HEARING IMPAIRMENT (CONDUCTIVE- SECRETORY OTITIS MEDIA)

The child will have decrease in hearing,irritation in the ears and earache sometimes. The main complaint comes from the teacher who reports that the child is inattentive in class or parents observe that the child listens the television at a higher level.On eamination there can be retraction of tympanic membrane or bubbles of fluid can be seen through it.The diagnosis can be made with pure tone audiometry (hearing test) and impedence audiometry (tympanogram).Treatment can be removal of the causative factor that is adenoids.Oral and nasal decongestants help. If not cured then myringotomy that is giving a small cut in the drum or myringotomy with grommet insertion can be done to cure the child. Grommets are small ventilation tubes which are inserted in the drum after giving a small incision in the drum.

If remained untreated ,this condition leads to hearing loss and deposition of chalky white patches in the drum called tympanosclerosis.