Ear Fluid May Cause Hearing Loss and Affect SchoolworkSerous Otitis Media (SOM) or fluid behind the ear drum, canaffect people at any age. Now that allergy season is upon us(not that it is ever very far away in this area) more people aresuffering hearing loss from this problem.Most adults know when they have a problem hearing, butchildren have a special problem with ear fluid. Frequently hearing loss is their only symptom. The hearing loss occurs because the eardrum is like a bass drum --- if you fill it with water it will not work. Children do not usually complain of any symptoms but theirschool work may deteriorate. An alert teacher or parent maynotice a decreased attention span. In younger children middle ear fluid is even more difficult to diagnose.Parents may notice slow speech development or poorpronunciation. A baby who cries allot and pulls at their earsmay have fluid. Normally the space behind the eardrum, called the middleear, is filled with air. This air gets into the middle ear bycoming up the Eustachian tube which opens high in the throat,right behind the nose. Anything which blocks the entrance tothis tube can make the ear fill with fluid. In children largeadenoids as well as allergic swelling or infection and (rarely)tumors can all cause Eustachian tube blockage. In adults the most common causes are allergic swelling andInfection. An ear examination by a physician can identify fluid behindthe ear and it is sometimes necessary to do a hearing test aswell to measure the amount of hearing loss. Fortunately, ear fluid can usually be treated with medication andby treating the underlying cause (allergy, infection, largeadenoids etc.). If this is not successful at restoring normalhearing, it may be necessary to place tiny ventilation tubesthrough the eardrum to let the fluid out. This type of surgerycan usually be done on an outpatient basis. Hearing loss which affects speech and learning in childrenis a serious problem. Because of the lack of other symptomsassociated with SOM it is important for parents to be aware ofthis potential problem and to have their child checked by aphysician if they suspect hearing problems.
Dr. Douglis is a Board Certified specialist in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (Ear, Nose, and Throat). He attended the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine and completed his specialty training at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He has practiced medicine in Montgomery County Texas and the Houston area since 1982.
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