Ear Tubes installed.

[Itchy]

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]

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

 

[Itchy]

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]

I think you are OK. The regs state http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...iv8&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.1.5.2.1.3&idno=14
and the medical disposition guidelines state http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...m/ame/guide/app_process/exam_tech/item30/amd/
so you should fall into the good explanation and no violation of the regs column.

 

[Itchy]

Thanks!

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

 

[My Flight Surgeon]

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]

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]

Is this a permanent thing?

 

[Hootie]

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

 

[WindyCityPilot]

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]

Itchy, So are they helping?

 

[Itchy]

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.