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Your ear has three parts— the outer, the middle, and the inner ear. Infections happen in the middle ear, which is the small space behind your eardrum. Ear infections are also called acute otitis media. They can happen in one or both ears.
Ear infections are common in children and can be painful. Many children will have at least one ear infection by the time they are 1 year old.
Ear infections are more common in children because of the way their ears develop. We all have a tube that runs from our middle ear to the back of our throat. This Eustachian tube helps the middle ear drain. In children, this tube is smaller and is not tilted like it is in adults. This makes it easier for an infection to block the tube.
Sometimes, children get fluid in their middle ear but do not have an infection. This is otitis media with fluid. You may hear or see the term "otitis media with effusion" or "fluid in the middle ear."
Constant ear fluid is more common in children under 2, but it can happen in older children. Fluid in the middle ear can make it harder to hear. Hearing loss at a young age can lead to speech and language delays.
It can be hard to know if your child has an ear infection. A young child cannot tell you that their ear hurts. Signs of an ear infection include:
Your doctor may give your child antibiotics to treat an ear infection. Antibiotics will help only if it is a bacterial ear infection. Your doctor may choose not to give your child medicine if your child has a virus.
Treatment for ear infections with fluid includes:
Talk with your child’s doctor about what is best for your child. It is important to keep follow-up appointments.
It is harder for your child to hear sounds when there is fluid in their middle ear. It causes a conductive hearing loss. Imagine trying to hear something underwater. That is what it might sound like to your child.
Some children will not have any problems hearing when they have an infection. Others may have a short-term hearing loss. Your child's hearing loss may go away once the fluid goes away. If they have ear infections over and over again, their hearing may not get better. It is important to get the right treatment for ear infections.
You may not know when your child has fluid in their middle ear but no infection. They may not have a fever or complain of any pain. They could have fluid in their ear for weeks or months. During this time, they may miss hearing sounds and words. You should take your child to the doctor if you think there are any problems.
A doctor should handle the medical treatment. Ear infections require attention right away, from a doctor or ENT. Your child may need other help if they have a lot of ear infections or fluid in their ears. They may need to see an audiologist and a speech-language pathologist, or SLP.
The audiologist can test how well your child's middle ear and eardrum work. The audiologist can also test their hearing. An SLP tests your child's speech and language skills. The SLP can work with your child if they have any delays or problems speaking.
To find an audiologist or SLP near you, visit ProFind.