Middle Ear Problems

Q: I was told that my child has a middle ear problem. Where is the middle ear?

A: This drawing shows the various parts of the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

Q: I was told that my child has middle ear fluid. Does this mean he has an ear infection?

A: Fluid in the middle ear starts out as a sterile fluid. An ear infection occurs when the sterile fluid becomes infected with bacteria. Some children have middle ear fluid without any ear infection.

Q: What are some signs and symptoms of ear infection?

A: These signs may be an indication of ear infection:

• Pulling on the ear
• Pain in the ear
• Fever or cold
• Hearing loss

Q: Will my child develop hearing loss from middle ear fluid or an ear infection?

A: Not necessarily. It depends on the child and the type of middle ear problem.

Q: How can I tell if my child has a hearing loss?

A: These behaviours may be signs of hearing loss:

• Your child doesn’t seem to hear as well as usual.
• Your child doesn’t seem to pay attention.
• Your child starts to develop speech later than other children.
• Your child begins to speak more loudly all the time.
• Your child likes turning up the television more loudly than other members of the family.

Q: I think my child has a middle ear problem. What should I do?

A: See your doctor right away if you think your child has an ear infection.

• An infected ear can usually be treated with medicine prescribed by your doctor.
• Your doctor might send your child to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.
• A child with a middle ear problem may need a hearing test. The hearing test will show you if there is any hearing loss.
• The best person to see for a hearing test is an audiologist, who is specially trained to test young children’s hearing.