You have a unique medical history. Therefore, it is essential to talk with your doctor or health care provider about your personal risk factors and/or experience with ear infections. By talking openly and regularly with your health care provider, you can take an active role in your care.

General Tips for Gathering Information:

Here are some tips that will make it easier for you to talk to your health care provider:

Bring someone else with you. It helps to have another person hear what is said and think of things you might have forgotten to ask.
Write out your questions ahead of time, so you don't forget them.
Write down the answers you get, and make sure ask for clarification, if necessary.
Don't be afraid to ask where you can find more information about what you are discussing. You have a right to know.

Specific Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider About Ear Infections:

Are all ear infections painful?
If my child shows no symptoms, is there any way to know if he or she has an ear infection?
Will untreated ear infections get better on their own?
About Your Risk of Developing Ear Infections

Does an ear infection mean my child has asthma or allergies?
Do food allergies increase my child’s risk of ear infections?
If my child has repeated ear infections, do I need to remove him or her from daycare or preschool?
Should all of my children receive a flu vaccine?
About Treatment Options

How do we know if the cause of the ear infection will respond to antibiotic treatment? What about viruses?
Will taking antibiotics make my child more vulnerable to other infections?
What about resistance to antibiotics? Is it safe to delay antibiotic treatment of ear infections to see if they will get better on their own?
Are homeopathic remedies effective against ear infections?
About Lifestyle Changes

What can I do if my child is unwilling to give up his or her pacifier?
Can we have a pet?
About Outlook

Is my child likely to outgrow ear infections? When?
If we have treated my child’s ear infections with antibiotics, can he or she still develop hearing loss?

Sources:

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)