My 9-year-old daughter just got over an ear infection, she has been finished her antibiotics for 2 days but she is still having trouble hearing through one ear. She says she has a constant ringing. Should I be getting it checked or is that normal?

It's possible she may still have fluid in her middle ear even if it is not infected which would explain her "trouble hearing" and possibly the ringing as well. I would have her hearing checked by an audiologist who could easily determine if there is still middle ear fluid and how much, if any, hearing loss she has as a result of the fluid.

You have received great advice on your daughter's condition from my colleagues already and yes I do agree that you need to ask your daughter's physician to refer her to an audiologist for an evaluation. The audiologist would then make appropriate recommendations - there's a good chance that there may be fluid in the ear or possibly a retracted eardrum that will need further medical treatment to be resolved. This is a very common condition among children.

Ram Nileshwar Au.D.

Board Certified in Audiology

It could be that the infection or middle ear fluid hasn't cleared just yet.  I would follow up with the pediatrician or ENT.  A tympanogram can be performed to see if middle ear fluid is still present then test her hearing as well. Further treatment may be indicated or they may advise she needs more time to heal. Hope that helps.

Follow up with an ENT ASAP.

It can take time for the middle ear swelling and fluid to resolve even after completion of antibiotics.  If she is experiencing pain or drainage in her ear canal, then you should return to your physician or ENT immediately; otherwise, you could have her hearing and middle ear status re-evaluated by an audiologist and discuss more specific recommendations such as returning to her physician.  

It may be that the infection has not yet cleared (sometimes an infection is no responsive to antibiotics and a different one could do the trick), or the infection cleared, but the fluid remained. Either way, that could be causing the ringing. Definitely follow up with the physician and if you can, an ENT. 

Do you have a follow up appointment with your ENT?  If not, I would call for an appointment.  If she is still having trouble hearing in one ear, she may still have either an infection and/or fluid and she may need additional medical intervention.  The ringing can be a result of the fluid and/or infection, but again, this should be addressed.

yes she should be checked.