hearing loss in children with otitis media with effusion (OME)

Last edited 09/2023 and last reviewed 09/2023

Management of hearing loss in children with otitis media with effusion (OME)

NICE suggest:

• air conduction hearing aids or bone conduction devices should be considered for children with OME-related hearing loss
  • air conduction hearing aids for children with OME-related hearing loss should be considered when:
    • their hearing loss is not fluctuating and
    • this type of device would be better tolerated or is preferred, for example by avoiding the need for a headband as is used with bone conduction devices
  • bone conduction devices for children with OME-related hearing loss should be considered when:
    • their hearing levels are known to fluctuate, or
    • there are contraindications to using an air conduction hearing aid (such as a history of otorrhea, or anatomical issues such as narrow ear canals), and this type of device would be better tolerated or is preferred (for example, to avoid the choking risk from the small parts of an air conduction device).

Notes:

• advise children, parents and carers about the risk of harm from coin/button batteries in hearing aids and other hearing devices
• NICE committee noted that
  • there is no available evidence on the effectiveness of air conduction hearing aids and bone conduction devices for OME related hearing loss in children under 12 years
  • committee agreed, based on their knowledge and experience, that bone conduction devices and air conduction hearing aids may improve development in terms of hearing, wellbeing, behaviour, speech and language

Reference:

• NICE (August 2023).Otitis media with effusion in under 12s .