Ear tubes for adults are used to equalize pressure and/or prevent the accumulation of fluid in themiddle ear.
They may also be used to treatearbarotrauma(ear damage due to extreme changes in atmospheric pressure).
The shape holds them securely in place.
Verywell / JR Bee
Once implanted, the tubes cannot be seen.
This article explains when and why ear tubes are used in adults.
It also describes what you’re free to expect if you are scheduled to undergo the procedure.
Why Do Adults Get Ear Tubes?
What Is Ear Tube Placement Surgery?
The surgical placement of ear tubes is a relatively simple procedure.
The insertion of the tube is calledtympanostomy.
Several types of synthetic ear tubes exist, varying in their design and materials.
How Long Do Ear Tubes Stay In?
Long-term tubes used in adults are shaped like an H to stay in place longer.
Ear tubes usually fall out on their own within about two years.
If they don’t, your healthcare provider will take them out.
The longer a tube is kept in, the greater the risk of eardrum scarring or damage.
Tympanostomy Failure Rates
The failure rate of tympanoplasty placement in adults is higher than in children.
hovering between 72% and 79%.
By far the most common reason is a retained tube requiring surgical removal.
Contraindications
A myringotomy with tympanostomy may not be right for everyone.
These include:
Having priorradiation therapyof the head or neck may also disqualify you from this procedure.
Your healthcare provider will give you instructions to follow prior to the appointment.
Remember to bring your insurance paperwork and identification to the appointment.
The surgery is performed by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist known as anotolaryngologist.
It can be done in the provider’s office under local anesthesia on one or both ears.
This involves making a small hole in the eardrum with a scalpel or laser.
Then the healthcare provider will use small forceps to gently guide the ear tube into place.
If both ears require tubes, the procedure is repeated on the other side.
If drainage persists for several weeks, call your healthcare provider.
Recovery time for ear tube placement in adults is similar to that for children.
Complete the full course of medication to avoid the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Over time, the eardrum will heal around the tube, helping to keep it in place.
It is typically recommended to avoid getting water in your ears for the first week following the procedure.
In the past, it was recommended to wear earplugs while swimming, showering, or bathing.
Research shows no benefit to the practice.
Because the tubes are so narrow, water does not appear to pose any concern.
Summary
Ear tube surgery involves making a small cut in the eardrum and inserting a synthetic tube.
This is usually done only after first-line treatments have failed.
Ear tube placement is a simple procedure that should only take about 15 minutes.
In adults, it’s usually done under local anesthesia in an otolaryngologist’s office.
Most people can return to work the day after the procedure.
Ear tube placement surgery in adults is a quick procedure with a fast recovery time.
However, the surgery is not always effective.
Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s directions and schedule follow-up appointments.
Most people need to be seen every six months to check on the tubes.
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Ear tubes.
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.AAO-HNSF clinical practice guideline: tympanostomy tubes in children.
Nagar RR, Beshmukh PT.An overview of the tympanostomy tube.Cureus.2022;4(10):e30166.
doi:10.7759/cureus.30166
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ear tube insertion.
Llewellyn A, Norman G, Harden M, et al.Chapter 3: results.
In:Interventions for adult Eustachian tube dysfunction: a systematic review.
Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; 2014 Jul.
2016;37(4):356-61. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2015.10.006
