Research Assessment #2

Date: 9/14/16
Subject: Otolaryngology
MLA Citation(s):
"Ear Tubes." American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck

Surgery. N.p., 06 May

2016. Web. 14 Sept. 2016. <http://www.entnet.org/content/ear-tubes>.

Assessment:
In the article by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, I learned the function of
tympanostomy tubes, the causes of the need for tympanostomy tubes, and the procedure
during the insertion surgery. The article explained that after recurrent ear infections, people are
recommended to get tympanostomy tubes so that these ear infections stop. Without getting
these tubes, people experience a variety of symptoms ranging from poor behavior to eventual
hearing loss. The article explains that the ENT makes an incision in the ear drum, drains excess
fluid in the inner ear, then finally inserts the plastic ring in the incision point so that air can flow
between the inner, middle, and outer ear.
This is influential in my ISM study of ENT doctors because it is a narrowed down
specific procedure and ENT performs on a regular basis. Also, because this is the highest
performed surgery on children, it is a highly impactful surgery on a wide range of peoples lives
and it is something ENT doctors do a lot. The most interesting thing I learned in this article is
that even though children go under anesthetics for this procedure, when adults and teenagers

get tympanostomy tube inserted, many times they are awake and receive minimal numbing
before the procedure.
Knowing that ENT doctors perform this procedure and many other procedures like
inserting tympanostomy tubes, I have learned that the Ear Nose and Throat doctor position has
a very broad range of roles. Before doing this research I knew that they treated things such as
taking tonsils out, allergies, and hearing loss, but now with this research I have learned that
hearing loss can be prevented from a very young age with the insertion of tympanostomy tubes
and the prevention of excessive ear infections. I also have learned that an ear infection can be
in both a viral stage and a bacterial stage, so sometimes they can not be treated. Although the
viral ear infections can not be treated with medicine, this article stated that the ear tubes help
prevent the viral infections from occurring.
Through this article I have furthered my study on the job of the Ear Nose and Throat
doctor by researching the procedure of inserting tubes in people's ears. Knowing this
information, I am now able to see both the broad topic I was familiar of with an ENT and a
specific part of the ir job. This is helpful in my knowledge of the ENT topic because in the future,
I can both further research different methods of this surgery or narrow into another role the ENT
doctor has or performs during their career as a doctor.