Ear infections
An ear infection is an inflammation of any part of the ear. It occurs most commonly in the middle ear, but may also occur fairly commonly in the outer ear or even rarely in the inner ear. Ear infections occur most frequently in children.
50% of all children have had at least one infection within their first year of age. Between one and three years of age 35% will have had repeated episodes of ear infections. Ear infections are most common in children as the Eustachian tube in children is smaller and more horizontal than in adults. This condition allows the Eustachian tube more easily to be blocked by conditions such as large adenoids and infections.
The symptoms, severity, frequency and length of the condition vary from one child to another. In the most extreme cases repeated bouts of middle ear infection, result in thick “glue-like” fluid accumulating in the middle ear. This can lead to complications that include hearing loss that is conductive and can be corrected by medical or surgical intervention.
Repeated ear infections may result in perforated eardrums, and may even erode the ear ossicles, leading to hearing loss that is harder to correct. In severe cases damage to the inner ear may occur affecting the hearing nerve. This can cause a permanent, sensorineural hearing loss that may require use of hearing aids or even cochlear implants to correct.
It is very important that hearing loss is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Ear infections can cause temporary or in worst-cases permanent hearing loss. Children learn speech and language from listening to other people talk, and hearing loss results in delayed or even lack of speech development, especially when it occurs in the first years of life.
You can find out if your child might have an ear infection if he or she has fever or pain. However, ear infections can sometimes occur without the child having pain or fever. To find out you can look at the following signs:
- Inattentiveness
- Wanting the television or radio louder than usual
- Misunderstanding directions
- Listlessness
- Unexplained irritability
- Pulling or scratching at the ears
If you suppose your child has an ear infection, this ought to be treated immediately by a paediatrician or family doctor or a specialised ear doctor. As a parent you are the best person to look for signs that suggest poor hearing in your child, do not be afraid to trust your intuition and to consult a doctor. The sooner the child assessed and treated, the better the outcome. When hearing aids are needed, the sooner they are fitted, the better the child’s language skills can develop. A hearing test is a simple and painless way to check whether your child is hearing well, and thus getting the most out of the environmental and spoken sounds around him or her.
Read more about congenital hearing loss.