ETD (eustachian tube dysfunction) in children

 

You may have read my post about Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) in adults here. However, there are some uniquenesses present in children that are worth being aware of: 

The eustachian tube (ET) in a child is shorter and more “floppy” than that of an adult. This makes it easier to get blocked. When the tube is swollen and is blocked or narrowed, it causes children to get frequent middle ear infections and fluid that gets stuck under the ear drum (called an “effusion”).  This can lead to decreased hearing.  

The good news is that most children will outgrow the tendency to get this problem. As their heads become larger, so do the eustachian tubes. Larger tubes are less likely to get (or remain) blocked.

Q: what are common causes of ETD in kids?

  1. For most kids who have ETD there is no obvious cause. 

  2. Allergies can lead the ET to stay inflamed. 

  3. Both the ET’s and the adenoids are located in the nasopharynx, where the nose and the throat connect.  If the adenoids are enlarged or inflamed (which is pretty common in children), they can block up the tubes and lead to problems.  

Q: How is ETD treated in children? 

    If symptoms are mild (no recurring infections, hearing not significantly affected), then we might try allergy medications, since allergies are a common cause of ETD.  Also, ear “poppers” can be considered as they blow air through the nose to inflate the middle ear space.  The Eustachi device is one of them.  It costs about $60. The “Ear Popper” is another, but it costs almost $160.  The Otovent is the simplest one.  It is only $15.  Honestly, I haven’t tried any of these personally, but there is research that indicate that they are effective.  My biggest issue with them is that they require some degree of cooperation, and many kids who suffer from ET issues are under three years old.  

Surgery: 

There are two reasons why we might consider surgery:

  1. If significant hearing loss is occurring and we can’t get the effusion  to clear. 

  2. If infections keep recurring.  The standard number we look for is 3 or more ear infections in 6 months, or 4 or more in a year.  

What surgeries can help the ET’s?

  1. “Tubes”: placing tubes in childrens’ ears is very common, well, because kids have a lot of problems with their ET’s. 

  2. Sometimes we also may remove the adenoids.  

There is a lot to talk about these surgeries, so I’ll go more into them in  another post.    

What can I do to prevent ear infections?

Air Quality 

Please do not allow children to be exposed to second-hand smoke. It is incredibly dangerous on a number of levels, but ETD is just one more reason to protect the air your child breathes. 

Breast feeding

Research has shown that breast milk is better for kids and does impart some immunity from the mother to the child. Research has shown that children who were fed breast milk had fewer ear infections that those who were fed formula.

Day Care

Seems like a difficult choice, but research has also shown that children who attend day care have a higher chance of getting recurring ear infections that those who didn’t.

 
 
 

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Teach & Learn, EarErin Shellenbergerear, ETD, eustachian tube, pediatric