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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Child Has Retraction Pocket Without Cholesteatoma, Hearing Loss. Surgery Ok?

My 11 year old son has a retraction pocket without a cholesteatoma . He has moderate hearing loss in that ear and mild loss in the other (which looks healthy). Our general ENT wants to replace his eardrum to make it safe but does not think it is going to improve his hearing. First, is it typical for a general ENT to perform this type of surgery? Second, is it typical for a general ENT to perform this type of surgery on a child? We live in Japan (with the US Military ) and our second opinion was at a Japanese pediatric ENT who told us my son s ear looked perfect ... no problem !! We are getting a 3rd opinion from another general ENT with the Navy tomorrow. There is a ear surgery specialist at the military hospital in Hawaii and we are not sure if we should try to push to get referred there. Thanks. H
Mon, 8 Oct 2012
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Pediatrician,  's  Response
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Retraction pocket is fairly common and has been observed in about 25% of British children. Unless there is a cause for the retraction pocket I do not see any reason for surgery in the ear and would agree with the second opinion that you got.

In case of moderate hearing loss in the affected ear what has the doctor suggested. Will a hearing aid help the child? In case it does than it is advisable to get a hearing aid.

Surgery by an ENT surgeon will depend on the surgeon's expertise in that field. In case the surgeon has been doing such type of surgeries frequently than the surgeon has gathered expertise over the years in it.

I hope I have answered your query to your satisfaction. Feel free to revert back for any clarifications that you have.

Wishing your son all the best...

Regards,

RKK
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Child Has Retraction Pocket Without Cholesteatoma, Hearing Loss. Surgery Ok?

Hi, Thanks for your query. Retraction pocket is fairly common and has been observed in about 25% of British children. Unless there is a cause for the retraction pocket I do not see any reason for surgery in the ear and would agree with the second opinion that you got. In case of moderate hearing loss in the affected ear what has the doctor suggested. Will a hearing aid help the child? In case it does than it is advisable to get a hearing aid. Surgery by an ENT surgeon will depend on the surgeon s expertise in that field. In case the surgeon has been doing such type of surgeries frequently than the surgeon has gathered expertise over the years in it. I hope I have answered your query to your satisfaction. Feel free to revert back for any clarifications that you have. Wishing your son all the best... Regards, RKK