Otitis
Media
The most common cause of conductive hearing loss in children is an infection in the middle ear cavity called otitis media. The infection may start in the nose from a cold and spread to the middle ear via the eustachian tube. If the infection progresses, fluid forms in the middle ear impeding transmission of sound and can result in a mild, conductive hearing loss as long as the fluid persists. Chronic otitis media is a major cause of hearing loss in medically under-served areas worldwide.
Surgical treatment is usually necessary if the infection persists and, thanks to modern techniques, is highly successful. A perforated ear drum caused by otitis media or by physical tearing can be repaired in 95% of cases, restoring hearing to normal levels. Our knowledge of otitis media has dramatically increased over the past two decades and its treatment has had an important impact on children's health care. Antibiotic treatment, tympanostomy tubes, and adenoidectomy have been mainstays in treatment but development of vaccines against the most common bacteria is in progress. When perfected they should provide a major improvement in pediatric health care.
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