What is middle ear fluid?
Middle ear fluid, or serous otitis media, is a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum. Symptoms for middle ear fluid include hearing loss and/or pressure or pain in the ear. This condition is quite common in children and occasionally seen in adults. It is often accompanied with an upper respiratory infection that causes a small tube that is located from the back of the throat to the ear to swell up and prevents the fluid from draining. Treatment options include medication and surgery. It is important that this condition be treated as soon as possible because hearing loss caused by middle ear fluid can delay speech and language development in children and hinder progress in school.
Middle ear fluid is the build up of fluid behind the eardrum. It can result from a ear infection or on its own. Middle ear fluid may not cause pain and can reduce or distort hearing in both ears at the same time. Treatment is important because if prolonged, middle ear fluid can cause a delay in speech development. If middle ear fluid does not go away on its own within three months, a course of antibiotics may be given. Why do some children need tubes put into their ears? Usually, chronic ear infections and middle ear fluid clear up with antibiotics or on its own. Sometimes, however, the ear doesn’t drain properly and fluid builds up behind the eardrum, even after infection has gone. Health care providers place small tubes into the eardrums to allow fluid to drain and to let air into the middle ear. Before inserting tubes, your health care provider should wait several months to see if the fluid drains on its own. Another round of antibiotics and a hearing test may be ordered. Tubes are
