19
Will the fluid
turn into an ear
infection?
e fluid cannot directly turn into an ear infection, but during
a cold it increases your child's risk of getting an ear infection
because the fluid makes it easier for germs to grow and spread.
Can my child
travel by airplane if
ear fluid is present ?
If the ear is completely full of fluid there is usually no problem,
but when the fluid is partial or mixed with air it can hurt when
the plane is coming down. Your doctor can measure the amount
of fluid with a tympanogram, which gives a flat reading when the
ear is full. It may help to keep your child awake when the plane
is landing and encourage him or her to swallow to even out the
pressure.
Table 10. Frequently Asked Questions: Treating and
Managing Ear Fluid (cont'd)
Question Answer
Table 11. Strategies for Improving the Listening and
Learning Environment for Children with OME and
Hearing Loss
a
Get the child's attention before speaking and, when possible, get within 3 feet of the
child.
Turn off competing sounds, such as music and television in the background.
Face the child and speak clearly, using visual cues like hands or pictures in addition to
speech.
Use short, simple sentences and comment on what the child is doing.
When speaking to the child, slow down, raise the sound level, and enunciate clearly.
Read to or with the child, explaining pictures and asking questions.
Call attention to the sounds and spelling of words when reading.
Patiently repeat words, phrases, and questions when misunderstood.
In the classroom, ensure the child sits near the teacher in the front of the room.
If further assistance in the classroom is necessary, use a remote microphone personal or
sound field amplification system.
a
Modified from Roberts et al. Pediatrics. 2000;106(4):725-735 and Roberts JE et al. Pediatrics.
2004;113(3 Pt 1):e238-248.
