When 4-year-old Avery started preschool, her mom Stacey, and her dad Eric noticed something wasn’t right. Avery kept getting ear infections, one after another, always in her left ear. There are many reasons this can happen in kids, which is why these children should be evaluated when and if the concerns keep happening. Sometimes ear tube surgery may be highly recommended.
Stacey, who works as a hearing instrument specialist with many years of experience in selling hearing aids, knew a lot about ear health. She would bring Avery into the hearing center where she worked from time to time for a hearing test. Because of her expertise, she was sure Avery needed a new approach after all the back and forth, stuck in a cycle of antibiotics, appointments, and earaches. “We were just spinning our wheels,” Stacey said.
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“From the first meeting [at Connecticut Children’s], I felt very heard.”
Stacey reached out to a trusted relative who happened to be a Connecticut Children’s team member. That led her to meet Chris Grindle, MD, Division Head of Otolaryngology — and everything changed.
“From the first meeting, I felt heard,” Stacey said. “He understood where I was coming from and didn’t make me explain every detail. As a parent, that meant everything.”
After meeting with the family and evaluating Avery, a discussion was had about ear tube surgery and adenoidectomy.
Is it common to remove adenoids and ear tubes at the same time?
Treatment and management, whether surgical and/or medical, is tailored to the needs of the patient. Sometimes the problem is not just with the ears, and an adenoidectomy is recommended at the time of ear tube surgery. This is common when kids have frequent infections or have fluid in the middle ear space that causes hearing loss.
"The adenoids are close to the opening of the Eustachian tube, a narrow passageway that helps balance the pressure in the middle ear. When that pressure is balanced, the middle ear is less likely to get infected and less likely to have fluid that does not drain," explained Chris Grindle, MD. "If the adenoids are enlarged, they can block the Eustachian tube and lead to more ear infections. In some cases, removing the adenoids along with placing tubes can help prevent future problems. But not every child needs both — we make the decision based on each child’s symptoms and medical history."
He also explained that after the procedure Avery might be a little groggy from the anesthesia but should bounce back quickly.
Even though it was Avery’s first surgery — and Stacey and Eric’s first time going through something like this as parents — the team made it feel easy and comfortable. “Dr. Grindle got down on Avery’s level and talked to her, not just to me,” Stacey said. “That made Avery feel special and made me feel confident.”
Then, in June of that year, toward the end of the school year, Avery had her procedure. It went quickly, and the team made sure the pair knew exactly what to expect. Although Avery wasn’t a fan of the IV after waking up, she recovered well.
From the first meeting, I felt heard. [Dr. Grindle] understood where I was coming from and didn’t make me explain every detail. As a parent, that meant everything.
Stacey,
Avery's Mom
“Avery couldn’t wait to have her ears checked!”
Avery counted down the days to her follow-up visits at the Glastonbury Pediatric Specialty Care Center—no joke. The follow-ups were a special moment for both mom and daughter. Avery was excited, even proud, to be part of the experience. She couldn’t wait to have her ears checked.
Today, Avery is doing great and living her best life as a first grader and proud big sister. She hasn’t had a single ear infection since her surgery—and was even overjoyed when her first “tubie” fell out.
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Avery is an energetic, happy kid who loves to sing, dance, and play outside — and loves anything Disney.
But what brings this story full circle is that Avery has a strong interest in the medical world at such a young age. She even pretended to be her mom’s medical assistant during a hand surgery!
“I won’t be surprised if Avery goes into the medical field someday,” Stacey recalled.
“Do your research. It’s scary to have your child get anesthesia and have a surgical procedure, but they made the process so easy and comfortable. And the way they involved Avery meant the world to me.”
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