ABSTRACT
In discussion of the education of deaf children, one might question the inclusion of otitis media; even the most persistent cases of otitis media with effusion (OME) mostly present with only a relatively mild and fluctuating hearing loss which is generally of limited duration. Furthermore, in most cases, the disease resolves early in the school years, with or without intervention. Nonetheless, various linguistic, cognitive and behaviour problems are associated with this extremely common, but not well understood, condition; the discussion of their mechanisms and the extremes of impact have a place in this book. The main issues will be discussed under the following broad headings: definition of OME, efficacy of approaches to treatment, developmental effects/sequelae of OME and implications for effective service delivery. It is timely to be considering the effects of OME on the developing child, as pressures in the NHS have led some Educational Health Services to consider withdrawing or reducing school hearing screening and many NHS Trusts already ration surgical treatment for this disease. It is important to quantify with well-controlled data the concurrent impact and sequelae (problems associated with the disease after resolution) of OME. If the developmental sequelae are material, can we justify investing resources in minimising those effects?
