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When we were at the hospital for DD's tubes a couple days ago, there was another kid there for that exact reason. His speech was apparently pretty delayed so they needed to get the fluid out so he could hear better. I don't have personal experience with it, since DD got tubes because of repeat infections, but I know there's at least one other kid out there who now has tubes due solely to fluid!

Yes this was us. I think he had two ear infections at 11 months but chronic fluid that would just not go away. He was starting to show signs the fluid was impacting hearing and balance - wasn't babbling or crawling yet - so we saw an ENT. He took one measurement of the fluid and said tubes were necessary. Said the whole world probably sounded underwater. They were the best thing we could have done for him. Within days he was talking and crawling. Plus he's 2.5 now and we haven't had to worry about ear infections!

@SeptMomma12: I never thought about the fact that the fluid would impact crawling and walking but it makes sense with the balance thing. LO did not start crawling until after the tubes were in so maybe that's why!

Yes - DS1 had tubes twice because of this. His infections would clear but fluid remained. The ENT said basically he is hearing things as if he is underwater or muffled. We tried zyrtec for about a month but it didn't help. The ENT said he had a lot of thick fluid just sitting there.

No regrets with the tubes. Just wish the 1st set hadn't fallen out!

That's definitely common in kids we see at our clinic. Not all of them have had recurrent ear infections; a lot of time it has to do with fluid and an impact on hearing. Totally possible that the fluid could be gone by your next appointment, too. Best of luck!