Ear infections are one of the most common illnesses reported in young children. Otitis media is the medical term for inflammation of the middle ear that is accompanied by fluid build-up. When fluid accumulates in the middle ear space it prevents sound from being conducted and hearing may be impaired until the fluid clears. During the first three years when children have the most problems with otitis media, they are learning to speak and understand words. Children learn to do this by interacting with people around them. It may be harder to hear and understand speech if the sound is muffled by fluid in the middle ear. Some researchers report that frequent hearing loss in children with middle ear fluid may lead to speech and language difficulties.

Signs of an Ear Infection

It can be hard to know if your child has an ear infection. Signs of an ear infection include:

• Not responding to sounds
• Fluid draining from her ear
• Pulling, rubbing or scratching their ear more often
• Fever, changes in sleeping or eating habits
• Delayed or reduced response to speech and everyday sounds
• Having difficulty keeping balance, running or jumping
• May seem more tired, inattentive, listless or generally irritable
• May ask to have music or television louder than usual
• Needs to have directions or questions repeated
• Talking less than usual

Children with temporary hearing loss may show all, some, or none of these behaviors. These behaviors may be different at each age. It is often hard to tell whether a child has a hearing problem or whether the child is just acting a certain way because of age or temperament. When a child has fluid in the middle ear, the fluid reduces sound travelling through the middle ear. The sound may be muffled or not heard. Children with middle ear fluid will generally have a mild or moderate temporary hearing loss. (It’s as if you plugged your ears with your fingers.) However, some children have no change in their hearing.

What to do if the child has Ear Infection?

A doctor should handle medical treatment. Ear infections require attention right away, from a doctor or ENT. Your child may need other help if he has a lot of ear infections or fluid in his ears. He 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 her hearing. An SLP tests your child’s speech and language skills. The SLP can work with your child if she has any delays or problems speaking.