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Some Facts About Otitis Media

Otitis media means fluid in the middle ear. A child with otitis media often experiences a temporary hearing loss. While such a hearing loss is usually mild and fluctuating, it may be a major cause of language delay in the preschool years when the growth of normal language development is at its peak.

The following information about otitis media may be helpful in identifying and helping young children with this middle ear problem.

Otitis media is one of the most common diseases of early childhood.

Otitis media usually occurs before a child is two and is common throughout the preschool years.

When otitis media occurs frequently within a year's time, it is referred to as recurrent otitis media.

About two-thirds of all preschool children have at least one episode of otitis media.

About 12% of all preschool children experience six or more episodes of otitis media before the age of six.

Otitis media occurs more frequently in winter than in summer.

Symptoms of otitis media may include the following: fever, earache, inconsistent response to sound, inconsistent behavior patterns, delayed speech and language development, and irritability.

Prompt medical intervention is very important in the case of otitis media, not only because it often interferes with a child's hearing at a crucial period in speech and language development, but also because, if left untreated, otitis media may result in a permanent hearing impairment.

Immittance testing represents the most effective means of detecting middle ear disease.

Young children with recurrent otitis media often require educational as well as medical intervention. Such educational intervention should focus on language stimulation and the development of auditory (listening) skills.

Otitis media can be difficult to detect because it is about 1/3 of the time present without pain, fever, or any other noticeable symptom.

Otitis media is a major cause of hearing impairment in the preschool and school age population.

Young children with recurrent otitis media sometimes exhibit social and emotional problems, as well as specific language and learning deficits. Such problems may result from the inconsistency they experience in their auditory environments.

Otitis media appears more often among children in day care and in environments where they are exposed adults smoking cigarettes.

Otitis media appears less often among children and infants who were breast fed.

Typical Characteristics Of The Middle Ear/Language Impaired Child

Distractibility by outside noises

Difficulty with speech and language

Inability to discriminate between words that sound alike

Difficulty repeating sounds, letters, and numbers in proper sequence

Frequent need for repetition of directions and important information

Attention to only part of what is said (e.g., understanding only the first or last part of a message)

Difficulty locating the source of sounds not in line with vision

Inability to follow, or attend to, stories read aloud

Use of gestures rather than verbal expression

Inconsistent behavior on a day-to-day basis

A Glossary Of Selected Terms Related To Otitis Media Language Development/Auditory Processing

Otitis media: a disorder of the middle ear usually characterized by the presence of fluid in the middle ear cavity.

Recurrent otitis media: repeated bouts of inflammation and/or the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear.

Acute otitis media: a severe, but usually brief, bout of otitis media.

Chronic otitis media: persistent and long?lasting bouts of otitis media.

Serous otitis media: the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear.

Immittance testing: an objective screening technique used to identify disorders of the middle ear.

Otolaryngologist: a physician who specializes in disorders of the ear, nose and throat (ENT).

Myringotomy: the surgical procedure of making an incision in the eardrum for the purpose of providing ventilation to the middle ear cavity.

Tympanostomy tubes: very small polyurethane tubes inserted in the eardrum to provide ventilation to the middle ear.

Selected Readings

Davis, D. (1994). A Parent's Guide to Middle Ear Infections. Hear You Are, Inc.

Davis, D. S. (1989). Otitis Media: Coping with the Effects in the Classroom. Washington, DC: Alexander Graham Bell Association.

Kavanagh, J. F. (1986). Otitis Media and Child Development (Communicating by Language, Vol. 10). Baltimore, MD: York Press.

Wick Roberts, J. E. and Wallace, I. F. (Eds.). (1997). Otitis Media in Young Children: Medical, Developmental, and Educational Perspectives. City, State: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Developed by and reprinted with permission of Project Preschool C.H.I.L.D. Although this project is no longer in existence, materials and services are currently available from the Toledo Public Schools Early Childhood Program. For more information about the Toledo Public Schools Early Childhood Program, call (419) 534-5801.

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