Ear Grommets in Australia: ENT Guide for Parents and Kids

In Australia, the word “grommets” can mean two very different things depending on the context. In ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) medicine, ear grommets are tiny tubes placed into the eardrum to help air flow into the middle ear and let trapped fluid drain out.

Parents usually hear about grommets when a child keeps getting ear infections, has “glue ear,” or fails a hearing check. This can feel scary—especially if it’s your child’s first surgery. The good news is that grommet insertion is a common paediatric ENT procedure in Australia, and most children recover quickly.

This guide explains what ear grommets are, why doctors recommend them, what happens on surgery day, and how to care for your child afterward—written for Filipino families in Australia and anyone researching Australian ENT care.

What are ear grommets?

Ear grommets (also called ventilation tubes) are small tubes made of plastic or metal that sit in a tiny opening in the eardrum. They help by:

• letting air reach the middle ear
• reducing pressure build-up
• helping fluid drain out
• improving hearing when fluid is blocking sound

A child with persistent fluid behind the eardrum may hear as if sounds are “muffled” or “underwater.” When grommets work well, hearing often improves because sound can pass more normally again.

The most common reasons children get grommets

Glue ear (otitis media with effusion)

Glue ear is fluid in the middle ear without the typical signs of an active infection. The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) notes that middle ear fluid can remain after an acute ear infection and may persist for up to around 12 weeks, and if it persists beyond about 3 months it should trigger hearing assessment and ENT involvement.

Recurrent ear infections

Some children get repeated acute otitis media episodes. Many ENT information sheets and clinical guidance use recurrence patterns (such as multiple infections over a short period) as a reason to consider tubes, depending on severity and impact.

Hearing, speech, and learning concerns

Hearing matters most when kids are building language. If fluid persists and hearing is affected, grommets may be recommended to reduce the risk of ongoing hearing issues that can affect speech and classroom learning.

A simple benchmark used in paediatric guidance is: persistent middle-ear fluid beyond 3 months should prompt a hearing assessment and ENT involvement.

Do all children with glue ear need grommets?

No. Many cases resolve on their own. RCH guidance notes that OME often resolves spontaneously and antibiotics/ENT referral are not routinely required for OME unless it persists.

This is why you’ll often see a “watch and wait” period, especially if the child’s hearing loss is mild and speech development is on track. If the fluid stays, hearing drops, infections recur, or speech delay is suspected, the balance can shift toward intervention.

What happens during grommet surgery in Australia?

Most children have grommet insertion in hospital as a day procedure.

Healthdirect describes the process simply: a doctor inserts the grommets into the eardrum, and the procedure is done in hospital.
Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network also describes grommets as small tubes inserted to help fluid drain out, commonly used to treat glue ear.

A typical surgery-day flow looks like this:

• your child is given a general anaesthetic (so they’re asleep)
• the surgeon makes a tiny opening in the eardrum
• trapped fluid is suctioned out (if present)
• the grommet is placed into the opening

The procedure itself is usually quick. The bigger time block is pre-op preparation and recovery monitoring after anaesthesia.

How long do grommets stay in?

In many children, grommets fall out on their own after about 6 to 12 months.
As the tube falls out, the eardrum typically heals and closes naturally.

Sometimes grommets fall out earlier, or stay longer. Your ENT or clinic follow-ups help confirm how things are progressing.

What changes can parents expect after grommets?

Many parents notice improvements like:

• clearer hearing (often quickly when fluid was the main issue)
• fewer ear infections or less severe episodes
• better sleep and behaviour when discomfort reduces (this varies by child)

If your child has been struggling to hear, you might see a sudden “boost” in attention and responsiveness—because the world sounds normal again.

Aftercare: what to expect in the first days

Most kids bounce back fast, but it’s helpful to watch for ear discharge.

RCH Kids Health Info notes that ear drainage can happen while tubes are in place, and advises families to contact a doctor if drainage continues for more than about five days and the child has fever and/or pain.

Healthdirect also includes guidance on what to expect after surgery and when to see a doctor for follow-up concerns.

Practical aftercare habits that help:

• follow the discharge instructions from your hospital/ENT clinic
• use ear drops only if prescribed
• keep follow-up appointments (these matter for hearing checks and tube status)

Can kids swim after grommets?

This is one of the most common parent questions.

Australia-based patient resources commonly explain that routine activities can resume, but water precautions may depend on the child, the type of water exposure, and ENT preference. Healthdirect includes advice on how to look after grommets and when to seek care, and children’s hospital factsheets also discuss aftercare expectations.

A practical, parent-safe approach:

• ask your ENT what they recommend for your child (this can vary)
• if your child will be diving, swimming in untreated water, or gets frequent ear discharge, your ENT may suggest ear protection or specific precautions

Risks and possible complications

Grommet insertion is common and generally safe, but no procedure is risk-free. Typical issues discussed in Australian patient information include:

• ear discharge (otorrhoea) after surgery
• blockage of the tube or early tube extrusion (falling out early)
• persistent perforation (a small hole that doesn’t close) in a minority of cases

Your ENT will explain risks in the context of your child’s symptoms, hearing results, and how much glue ear or infections are impacting daily life.

When to call the doctor after grommets

Seek medical advice if:

• ear discharge continues for several days, especially with fever or pain
• your child seems very unwell after surgery
• hearing does not improve as expected (this may need reassessment rather than panic)

If you ever feel unsure, it’s appropriate to call your GP, ENT clinic, or the hospital’s post-op contact line listed on your discharge paperwork.

Adults can get grommets too

Although grommets are most common in children, adults may also need ventilation tubes for:

• persistent middle ear fluid
• Eustachian tube dysfunction causing pressure problems
• recurrent infections or barotrauma issues (for example, frequent flyers)

Healthdirect’s overview covers grommets broadly (not only for children), which reflects that the concept applies across ages depending on clinical need.

What Filipino families in Australia often worry about

If you’re a Filipino parent in Australia, you might hear comments like “Bakit kailangan operahan?” or “Hindi ba kaya ng gamot?” These are normal concerns.

A helpful way to explain the medical logic:

• antibiotics don’t clear non-infected middle ear fluid reliably, and many glue ear cases resolve naturally over time
• grommets are considered when fluid persists, hearing is affected, or infections recur and impact quality of life

If English medical terms are stressful, ask the ENT clinic to explain using simple words. Australian paediatric services are used to parent questions and will usually provide a factsheet you can reread at home.

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