Otitis Media and the Impact on Children

Background: Otitis media is one of the most common illnesses that affect children each year. Children under the age of six years old will likely have a middle ear infection at least once mainly due to anatomical structures and environment exposures to their immune system. While many cases of otitis media resolve spontaneously, there are many children who require medical treatment or have chronic difficulty with these infections. The increased recurrence of middle ear infections in a child can create a negative impact on their hearing, speech, and overall, learning abilities and development. Discussion: The impact of recurrent otitis media can include a persistent conductive hearing loss, speech delay, and delay in language development. These consequences can create a more challenging environment for children in school and may require additional services to provide help towards success in school. Additionally, recurrent otitis media may also affect children behaviorally and mentally. It is important to understand that the presence of these effects from otitis media is different for each child and circumstance. It is dependent on recurrence, severity, treatment, and seeking longterm help for learning. Conclusion: Otitis media can affect anyone, but one of the most frequent populations is young children under the age of six years old. It is important to seek medical assessment and treatment as needed. If medical management is unhelpful, then seeking out help for management of long-term effects is key for child success in school.