Grommets and Ventilation Tubes

The grommet itself is a small plastic collar which sits in the eardrum and holds a very small hole open, to allow air to move from one side of the eardrum to the other and equalise pressure.

Overview

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02036532007

Why you might need?

Fluid in the middle ear is common after colds and will usually clear on its own. It may persist, particularly in people with poor eustachian tube function, and in children. This can cause hearing loss, a sense of fullness in the ears, and affect balance.

One option for treating this is to bypass the eustachian tube by making a small hole in the eardrum and inserting a small plastic collar (or grommet). The grommet will prevent the hole from healing immediately and restore normal hearing while allowing time for the underlying problem to resolve.

This intervention is most commonly performed for children, who are more prone to colds and eustachian tube dysfunction and will generally grow out of the problem in time.

Adults may also benefit from the insertion of grommets (which are temporary) or other more permanent ventilation tubes.

Treatment Info

The grommet itself is a small plastic collar which sits in the eardrum and holds a very small hole open, to allow air to move from one side of the eardrum to the other and equalise pressure. The grommet and the hole within it are small enough that they do not have a significant effect on the function of the eardrum, which will still carry sound normally. Allowing air through the grommet into the middle ear space will help fluid drain through the eustachian tube. The shape of a grommet means it is pushed out of the eardrum over time, other shaped ventilation tubes are available for use in situations where a permanent change is required.

Treatment Recovery

A grommet designed to hold a small perforation of the eardrum open, when on balance that would be helpful. The presence of a perforation may make ear infections more frequent, and if the plastic of the grommet becomes infected it may need to be removed. The grommet is generally pushed out by the eardrum, between 6 months and 3 years after it was put in, and the eardrum heals as this happens. There is a small chance (about 5%) of a hole remaining in the eardrum after the grommet has come out, which may need to be repaired at a later date (link to perforation, link to myringoplasty).

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Treatment Programme
Grommets and Ventilation Tubes

Introduction

Treatment

Depends on method used

Aftercare

keep clean to avoid infections

Recovery

The grommet is generally pushed out by the eardr...

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Health Insurance

This service or treatment is generally covered by most health insurance policies. You are responsible for checking your insurance policy cover, and you may need a referral letter. Check which insurance companies are covered.

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Self-Pay Available

This treatment is available for self-paying users. If you would like to see more information on pricing visit our pricing and payments page.

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Consultation Required

For this treatment you will need to have a 1-to-1 consultation at OneWelbeck first. To book in with our team of expert clinicians or to find out more about the process contact the relevant centre team.

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Next Day Availability

We usually have next day availability for this service, please call us to check availability.

Grommets and Ventilation Tubes Specialists

All our private ENT specialists at OneWelbeck in London are leaders in their sub-specialties, providing the highest quality treatment to ensure you receive the best available care. Click on the profiles below to see which of our consultants specialise in Grommets and Ventilation Tubes.

Earliest availability 24 Dec
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Chadwan Al Yaghchi

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Laryngology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Snoring, Swallowing Assessments, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Apnea, Voice Disorders, Head and Neck Surgery.

Earliest availability 02 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Jeremy Lavy

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Cochlear Implants, Hearing, Otology, Hearing Loss, Paediatric ENT, Hearing Restoration Surgery, Ossiculoplasty, Myringotomy, Stapes surgery.

Earliest availability 02 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Jahangir Ahmed

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Head, Neck, Acute and chronic cough, Snoring, Sleep Apnea, Thyroid Disorders, Laryngology, Endocrine Surgery, Neck Lumps, Head and Neck Cancer, Salivary Gland Lumps, Tonsil and Adenoid Disorders, Swallowing Disorders, Sinusitis, Nasal Polyps, Microlaryngoscopy, Larynx and Vocal Fold Surgery, Airway Obstruction, Throat and Neck Pain, Nasal Blockage, Tracheal Surgery, Laser Surgery, Airway Reconstruction, Tonsillectomy, Palatal Surgery, Robotic Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Surgery, Lymph Node Excision, Neck Dissection, Thyroidectomy, Parotidectomy, Submandibular Gland Excision, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Septal and Turbinate Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery, Ear, Nose and Throat, Thyroid Cancers.

Earliest availability 02 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Nish Mehta

Paediatric and Adult ENT Consultant

Specialist expertise: Balance, Tinnitus, Ears, Otology, Ear, Nose and Throat.

Earliest availability 03 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Robert Nash

Consultant Otologist & Auditory Implant Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Otology, Hearing, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Ear wax build-up, Hearing Loss, Deafness, Ear Infections, Otitis Media, Dizziness, Vertigo, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Perforated Eardrum, Myringotomy, Cholesteatoma, Tonsillectomy, Meniere’s Disease, Labyrinthitis, Microsuction, Grommet Insertion, Tympanoplasty, Ossiculoplasty, Stapedectomy, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Insertion, Tympanomastoidectomy, Mastoid Cavity Obliteration.

Earliest availability 03 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Professor Shakeel Saeed

Consultant Neurotologist & Skull Base Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Hearing, Ear, Nose and Throat, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Vestibular Schwannoma, Cholesteatoma, Otosclerosis, Meniere’s Disease, Vertigo, Voice Disorders, Facial Palsy, Glomus Tumour, Facial Nerve Tumours, Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence, Neurotology, Otology.

Earliest availability 07 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Nick Hamilton

Consultant Laryngologist and ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Laryngology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Swallowing Assessments, Snoring, Airway Stenosis, Tracheostomy, Voice Disorders, Sore Throat, Neck and Throat Lumps, Neck Lumps, Swallowing Disorders, Tonsillitis, Nasal Allergy, Nasal Obstruction.

Earliest availability 07 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Joseph Manjaly

Consultant ENT Surgeon, Otologist & Hearing Implant Specialist

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Microsuction, Otology, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Hearing Loss, Blocked Ears, Ear Infections, Deafness, Ear wax build-up, Glue Ear, Otitis Media, Otorrhoea, Otalgia, Dizziness, Vertigo, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Perforated Eardrum, Eardrum Retraction, Otosclerosis, Tympanic Membrane Retraction, Cholesteatoma, Meniere’s Disease, Vestibular Neuronitis, Labyrinthitis, Tympanoplasty, Ossiculoplasty, Stapedectomy, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Insertion, Myringotomy, Grommet Insertion, Bone Conduction Implants, Middle Ear Implants, Tympanomastoidectomy, Blind Sac Closure, Canalplasty, Meatoplasty, Mastoid Cavity Obliteration.

Mr Khalid Ghufoor

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Laryngology, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Apnea, Endocrine Surgery, Voice Disorders, Dysphagia, Head and Neck Cancer, Salivary Gland Disease, Tonsil/Adenoid Disorders, Hearing Loss, Otitis Media, Glue Ear, Nasal Polyps, Airways Diseases, Otolaryngology, Speech Disorders, Neck Lumps, Surgical Oncology, Thyroid Surgery, Parotid Surgery, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Microsurgery, Tracheal Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery.

Mr Rupert Obholzer

Consultant Neurotologist & Skull base surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Hearing, Cochlear Implants, Vestibular Schwannoma, Facial Palsy, Otology, Hearing Restoration Surgery, Acoustic Neuroma Surgery, Skull Base Disease, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak Repair, Facial Nerve Surgery, Parotid Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery.

Professor Guri Sandhu

Consultant Laryngologist and Head & Neck Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Laryngology, Snoring, Sleep Disorders, Swallowing Assessments, Voice Disorders, Airway Stenosis, Acute and chronic cough, Sore Throat, Neck Lumps, Salivary Gland Lumps, Neck, Sleep Apnea, Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction, Tonsil and Adenoid Disorders, Head and Neck Surgery.

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