People really do grow out of chronic ear infections, because in little kids the eustation tubes are almost horizontal and adults' heads are shaped so that the tubes angle downward into the little place that clicks open when pressure is equalized and it helps keep them clear.

The allergist is good both because you'll get more information about what is going on AND you may end up with medical evidence to support diet restrictions which could gain some support from your extended family.

The biggest risk to chronic ear infections in kids are permanent hearing loss and delayed speech and/or language development because of intermittent temporary hearing loss which interferes with speech and language development.

Intermittent ear infections are different than chronic ones. If the kid has periods of being well between infections it can be less of a problem for speech, because there will be times when she can hear people talk, so she'll have that experience.

If her speech and language are developing normally, you have more room to ponder the procedure, but if she's showing any delays, then I would strongly recommend having tubes placed.

Sometimes kids have chronic ears for years without really showing symptoms or without complaining, because they are sort of used to it. When I worked at Head Start, I got so I could almost see them coming, because they had a certain way of not moving their faces and of course, delayed language. I secretly wondered if we could get them making huge faces and yawning and chewing gum if it would help!

Whatever you do PLEASE don't try ear candling!!