Your Child's Recovery
Tympanoplasty (say "tim-PAN-oh-plass-tee") is surgery to repair a hole in the eardrum. The surgery may have been done to improve hearing or to stop frequent ear infections that did not get better with other treatments.
Your child may feel dizzy for a few days after surgery. If the doctor made a cut (incision) behind your child's ear, the incision may be sore. Your child may have ear pain for about a week. Some bloody fluid may drain from your child's ear canal and the incision.
Your child's ear will probably feel blocked or stuffy. Your child may not be able to hear as well as before. This usually gets better as the eardrum heals and the foam packing or ointment dissolves. The packing will dissolve about 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
If your child has stitches, they may dissolve on their own, or the doctor may need to take them out. Your doctor will discuss this with you.
It may take time before your child's hearing gets better. Your doctor will test your child's hearing after the ear has healed. This may be 8 to 12 weeks after surgery.
While your child is healing, it's important that water does not get in the ear. Your child will also need to avoid strenuous exercise and other activities that may put pressure on the eardrum. This includes flying in an airplane, swimming, and playing contact sports.
This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for your child to recover. But each child recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to help your child get better as quickly as possible.
Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter F062 in the search box to learn more about "Tympanoplasty in Children: What to Expect at Home".