Otitis Media (Middle Ear) FAQ

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Who does it affect most?
Children! Otitis media is the most frequently diagnosed illness in children between birth and three years of age. In fact, family physicians have reported that the first reason parents bring their children in is due to the common cold; the second most prevalent reason is middle ear infections. Research has shown that two thirds of all children have at least one ear infection by age three and one third have three or more ear infections.

What is Otitis Media?
Fluid in the middle ear. The Eustachian tube, a tiny passageway between the middle ear and the back of the throat, keeps air pressure in the ear equal to the outside air pressure. The Eustachian tube also lets unwanted fluid drain out of the middle ear. If the Eustachian tube becomes inflamed or blocked from cold, allergy or infection, it will not drain fluid and the fluid may become infected.

Should we be concerned about Otitis Media?
Yes! The fluid, which is like water at first, may get as thick and sticky as glue if the ear is not treated. Also, infection could spread to the mastoid bone and eventually might involve the Inner Ear. The fluid can also cause the eardrum to break open. That relieves the pressure, which may relieve the pain, but hearing is impaired and drainage may be a continuing problem.

It is also known that if left untreated, middle ear pathology can lead to delayed speech and language as well as disturbances in auditory processing and subsequent problems with academic achievement, particularly in learning to read. Children can be disciplined not due to "bad" behavior, but because they are not hearing properly. Social and emotional problems can result if middle ear infections are left untreated.

What should parents look for?
The child may have ear pain and fever. However, pulling or scratching the ears, head banging, irritability, listlessness may all be signs of chronic and recurring fluid in the ear. Other signs include misunderstanding directions, wanting the television louder than usual, inconsistent listening behaviors.

What can your Audiologist do to help?
If a child presents with recurring ear infections or chronic middle ear fluid, an Audiologist should become involved in the child’s care. The Audiologist can determine the type and degree of any associated hearing loss and can monitor the child’s middle ear function through impedance measurements. Although the child’s ‘ear infection’ may have cleared, the fluid may remain for months causing a fluctuating conductive hearing loss. In fact, research in 1985 revealed that:

"70% of children treated by antibiotics had fluid remaining in the middle ear two weeks following treatment, 40% after one month, 20% after two months and 10% after three months."

The hearing impairment may go undetected if the child is not monitored by an Audiologist. If the hearing loss does remain undetected and thus untreated the child’s speech, language development and academic performance can be seriously affected. Of course if the problem is recurrent, additional testing is also required. To ensure adequate identification and follow-up of these children, a co-ordinated effort by parents, teachers, physicians, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, babysitters and grandmothers is mandatory! After all there’s no need to make language therapy a life-long sentence. See your doctor for a referral to an audiologist.