The nurse is answering questions from a young father, who brought his son to the clinic for an ear ...

The nurse is answering questions from a young father, who brought his son to the clinic for an ear infection.
 
  The father asks the nurse, When should (tympanostomy) tubes be used on my son, and how will they help his ear infections? The nurse would be correct to respond that tympa-nostomy tubes should be used a. when fluid is in the outer ear, because they help drain the fluid.
  b. if the child has recurrent ear infections, because they can reduce the number of episodes.
  c. only when the stapes and the malleus are enlarged.
  d. only when the child has a serious acute infection of the tympanic membrane.