coast the waiting list is alot shorter that it is in central western nsw. We were on the list for dubbo base for 18 months, were put on the list for Orange base as well after a while & it took them 10 months. At a guess, I'd say about 12 months on average. Your ENT might be able to give you a better guess though.
You can pay to have it done privately & it can be done with in weeks. ILs took that option for their DS. It cost about $1500 all up.