Pillsbury also noted that otitis media can, in fact, result in often overlooked developmental problems in preschool children. For example, a study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases linked a 7 percent decline in children's standardized test score results for both mathematics and reading proficiency to the length of time the children in the study had middle ear fluid during the first three years of life. Only half of all mothers surveyed say their child's doctor has discussed the consequences of prolonged or frequent ear infections with them. Studies show that nearly 70 percent of children recovering from an ear infection still have fluid in the middle ear after a full course of antibiotics, with 50 percent showing signs of fluid four weeks after an ear infection. In some cases, the fluid can remain in a child's ear for up to six months.
Medical specialists diagnose and monitor the problem in a variety of ways.
Many doctors diagnose fluid with an otoscope, an instrument with a light and lens that allows a doctor to see in the ear and determine the condition of the ear drum. The EarCheckR Middle Ear Monitor incorporates acoustic reflectometry into a lightweight, hand-held instrument that allows parents to detect fluid in their children's middle ear by using sound wave technology to measure responsiveness in the eardrum. The procedure takes as little as five seconds. Remember that ear fluid that stays in a child's ear for months, weeks, or even days can cause partial hearing loss and, in some cases, even permanent hearing loss. Ask physicians to check for middle ear fluid during regularly scheduled visits.