We have an appointment with Dr. Ferguson an ENT at Wake Med North, recommended by our PEDS due to our daughters constant ear infections. (She will be 15 months on the 20th.) I have read most of the older post on here related to this topic (tubes, less dairy, chiropractic services, seasonal allergies, cranial osteopathy, ear drops, etc.) and am feeling a little overwhelmed as those all sound like they are the cause/solution.
Can anyone speak of this office, good or bad? Any advice going into the consultation would be great!
Background: She has had ear infections since at least 3 months, but does NOT show typical symptoms (pulling ears, goes to sleep no problem, etc.) So, I am sure she has had more than we have recorded at the PEDS office. Also, they have not gone away with antibiotics two times I know of. Thus, probably never really clearing the fluid.
We are scheduled to have tubes put in, in a couple of weeks. I requested a hearing test at the ENT appointment and she had about 50% hearing in one ear and flat line zero in the other ear. Of course, now I am just really worried about speech delays as she doesn't really say any words other than momma, dah (daddy), and doh (dog).
Hopefully, the tubes will at least allow her to get the fluid out for now and increase hearing precision vs the underground water sounds she is getting now. In the meantime for prevention of future tubes, I am going to cut back on dairy a little and see how that works, as well as take her to my chiropracter for some adjustments.
Thank you so much for your ideas, comments, and support! :)
A.
I don't know anything about Dr. Ferguson, but Dr. Magda Pugh is a really great ENT and she deals with Children and adults. I have a 15 month old with asthma and he had frequent ear infections. She is also at WakeMed north. Reducing dairy intake really does help. Be careful because unnoticed ear infections can lead to pneumonia.
He put in my sons' tubes and I love him! I have 2 friends who have children who see him as well and both speak very highly of him.
Hi Amanda,
I work with children and parents in the Raleigh area, with this problem all the time and have heard nice things about that office overall. That being said I would like to comment on your statement about "not clearing the fluid" in your post: That is a problem that definitely can be fixed a variety of ways you are correct. And chiropractic care is one of them as you mentioned. I am a specialty certified diplomate in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic and work with kids of all ages on this issue, ones that have had previous tubes and ones that have never had them. I work with special techniques for the kids to decrease any tensions in the areas just below and behind the ears, any tensions here decrease the lymphatic drainage and therefore fluid build up vs. drainage. If the fluid doesn't buildup then there is not happy wet, warm area for the bacteria to take over. So that is why I am very successful in decreasing this problem for children that are prone to fluid buildup in the ears and then the infections. I also teach the parents at home myphatic drainage massage that is simple and helps a ton as a preventative.
If you ever would like more info please contact my office ###-###-####, www.KeystoneChiropracticNC.com
Best wishes for better health for your daughter no matter the route. You are doing a great job researching this for your child, it's tough being a parent! :)
D. Hedgepeth, DC, DACCP
Amanda,
I can't really give advice about the ear infections b/c we visited Dr. Ferguson for another reason, but I can say that I really liked him a lot. It has been a few years since we saw him but our daughter was diagnosed as deaf at birth and he was our ENT for the first 6 months. He guided us through a difficult situation and I always felt that he really took the time to give us the options and help us make decisions.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Holly
My 2 yr old has had the same ear problems. He was and is cutting teeth when he gets an eat infection. May be that could be it. He around the age your is kept an ear infection. He turned 2 the end of August and we are only on our 3rd for this year. Our Ped at 1st suggested tubes but I thought no and right now I am glad that I made that choice. But I know all cases are different. With my daughter that is getting ready to be 7 in a week has never had an ear infection.
Hope this helps.
