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Ear Tubes Don’t Prove Helpful Over the Long Term

For many years, doctors treated kids with recurrent ear infections by putting tubes in their ears. Parents were warned that failing to take action could put the child at risk of hearing loss and learning problems.

A new meta-analysis from the University of North Carolina shows, however, that ear tubes can improve a youngster’s hearing short term but have very little effect over the long term. According to the lead author, “we found no evidence that surgical intervention improves longer term hearing, speech, language, or other functional outcomes in normally developing children.”

[Pediatrics, Jan 6, 2014]

Some parents report that removing dairy, peanuts, corn and/or wheat from the diet cuts back on repeated ear infections for some children. Another approach some parents adopt is to make sure the child is getting adequate vitamin D, either through sun exposure or in vitamin drops approved by the pediatrician.  Children whose vitamin D levels are too low appear to be much more susceptible to such problems (Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, June & Oct, 2013).

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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