My daughter goes to the pediatrician almost every two months for ear issues. Either there is an ear infection or there's fluid but no infection. They want to monitor her ears in when there is fluid but I don't have the money for office visits. They charge a copay even for a ear check. I had bought an otoscope but it was a cheapy and you really can see much so it only helps when her ear is really infected and all the other signs of infection are already present. I was just wondering if anyone has an Earcheck monitor. I had seen one in the store recently and almost bought it but it was fifty dollars. I was just wondering if any other mothers had used it and what you had thought. If it didn't work well I didn't want to be out the money. Thank you!
Thank you for all the advice it actually sounds like I need a new pediatrician not just an ear fluid monitor. I've brought it up to him that she should see an ENT but he dismissed it and told me she would be fine but I'm not so sure.
PE tubes solved this issue for 2 out of my 3 (the other one doesn't really deal with this). Hearing is just something you don't want to mess with.
I'd get to the ENT asap.
HTH~blessings
Hi Desiree,
I have an ear check and it is wonderful. When it tells me she has fluid in her ear I take her to the doctor and she does have an ear infection. In fact, I just used it on Sat. and it was right. Anyway, check ebay for it. We got it brand new in box for about 20 dollars. For us it was totally worth the money.
Thanks for your post. I've wondered about the ear fluid monitors myself. My son borderlines on needing tubes but not quite bad enough yet. He was complaining of ear pain and when I took him to the doc he had no fluid. I was puzzled. I'll be looking in to getting one myself. I think if they really work, that would be a very, very handy device.
Several years ago I purchased a Dr. Mom otoscope for the same reason. I think it cost me $35 at the time, plus I bought 50 extra disposable sepcula at an additional cost. I *LOVE* this thing!! It comes with a color chart of what various ear conditions look like. It is super! I highly recommend it to you. My kids are now 12 and 13, and I still use it - it works like a charm. I still have about 20 specula left. Here is the website: http://www.drmomotoscope.com
If you scroll down, you will see the prices. The Dr. Mom price is even cheaper than when I bought mine about 9 years ago! Mine is black plastic.
My son was having cronic ear infections since September. We finally called the doctor and told them we needed a recomindation to a ear nose and throat doctor. We got tubes put in November. One got pushed out by the infection and we put it back in first of Dec. He is doing fine now. No more infections, fever, he is much better. Best of luck and God bless your baby girl.
If she has had 4-6 ear infections in the past year, you should seriously consider a visit to an ENT specialist. I am surprised that your pediatrician hasn't mentioned it.
Depending on her history, they will likely recomend ventilation tubes. I was wary about surgery at such a young age (1 year) but after a six month long ear infection I couldn't manage it anymore. She was either puking from the ear infection or had diarrhea from the antibiotics--either way I missed 2.5 weeks of work one month. It has been a vast improvement since the surgery. She still gets an occasional infection, but it is obvious (goo coming out the ear) and much shorter recovery.
Good luck.
Take her to an ENT and get tubes. They are amazing...an instant cure. We struggled with ear infections with my oldest until he was three before we did tubes and he has never had another infection. My youngest is going through the same thing. He told us if the "fluid" never drys up it could be because it is thickened and turned into "goo" which will never dry up between infections. Have you had her hearing tested? Tubes are cheaper than weekly co pays too!
Hi there! I did purchase the Earcheck monitor after my son had back to back ear infections when he was about a year old. Before I opened the package, I took it with us to our pediatrician so I could get his opinion on it. The doctor didn't recommend it because he said it was too sensitive and going to read positive even with the slightest bit of fluid, which would keep us running back to him even when there was no problem.
Well, I ended up keeping it anyway. Better safe than sorry, right? However, I have never been able to get a successful reading from it. I have followed the instructions to the letter, changed the batteries, practiced on everybody in the house, and it reads "error" every time. I have read the manual up and down and it just won't work for me.
Once you open the package there is a message inside that says you can not return it to the store once opened. You have to pay postage to return it to the company. So, in my opinion, if you don't have the money to waste, it is not worth it. Maybe other mothers have had a better experience with it.
Good luck!
Desiree,
Tell the pediatrician that you want her to put on a low daily dose of antibiotics to prevent the fluid from getting infected in her ears. The reason she has so much fluid back up is because her ear canals aren't large enough yet for it to drain properly. We had my oldest one a 1 tsp at night does of a mild antibiotic for over 1 year when he was 18mths old and it kept us from having to get tubes in his ears. By the time she's 3 they will have grown enough to let the fluid drain out naturally.
Good luck!
C.
I'm curious to see the responses. My son has a speech delay and we think it's from ear infections or middle ear fluid when he was younger.
I had the same experience as Sandra L. The only good reading we have ever gotten is on the adults because if you are not completely still it won't register. AND a child's ear canal is so small which can cause it to error. We also wanted to return it but once opened it is too late. I do know they sell the same one I bought from First Steps for nearly $50 for $20/$25 at Wal-mart. My now 2-yr old daughter had chronic ear infections too - seemed like at least once a month. We finally saw an ENT and got tubes put in her ears after trying chiropractic and other things because we really did not want to put her through a surgery. But I have to say - getting the tubes was the best thing we have done for her. She has not had any more issues with her ears and it's been a year. She does have allergies - and they were contributing to infections. My 8-month old is also getting tubes in her ears this month as she has already met the criteria. This time we know it will help and since we've been through it once we know what to expect. It is scary, but I would recommend considering it. It beats them being on antibiotics constantly. Good luck!
My son had double ear infections 2x within 1 month. I took him to an ENT who determined he had enlarged adnoids which required surgery to correct. Not an ear issue since?!?
Hi Desiree,
My Son also went to the Doc every month it seemed for his ear problems. We got so sick of using thermometers (because every time you call the Doc to make an appt, they ask for vitals) that we bought an infrared thermometer. It scans the forehead in under a minute. It is so cool and saved so many tantrums with the kids (we use it on the new baby too). Check it out online (search for Infrared Thermometer). It costs about $35 or so but well worth it. Good luck!
A.
What i think is that the child is missing something in the body like a vitamins any way i would be so glad to email you something that may help... you look it over and see whats best for you but I am sure it will help
LaShonda
I never used an earcheck monitor so I can't offer any advice there. My son had chronic ear infections for 7 months. It was so frustrating. He ended up getting tubes in his ears when he was 14 months old and that solved the problem for a while. Then when he was 22 months old he got another one. That's when we got rid of his bottle and he just had sippy cups during the day. He's never had another ear infection since and he's 8 years old. If your daughter still uses a bottle I would stop that immediately. Let her throw it away herself and then make a big deal of presenting her with her sippy NEW sippy cup. Good luck!
