Medically reviewed by Jennifer Schwartz, MD Key Takeaways Ear tube surgery involves making a small cut in the eardrum and inserting a synthetic tube.An adult might need ear tubes placed to help treat ...

Babies and toddlers who need a tracheostomy -- a tube surgically inserted into their windpipe to help relieve breathing problems -- are at a high risk of accumulating fluid behind their eardrum when ...

Serous otitis media, or fluid in the ear, can cause discomfort or muffled hearing. Children are more prone to getting fluid in the middle ear due to their shorter, more horizontal eustachian tubes.