This plain language summary explains tympanostomy tubes, also known as ear tubes, to patients and families. The summary applies to children aged 6 months to 12 years with tympanostomy tubes or children being considered for tympanostomy tubes. It is based on the "Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update)," published in 2022 as a major update to the original guideline from 2013. This plain language summary is written explicitly for consumers, patients, and families as a companion publication to the full guideline, which provides greater detail for health care providers. A primary purpose is to facilitate insight and understanding that foster shared decision making regarding ear tubes. Guidelines and their recommendations may not apply to every child, but they do identify best practices and quality improvement opportunities that can help you and your child benefit most from ear tubes.
Keywords: developmental delay disorders; grommets; middle ear effusion; otitis media; otorrhea; pediatric otolaryngology; plain language summary; tympanostomy tubes.