OME; Secretory otitis media; Serous otitis media; Silent otitis media; Silent ear infection; Glue ear

Unlike children with an ear infection, children with OME do not act sick.

OME often does not have obvious symptoms.

Older children and adults often complain of muffled hearing or a sense of fullness in the ear. Younger children may turn up the television volume because of hearing loss.

The health care provider may find OME while checking a child's ears after an ear infection has been treated.

OME may also be diagnosed when the health care provider examines the ear for another reason, such as at a well-child physical.

The health care provider will look for certain changes when examining the eardrum:

• Air bubbles on the surface of the eardrum
• Dullness of the eardrum when a light is used
• Eardrum that does not seem to move when little puffs of air are blown at it
• Fluid behind the eardrum

A test called tympanometry is a more accurate tool for diagnosing OME. The results of this test can help tell the amount and thickness of the fluid.

An acoustic otoscope or reflectometer is a more portable device that accurately detects the presence of fluid in the middle ear.

An audiometer or some other type of formal hearing test may help the health care provider decide what treatment is needed.

Images

Middle ear infection (otitis media)

Ear anatomy

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Otitis media with effusion Treatment

Review Date: 07/26/2010
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)