Hearing aids for otitis media with effusion: Do children use them?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Audiology
• Otology
• Hearing Health

Background:

• Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common condition in children, potentially leading to hearing loss.
• ENT surgeons may refer children with OME for audiology assessment for hearing aid consideration.
• The effectiveness of hearing aids for OME is contingent on consistent use by the child.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the proportion of children referred for hearing aids for OME who actually receive them.
• To assess the utilization patterns of hearing aids among children fitted for OME.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of children referred to audiology for OME between November 2013 and August 2014.
• Inclusion of 70 referrals from ENT and 5 from direct access audiology.
• Analysis of reasons for not fitting hearing aids and patterns of hearing aid use.

Main Results:

• Approximately one-third (34.7%) of pediatric audiology referrals were for OME hearing aid consideration.
• Over half (52.9%) of referred children did not receive hearing aids, primarily due to resolved or asymptomatic hearing loss.
• Of 38 children fitted with hearing aids for OME, the majority (36/38) used them, with varied but generally fair utilization.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of children referred for OME hearing aids do not ultimately require them by the time of audiology assessment.
• Hearing aids are generally well-accepted and utilized by children fitted for OME.
• Paediatric audiology services play a crucial role in appropriate hearing aid management for OME.