Otitis media is an inflammation or infection of the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum. It often involves fluid buildup in the middle ear; in acute cases the fluid may be pus (a middle ear infection), and in chronic or subacute cases the fluid can be non-infected (known as a middle ear effusion or “glue ear”). Young children are especially prone to otitis media – about five out of six children will have at least one middle ear infection by age. Common symptoms in acute otitis media include ear pain, fever, irritability, and sometimes fluid draining from the ear, though otitis media with effusion may have no outward symptoms beyond possible mild hearing loss.
Repeated or chronic otitis media can result in temporary conductive hearing loss during the episodes of fluid buildup, which in turn may interfere with a child’s auditory input during critical periods of speech and language development. SLPs therefore monitor children with a history of frequent ear infections for any speech or language delays and work closely with families and healthcare providers (e.g., ENTs) – for instance, recommending hearing evaluations, discussing the potential need for pressure-equalizing tubes, and ensuring the child has appropriate auditory access to support normal communication development.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. “Ear Infections in Children.” NIDCD, last updated 2017. Link
Roberts, Joanne E., Richard M. Rosenfeld, and Susan A. Zeisel. “Otitis Media and Speech and Language: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.” Pediatrics 113, no. 3 (2004). Link
