HealthInfo Canterbury
Grommets (ventilation tubes)
Grommets are small plastic tubes with a hole in the centre that are inserted into the eardrum in a short operation. They are often called air vents or ventilation tubes as the hole in the grommet allows fresh air to pass into the middle ear. This reduces the risk of fluid build up behind the eardrum and gives ear infections a chance to clear up.
Some children are prone to middle ear infections (also called otitis media) and may have as many as five or six a year. If these infections keep coming back and antibiotics aren't helping, many doctors will recommend a surgical procedure to have grommets inserted.
Grommets are also used in children with glue ear, where thick, sticky fluid builds up in the space behind the eardrum. In such cases, hearing is reduced and children may have difficulty talking and learning.
Grommets stay in for six to 18 months then eventually fall out.
Talk to your doctor about whether grommets are an option for your child.
Getting grommets
To get grommets, your child will need an operation. The operation takes about 10 to 15 minutes and is done as day surgery (you don't need to stay overnight in hospital).
During the operation:
- your child is put under a general anaesthetic, so is in a deep sleep-like state
- a small cut is made in the eardrum to allow the fluid behind the ear drum to drain
- the grommet is placed in the eardrum.
An otolaryngologist – previously called an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist – will perform the operation.
When your child has recovered and is wide awake, they are usually allowed to go home an hour or so after the operation. Your child may be unsettled for a few hours but they are unlikely to feel any pain in their ears after grommet insertion. It is most likely they will be able to return to school the following day.
In most cases, parents notice an immediate improvement in their child's hearing. Parents also report improvements in sleep and general behaviour.
If the infection comes back after the grommets have fallen out, another set may be needed. Your doctor will discuss this with you.
Self-care with grommets
When your child has grommets your doctor will probably recommend keeping their ears dry and away from water, especially for the first few weeks. Ask your surgeon about ear protection for your child in water (when swimming, shampooing, showering and bathing) at the time of the operation, as advice on this varies.
Like all operations, having grommets inserted carries some risks.
- discharge or leaking ear – this is usually treated with antibiotic ear drops
- hole in the eardrum – sometimes the grommet falls out leaving a small hole in the eardrum. This does not usually affect the hearing but may cause an infection and needs an operation to close the hole.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- Canterbury DHB – Grommet surgery
Information about how grommet surgery is done and what to expect afterwards.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Canterbury DHB
- Administering ear drops
This leaflet gives advice on how to use ear drops.
- Ventilation tubes
This leaflet gives advice on care you need to take after a grommet has been inserted to avoid infection.
- Administering ear drops
- KidsHealth – Grommets (tympanostomy or ventilation tubes)
This New Zealand site has more details about what grommets look like and how they are used.
Content shared between HealthInfo Canterbury, KidsHealth and Health Navigator NZ as part of a National Health Content Hub collaborative. Last reviewed May 2020.
SourcesReview key: HIEIG-48027
