Ear Tubes installed.

Itchy · January 2nd, 2008, 21:33

Well, I am now the proud owner of a pair of grommets in my ears.

I have a question to anyone who has these. Did you lose any low frequency hearing? On the way home, I thought my woofer in my car died, and upon further testing and observation have come to the conclusion that the tubes have taken out the low frequency (somewhere around 200 hz? and down) response.

People - do not fly with colds! You could wind up like me!

MQAAord · January 2nd, 2008, 22:55

Do ear tubes have any effect on pressure? Does the FAA care if you have tubes?

Itchy · January 2nd, 2008, 23:13

I certainly hope they are groovy with the FAA!!!!!!! I was told they were fine by my ENT, but she is not an AME.

The beauty is they make your ears impervious to altitude changes.
My ears just would not clear, so this seemed like the only option if I still wanted a paycheck. If all goes well, they will drop out on their own in 6 to 18 months, my hearing will be completely normal at that point. (?)

The cons are a few though. No swimming below water, chance of somethng going wrong, and apparently, loss of low frequency response while they are in place. I could not find anything on the web referencing the low frequency problem.

It was nice having the pressure relieved when they were put in.

My Flight Surgeon · January 3rd, 2008, 08:46

I think you are OK. The regs state http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text....2.1.3&idno=14
and the medical disposition guidelines state http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...ch/item30/amd/
so you should fall into the good explanation and no violation of the regs column.

Itchy · January 3rd, 2008, 09:05

Thanks!

When I go in for a medical, do I need to bring in any data from my ENT?

My Flight Surgeon · January 3rd, 2008, 11:30

Yes, that is best. If the AME has questions, he can call the Regional Flight Surgeon or OCK and get their approval to issue on the spot.

WindyCityPilot · January 3rd, 2008, 12:15

I've had about 4 sets of tubes during my childhood and definitely have hearing loss. Whether the hearing loss is due to the tubes or other issues I do not know. I've had my ear drum rupture multiple times from infections...overall my childhood was spent at many many ENT docs.

The only upside of tubes is you don't have to worry about pressure changes.

tprops4me · January 3rd, 2008, 12:19

Is this a permanent thing?

Hootie · January 3rd, 2008, 12:49

Itchy, does it hurt when they installed them? Are they visible?

WindyCityPilot · January 3rd, 2008, 15:27

Tubes are not permanent...as the ear drum heals the tubes are forced out and eventually fall out on their own. They are not visible outside of the ear. You can't tell that they are there...when they're ready to fall out you can feel them but there is no pain.

Hootie · January 8th, 2008, 22:11

Itchy, So are they helping?

Itchy · January 8th, 2008, 22:33

On the positive side, they make flying with a cold (which I am STILL fighting) worry free. Descend 10K feet in 3 minutes and not bat an eye (or ear).
So, on that front, it is working.

Having them put in is relatively painless.

I can not wait for them to fall out though. Despite being told they will not affect hearing, the low frequency response is kaput. I will think longer and harder next (IF!) time they are suggested. I really felt I needed to get back to work. The ENT said it may be as little as two weeks or three months before the eustation (sp?) tubes sorted themselves out.

I really need a job serving bar drinks in a thatched hut on a beach.

January 2nd, 2008, 21:33	#1
Itchy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 143	Ear Tubes installed. Well, I am now the proud owner of a pair of grommets in my ears. I have a question to anyone who has these. Did you lose any low frequency hearing? On the way home, I thought my woofer in my car died, and upon further testing and observation have come to the conclusion that the tubes have taken out the low frequency (somewhere around 200 hz? and down) response. People - do not fly with colds! You could wind up like me!

January 2nd, 2008, 22:55	#2
MQAAord Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Looney Bin Posts: 9,157	Re: Ear Tubes installed. Do ear tubes have any effect on pressure? Does the FAA care if you have tubes? __________________ PPL SEL 100-ish hours TT Former American Airlines F/A (12 months) Former Simmons/Eagle F/A (6 years) Former Eagle ground school instructor (1 year) Former Eagle IOE instructor (3 years)

January 2nd, 2008, 23:13	#3
Itchy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 143	Re: Ear Tubes installed. I certainly hope they are groovy with the FAA!!!!!!! I was told they were fine by my ENT, but she is not an AME. The beauty is they make your ears impervious to altitude changes. My ears just would not clear, so this seemed like the only option if I still wanted a paycheck. If all goes well, they will drop out on their own in 6 to 18 months, my hearing will be completely normal at that point. (?) The cons are a few though. No swimming below water, chance of somethng going wrong, and apparently, loss of low frequency response while they are in place. I could not find anything on the web referencing the low frequency problem. It was nice having the pressure relieved when they were put in.

January 3rd, 2008, 08:46	#4
My Flight Surgeon Sr. Aviation Medical Examiner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,262	Re: Ear Tubes installed. I think you are OK. The regs state http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text....2.1.3&idno=14 and the medical disposition guidelines state http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...ch/item30/amd/ so you should fall into the good explanation and no violation of the regs column. __________________ Walter Forred, MD PHX 602-368-5633 www.myflightsurgeon.com

January 3rd, 2008, 09:05	#5
Itchy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 143	Re: Ear Tubes installed. Thanks! When I go in for a medical, do I need to bring in any data from my ENT?

January 3rd, 2008, 11:30	#6
My Flight Surgeon Sr. Aviation Medical Examiner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,262	Re: Ear Tubes installed. Yes, that is best. If the AME has questions, he can call the Regional Flight Surgeon or OCK and get their approval to issue on the spot. __________________ Walter Forred, MD PHX 602-368-5633 www.myflightsurgeon.com

January 3rd, 2008, 12:15	#7
WindyCityPilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 757	Re: Ear Tubes installed. I've had about 4 sets of tubes during my childhood and definitely have hearing loss. Whether the hearing loss is due to the tubes or other issues I do not know. I've had my ear drum rupture multiple times from infections...overall my childhood was spent at many many ENT docs. The only upside of tubes is you don't have to worry about pressure changes.

January 3rd, 2008, 12:19	#8
tprops4me Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Michigan Posts: 346	Re: Ear Tubes installed. Is this a permanent thing?

January 3rd, 2008, 12:49	#9
Hootie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Zona Posts: 1,174	Re: Ear Tubes installed. Itchy, does it hurt when they installed them? Are they visible? __________________ Whatever happened to catching a good old fashioned passionate ass whooping?

January 3rd, 2008, 15:27	#10
WindyCityPilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 757	Re: Ear Tubes installed. Tubes are not permanent...as the ear drum heals the tubes are forced out and eventually fall out on their own. They are not visible outside of the ear. You can't tell that they are there...when they're ready to fall out you can feel them but there is no pain.

January 8th, 2008, 22:11	#11
Hootie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Zona Posts: 1,174	Re: Ear Tubes installed. Itchy, So are they helping? __________________ Whatever happened to catching a good old fashioned passionate ass whooping?

January 8th, 2008, 22:33	#12
Itchy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 143	Re: Ear Tubes installed. On the positive side, they make flying with a cold (which I am STILL fighting) worry free. Descend 10K feet in 3 minutes and not bat an eye (or ear). So, on that front, it is working. Having them put in is relatively painless. I can not wait for them to fall out though. Despite being told they will not affect hearing, the low frequency response is kaput. I will think longer and harder next (IF!) time they are suggested. I really felt I needed to get back to work. The ENT said it may be as little as two weeks or three months before the eustation (sp?) tubes sorted themselves out. I really need a job serving bar drinks in a thatched hut on a beach.

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