Grommets and Your Ear

By: Jo Johnson - Updated: 11 Oct 2025 | *Discuss

 

Grommets are very small tube-like devices usually made from Teflon, that are surgically inserted into the eardrum allowing for the drainage of fluid or pus from the middle ear.

Why Do Some People Need Grommets?

For some children, these infections return over and over again causing prolonged discomfort, lots of time off school and can inhibit their daily living. If infections continue to recur, your GP may refer you to a specialist to discuss the option of having grommets inserted. These tubes are placed, under general anaesthetic, into the eardrum. Any infectious materials can then drain away from the ear and leave the ear drum patent, preventing further infections from developing.

Results are normally immediate, though many children are surprised at how loud everything is as they are used to hearing muffled sounds and this may take a short period of adjustment to get used to.

Complications Of Having Grommets

As with all surgeries, there are anaesthetic risks and any other medical issues or allergies must be disclosed before the surgery takes place.Sometimes, though very rarely, the infection persists indicating that there may be another reason as to why your child continues to get infections.After surgery, there is a small chance of scarring or damage to the eardrum, though this is usually harmless.

Caring For Your Grommets

Flying is usually not a problem, and in fact suffering from ‘popping’ ears is unlikely as the air pressures can remain equal more easily than without the grommets.

Grommets will normally fall out by themselves, anything from 6 months to 2 years after surgery. They are very small and may not even be noticed when they are ejected. Hopefully, by this time any infections will have disappeared and subsequent infections are unlikely.

Overall, grommets are a safe and successful method of treating recurrent ear infections and once the surgery has been completed, cause no long-term effects or discomfort for the sufferer.

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