Ear Infections in Clear Lake
Recurring ear infections in your child? Northern Roots offers gentle pediatric chiropractic care in Clear Lake, WI alongside your pediatrician's guidance.
Chiropractic & ear infections
Whole-person support for ear infections
Also known as: Otitis Media, Recurrent Ear Infections, Glue Ear
Recurring ear infections are hard on kids and exhausting for parents — especially when antibiotics keep getting prescribed for the same thing. At Northern Roots Family Spinal Care, we offer gentle pediatric chiropractic care that looks at whether spinal alignment and eustachian tube drainage are part of why infections keep coming back, as one piece of a broader plan alongside your pediatrician's care.
Signs and symptoms
- ✓Frequent ear infections despite completing rounds of antibiotics
- ✓Tugging or pulling at the ear, especially in younger children who can't describe pain
- ✓Fussiness, trouble sleeping, or crying that worsens when lying down
- ✓Fluid drainage from the ear
- ✓Balance issues or clumsiness during or after an ear infection
- ✓Muffled hearing or a child asking to have things repeated
- ✓Low-grade fever alongside ear symptoms
Common contributing factors
- Upper cervical misalignment, which may affect eustachian tube drainage and nervous system function
- Birth trauma or difficult delivery, which can affect a newborn's cervical alignment
- Frequent colds or congestion, which strain the eustachian tube's ability to drain
- Bottle-feeding position or posture habits in infants and toddlers
- Environmental factors like allergies, daycare exposure, or secondhand smoke
- Structural anatomy of the eustachian tube, which naturally straightens and lengthens with age
Our approach
How we support ear infections in Clear Lake
- Step 1
Thorough, gentle exam
We assess your child's spine and cervical alignment, and talk through their infection history and current pediatric care.
- Step 2
A clear plan for parents
We explain what we find in plain language and how gentle chiropractic care might fit alongside your pediatrician's treatment.
- Step 3
Gentle, age-appropriate adjustments
Pediatric adjustments use light, precise pressure — nothing like an adult adjustment — and are paced to your child's comfort.
The basics
Understanding ear infections
A child's eustachian tube is shorter, narrower, and more horizontal than an adult's, which is the main reason young kids get more ear infections. Upper cervical misalignment can add nervous system stress that some parents and practitioners believe affects how well that tube drains, on top of the anatomical factors already at play.
Gentle chiropractic care doesn't replace treating an active infection medically — it's a complementary approach some families add, aimed at supporting drainage and reducing how often infections recur, alongside their pediatrician's guidance.
$47 New Patient Special
$47
New patient special including a consultation with the doctor, a thorough chiropractic examination, the doctor’s report of findings, X-rays if necessary, your first treatment, and an MRI review.
When to see a pediatrician right away
Chiropractic care is not a substitute for pediatrician evaluation of an active ear infection, and antibiotics are sometimes medically necessary — always follow your pediatrician’s treatment plan. See your pediatrician right away for:
- Fever over 102°F, or any fever in an infant under 3 months
- Severe ear pain, or pain that comes on suddenly and intensely
- Fluid or pus draining from the ear (possible ruptured eardrum)
- Signs of hearing loss lasting more than a few days
- Swelling, redness, or pain behind the ear
- Stiff neck, severe headache, or your child seeming unusually lethargic
What to expect at your child’s first visit
Most first visits run 30–45 minutes, and we go at your child’s pace.
- Consultation — We talk with you about your child’s infection history, birth history, and current pediatric care.
- Gentle exam — A light assessment of your child’s spine and cervical alignment.
- Report of findings — We explain what we found and what we recommend, in plain language.
- First adjustment — Light, age-appropriate pressure — most kids barely notice it.
A gentle, drug-free option — alongside your pediatrician’s care
Repeated rounds of antibiotics are sometimes necessary, but many parents look for a drug-free option to add alongside medical care, especially when infections keep recurring. Gentle pediatric chiropractic care is non-invasive and is meant to complement, not replace, your pediatrician’s treatment plan.
Why Clear Lake-area parents choose Northern Roots Family Spinal Care
Dr. Chase O’Keefe has experience with pediatric care and uses light, age-appropriate techniques built for kids, not scaled-down adult adjustments. We serve families throughout Clear Lake, Turtle Lake, Amery, and the surrounding western Wisconsin communities looking for a gentle option to support their child’s ear health alongside their pediatrician.
Curious whether gentle pediatric care could help? Our New Patient Special makes the first visit easy, and you can book an appointment online in under a minute.
How we help
How chiropractic care supports ear infections
Chiropractic Care
Gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments in Clear Lake, WI that restore motion to restricted joints and relieve back pain, neck pain, and headaches at the source.
Learn more →Pediatric Care
Gentle, age-appropriate chiropractic care for children and teens in Clear Lake, WI — fingertip-light pressure to support healthy posture and development.
Learn more →Related conditions
Other conditions we treat in Clear Lake
Patient reviews
What our Clear Lake patients say
“So grateful for the care I’m getting here! I know I would not be this far along in recovering without chiropractic care!”
“First time going to this chiropractor. The chiropractic office was beautiful. The team that Dr. O'Keefe has was on point for customer service. Dr. O'Keefe was polite and kind. They did X-rays to see the problem areas. I've went to chiropractors that seemed annoyed or rushing you out of the office. That or they were not gentle when they were adjusting you. And you hurt worse afterwards. But not here Dr. O'Keefe was great. I will definitely keep going back. And will tell everyone about him.”
“Very grateful to have found them. A neighbor recommended to me. Dr O'Keefe is very knowledgeable and and detailed. Evaluates the problem and comes up with a plan to help it. Very satisfied!”
Can chiropractic care cure my child's ear infection?+
No. Chiropractic care doesn't diagnose or cure ear infections. It's a gentle, complementary approach some families use alongside their pediatrician's treatment, especially for recurring infections.
Should we skip antibiotics if we're doing chiropractic care?+
No — never change or stop a pediatrician-prescribed treatment without talking to them first. We work alongside your child's medical care, not in place of it.
Is a pediatric adjustment safe for babies and toddlers?+
Yes, pediatric adjustments use very light, precise pressure appropriate for a child's developing spine — nothing like an adult adjustment.
How many visits before we'd notice a difference in how often infections happen?+
This varies by child. We'll discuss a realistic plan and timeline based on your child's history and exam findings.
Will my child be scared or in pain?+
Most kids tolerate pediatric adjustments very well and don't find them painful. We go at your child's pace and explain everything to you as we go.
What if my child has an active infection right now?+
Please have them evaluated by your pediatrician first, especially with fever or significant pain. We're glad to see them for supportive care as part of an ongoing plan.
Is this covered by insurance?+
Coverage varies by plan. Our front desk can help you understand your specific benefits — just ask when you call.
What if I have more questions?+
Reach out any time and our team will be glad to help, or check with your pediatrician for anything infection-specific.