Most children have an ear infection before the age of three1. But if your child is experiencing
frequent ear infections, grommets may help.
More than 80 percent of children experience at least one ear infection by the time they’re three.1
For children who have repeated ear infections, grommets may help. Grommets are put into the eardrums by a surgical
procedure and prevent repeated ear infections and glue ear.
Dr Lara Shur, Director Clinical Services & Outcomes, COO & Co-founder at Earbus Foundation of WA, explains
what grommets are, how they work, and when they may be needed.
In this article
What are grommets?
Grommets are tiny ventilation tubes that can be placed into the eardrum. They can be made from plastic or metal
and are used to treat the effects of ongoing middle ear issues.3
Signs that your child may need grommets include:
- Speech development. Your child may have pronunciation errors as they can’t hear
speech sounds clearly. 3
- Language issues. Your child may stop learning new words and have trouble with reading or
spelling.3
- Asking for repetition, saying "huh" or "what". Also asking for the TV to be turned up
constantly. 2
- Difficulty listening when you talk to them.4
How do grommets works
“Ongoing ear infections cause the fluid in the middle ear to build up which interferes with hearing,”
explains Dr Lara Shur, Director Clinical Services & Outcomes, COO & Co-founder at Earbus Foundation of
WA.
“The tiny bones in the middle ear space can’t move well because they’re now surrounded by fluid
instead of air.”
“The eardrum has a tiny hole cut into it and the grommet is then inserted to keep the hole open,”
says Dr Shur. “This allows fluid to drain from the middle ear space. The surgeon may also suction any of
the
fluid out of the middle ear space during this procedure.”
What happens after grommet insertion?
“Children who have grommets inserted should have a hearing assessment before grommets and another hearing
assessment afterward,” advises Dr Shur. “This helps to measure the improvement in hearing levels and
will pick up any other hearing-related issues.”
Many children experience an immediate improvement in their hearing following surgery.2 Parents may notice
their
children start to listen and speak better as their hearing improves.
It’s important to keep ears dry following grommet surgery as water from bathing or swimming can lead to ear
infections.2
“Eventually the grommets will fall out by themselves and the hole in the eardrum should close,” says Dr
Shur. “This can take anywhere between 3 to 18 months, depending on the size, shape and grommet
material.”
How can you cover the cost of grommets?
You can choose to access the public or private health system if your child needs grommets. Most public hospitals have
a wait list so it’s important to check how long this list is.
If you have hospital cover then your child can usually access surgery quite quickly, as long as they have served
their waiting periods. When you take out your cover for the first time, you will have a waiting period to serve
before your private health starts paying benefits for your treatment.
For parents
If you have kids, private health insurance can also provide extra choice and convenience for treatments that
may be needed.
Popular hospital claims
At HBF, some of the most popular hospital claims for children and teenagers include:
- Tonsils, adenoids and grommets
- Ear,nose and throat
- Dental surgery
- Hospital psychiatric services
- Bone, joint and muscle
Extras cover claims for things like dental, optical, physio and chiro are also common for
children and teenagers.
If you’re an HBF member, you can check what you're covered for by logging on to myHBF or calling us on 133 423.
And remember, before getting a referral from your GP for an Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, check with the
specialist’s rooms as to whether they charge out of pocket fees. Find a provider here.
It’s important to know that not all levels of hospital and extras cover include the treatments and services
described in this article. To find out more about levels of cover, check out HBF cover options.
Ready to get your family covered
We're here to make family health cover simple and easy to understand.
Get a quote
Disclaimer:
This article contains general information only and does not take into account the health, personal situation or
needs of any person. In conjunction with your GP or treating health care professional, please consider whether
the information is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.
*For the treatment of included services at Member Plus hospitals only.