Hearing aids and glue ear

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the acceptance and effectiveness of a hearing aid in the management of children with persistent hearing loss due to glue ear (otitis media with effusion [OME]). Forty-eight children with OME, in whom the main symptom was deafness, were treated with a hearing aid instead of surgery and reviewed at 3-monthly intervals over 6-12 months. Seventy-one per cent reported unequivocal satisfaction with the aid. Sixty-five per cent used the aid continuously throughout the day whilst 35% used it only at specific times of need. Ninety-eight per cent noticed a definite improvement in their hearing whilst using the aid and this was confirmed audiometrically in 100%. Disability was considered in terms of speech development and educational achievement. In 66% there had been a subjective decline in these parameters prior to aid prescription. In all but one child significant improvement was made sufficient to alleviate parental and teachers' concern. No children reported significant symptoms due to OME other than deafness and there were no complications of hearing aid usage. At follow-up, however, 13% of children continued to use a hearing aid in an ear in which the OME had resolved. This study has shown that in this preselected group of children with persistent OME and the predominant symptom of deafness, a hearing aid was an effective treatment for their deafness with high acceptance and compliance.

Hearing aids versus ventilation tubes in persistent otitis media with effusion: a survey of clinical practice

“…In contrast to the response in our survey where the otolaryngologists opinion seems to indicate that children and parents prefer surgery to hearing aids, two publications in the UK have shown that a signi cant number of parents are willing to try hearing aids for their children. 1,2 In our survey only a small proortion of otolaryngologists mention giving the parents a balanced opinion and option for both hearing aids and ventilation tubes. It is possible that if the parents were given an informed decision-making choice then more parents would be happy to try hearing aids for their children.…”

Prevalence of middle ear pathologies in children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss

“…It is well known that hearing aids (HA) can provide excellent compensation for a purely conductive hearing loss and they can be an effective alternative to surgery with high acceptance and compliance rates [9]. And in their excellent paper, Flanagan et al in 1996 concluded that the most defined use of a hearing aid must be in managing otitis media with effusion in those children with significant recurring hearing loss despite previous surgery [9].…”

Childhood otitis media with effusion

“…In a small UK study of 48 children with OME, compliance by the children issued with a hearing aid was high. However, 13% of children continued to use the hearing aid in the affected ear after the OME had resolved 8 Surgical treatment is recommended where resolution has not occurred over a 3–6 month period and there is a persistent hearing impairment with associated disability.…”

“…In a small UK study of 48 children with OME, compliance by the children issued with a hearing aid was high. However, 13% of children continued to use the hearing aid in the affected ear after the OME had resolved 8 …”