Ear Problems in Children in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Ear problems are very common in babies and young children in Grand Rapids and across West Michigan. Our cold winters, frequent respiratory infections, and time spent indoors can all increase the risk of ear infections.

Local pediatric care teams at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and other Grand Rapids clinics see ear issues every day, especially during the fall and winter cold and flu season.

About Ear Problems in Children

Babies and young children are especially prone to middle ear infections, also called otitis media. In this condition, pus or fluid builds up in the space behind the eardrum (middle ear), causing pain and sometimes temporary hearing loss.

  • About 4 out of 5 children will have at least one middle ear infection.
  • Most ear infections improve on their own without serious complications.
  • Repeated or long‑lasting infections can affect hearing and may temporarily delay speech development.

In Grand Rapids, ear infections are often seen after colds, flu, and other respiratory infections that tend to spike during our colder months.

What Causes Middle Ear Infections?

Middle ear infections are usually caused by:

  • Viruses (often after a common cold)
  • Bacteria that grow in trapped fluid behind the eardrum

The infection usually starts when the Eustachian tube (the small tube connecting the middle ear to the back of the nose) becomes blocked due to:

  • A cold or upper respiratory infection
  • Allergies
  • Exposure to tobacco smoke
  • Lying flat while bottle-feeding

Because babies and toddlers have shorter, narrower, and more horizontal Eustachian tubes, they are more likely to develop middle ear infections than older children.

As children in Grand Rapids grow—usually after age 6—the Eustachian tube becomes more mature and infections tend to occur less often.

Symptoms of Middle Ear Infection in Children

Symptoms can develop quickly and may be worse at night. Common signs include:

  • Earache or tugging at the ear
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite
  • Irritability or more crying than usual
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Discharge from the ear (clear, cloudy, or pus-like fluid)
  • Mild hearing loss or “muffled” hearing

Because sound does not travel well through fluid, a child with a middle ear infection may have trouble hearing. Normal speech may sound like a whisper. This hearing loss is usually temporary and improves as the infection and fluid clear.

Young children in Grand Rapids daycare or preschool may be misjudged as not listening or having behavior problems when, in fact, they simply cannot hear well due to an ear infection.

Do Burst Eardrums Heal?

Sometimes, pressure from the fluid and infection causes the eardrum to burst (perforate). This can:

  • Release fluid or pus from the ear
  • Quickly reduce pain
  • Look alarming to parents

In most cases, a burst eardrum heals on its own within a few weeks. Your child’s doctor in Grand Rapids will check the eardrum to make sure it is healing properly and may prescribe antibiotic eardrops or oral antibiotics if needed.

When Ear Infections Affect Speech and Hearing

Short-term hearing loss from a single ear infection typically does not cause permanent damage. However, frequent or long-lasting infections can:

  • Affect how clearly a child hears speech
  • Make it harder to learn new words
  • Temporarily delay speech and language development

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and notice your child:

  • Does not respond when called
  • Frequently says “What?” or “Huh?”
  • Turns the TV or tablet volume up very high
  • Has unclear speech for their age

talk to your pediatrician or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at a local health system such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health.

How to Reduce the Risk of Ear Infections

You cannot prevent all ear infections, but you can lower your child’s risk. Helpful steps include:

Healthy Habits

  • Breastfeeding when possible
    Breastfeeding provides immune protection that helps fight infections better than bottle feeding alone.

  • Avoid secondhand smoke
    Do not smoke in your home, car, or near your child. Passive smoke is a major risk factor for ear infections and is especially important in colder Michigan months when families spend more time indoors.

  • Limit exposure to colds and viruses

    • Practice good handwashing.
    • Teach children to cover coughs and sneezes.
    • Keep sick children home from daycare or school when possible.

  • Use proper feeding positions

    • Do not prop a bottle and let your baby drink while lying flat.
    • Always hold your baby with their head elevated during bottle feeding so milk does not enter the Eustachian tube and increase infection risk.

  • Stay up to date on vaccines

    • Vaccines like the pneumococcal and flu vaccines can reduce some infections that lead to ear problems. These are available through local pediatricians and the Kent County Health Department.

Treatment for Ear Infections in Grand Rapids

Many mild ear infections improve on their own within 24–48 hours. Your child’s doctor will base treatment on your child’s age, symptoms, and exam findings.

Pain Relief

To keep your child comfortable:

  • Use over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (never give aspirin to children).
  • Use warm compresses over the ear for comfort.
  • Encourage rest and fluids.

Always follow dosing instructions or your pediatrician’s advice.

Antibiotics

In more severe cases, or in younger children, your Grand Rapids provider may prescribe oral antibiotics, especially if:

  • Symptoms are severe
  • Fever is high or lasts more than 48 hours
  • The infection is not improving
  • There is pus draining from the ear

It is important to:

  • Give the antibiotic exactly as prescribed
  • Complete the full course, even if your child feels better

Eardrops

In some cases, your child’s doctor may also recommend medicated eardrops, especially if the eardrum has perforated or if there is significant drainage.

“Glue Ear” (Otitis Media with Effusion)

After a middle ear infection, some children develop “glue ear”, a condition where thick, sticky fluid remains behind the eardrum even after the infection has improved.

Signs of Glue Ear

  • Ongoing mild hearing loss
  • Turning up the TV volume
  • Not responding when called
  • Speech that seems unclear or delayed

Glue ear often improves over time and becomes less common as children grow older. However, if fluid remains for several months or hearing is significantly affected, your doctor may recommend further treatment.

Treatment Options for Glue Ear

If antibiotics do not clear the fluid or if glue ear is persistent, an ENT specialist in Grand Rapids may recommend:

  • Myringotomy with grommets (ear tubes)
    A small hole is made in the eardrum and a tiny tube (grommet) is inserted to:

    • Drain the fluid
    • Improve hearing
    • Reduce future infections

  • Stronger antibiotics
    In some cases, a stronger antibiotic—sometimes by injection—may be used if there is ongoing infection.

These procedures are commonly performed at Grand Rapids hospitals such as Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Earwax (Wax) Problems in Children

Sometimes, a child’s ear canal can fill with earwax (cerumen), which may:

  • Cause mild hearing loss
  • Make the ear feel full
  • Interfere with the doctor’s ability to see the eardrum

Do not use cotton swabs inside your child’s ear canal, as this can push wax deeper or injure the ear.

Your doctor may:

  • Use ear drops to soften the wax
  • Use a syringe with warm water to gently flush out the wax plug

This is usually a quick and safe procedure when done by a trained healthcare provider.

When to Seek Medical Help in Grand Rapids

Call your child’s doctor or a local clinic if your child has:

  • Ear pain lasting more than 24 hours
  • Fever with ear pain
  • Fluid, blood, or pus coming from the ear
  • Trouble hearing
  • Repeated ear infections
  • Balance problems or dizziness

Emergency Care

Call 911 or go to the emergency department at your nearest Grand Rapids hospital (such as Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids) if your child:

  • Has a stiff neck and fever
  • Seems very drowsy, confused, or hard to wake
  • Has severe pain with swelling or redness behind the ear
  • Has sudden hearing loss in one or both ears

Local Resources for Ear Problems in Children – Grand Rapids, MI

If your child has ear problems and you need care in the Grand Rapids area, you can contact:

  • Your pediatrician or family doctor
    First stop for most ear infections and concerns.

  • Local urgent care or walk-in clinics
    Many Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health, and independent urgent care centers offer extended hours for non-emergency ear pain.

  • Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists
    Available through major health systems in Grand Rapids for recurring or complex ear issues.

  • Pharmacists
    Can advise on over-the-counter pain relief and ear care products.

  • Kent County Health Department / Grand Rapids Public Health
    For vaccinations, health education, and support services.

Always call ahead to confirm hours and whether an appointment is needed.

Key Points About Ear Problems in Children

  • Middle ear infections are very common in children in Grand Rapids, especially after colds and during the winter months.
  • Symptoms include earache, fever, headache, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, ear discharge, and temporary hearing loss.
  • Most ear infections improve without antibiotics, but pain relief and close monitoring are important.
  • You can reduce the risk of ear infections by breastfeeding when possible, avoiding secondhand smoke, practicing good hygiene, and not bottle-feeding while your baby is lying flat.
  • “Glue ear” (fluid behind the eardrum) can affect hearing but often improves as children grow; some cases may need ear tubes (grommets).
  • If you are concerned about your child’s hearing, speech, or repeated ear infections, consult a Grand Rapids pediatrician or ENT specialist.