Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses in AdultsTypesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes in Adults
Types
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Otitis media with effusion is a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum, sometimes called glue ear. It’s not an ear infection and doesn’t cause pain. The most prominent symptom is usually hearing loss. Acute otitis media with effusion resolves on its own within days or weeks, while chronic otitis media with effusion lasts three months or more.The condition is more common in children than adults, but it can happen to anyone.
This article will discuss otitis media with effusion (OME), including its causes and how it’s diagnosed and treated.
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Why Do Adults Get Otitis Media With Effusion?
To understand otitis media with effusion, it’s helpful to know a bit about theanatomy of the ear. Theeustachian tubeconnects the ear to the back of the throat. This tube allows fluid to drain into the throat so it doesn’t collect in the ear. OME happens when the eustachian tube becomes closed or blocked. When this occurs, fluid can’t drain, so it remains in the middle ear behind the eardrum.
OME is more common in children than adults. This is because children’s eustachian tubes are more horizontal, which makes drainage more difficult. As people grow, the tubes become longer and more angled, reducing the risk for otitis media with effusion.
In adults, certain risk factors increase the odds of having otitis media with effusion. These include:
Types of Otitis Media With Effusion
Neither acute nor chronic otitis media with effusion is serious or life-threatening. They don’t require a trip to the emergency room. However, it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you or your child experienceschanges in hearing. Especially in childhood, hearing loss can lead tospeech delaysand may impact social development.
Symptoms: How Does Otitis Media With Effusion Feel?
The most common symptoms of otitis media with effusion is pain.Otitis media with effusion is sometimes called glue ear because of the sensation that the thick fluid behind the ear can cause.
Some adults with otitis media with effusion will experience symptoms including:
Testing to Diagnose Otitis Media With Effusion
The first step to getting an OME diagnosis is seeing your primary care provider. They’ll look into your ear using a lighted tool called an otoscope. OME can make the eardrum look dull or with bubbles on its surface, and your provider may notice fluid behind the ear.
Your healthcare provider might then recommend atympanometry, a test that can measure the thickness of the fluid behind the eardrum. The test is painless and involves a tool similar to an ear thermometer, which uses sound waves to measure the fluid in the ear.
In addition, your provider may suggest ahearing testto see if you’re experiencing hearing loss.
Treatment Options for OME
In most cases, OME doesn’t require treatment and will resolve on its own.However, chronic OME may need medical interventions. These can include:
You should never try to poke around in your ear to encourage drainage.
When Does Otitis Media With Effusion Get Better?Most cases of OME resolve within four to six weeks without treatment. If you have chronic OME, you should work with your healthcare provider to identify the underlying causes—from sinus disease to tumors—that might be contributing to your chronic OME. Addressing these factors can clear up the fluid behind your ear drum.
When Does Otitis Media With Effusion Get Better?
Most cases of OME resolve within four to six weeks without treatment. If you have chronic OME, you should work with your healthcare provider to identify the underlying causes—from sinus disease to tumors—that might be contributing to your chronic OME. Addressing these factors can clear up the fluid behind your ear drum.
Summary
Otitis media with effusion is a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum. It often doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms, but can lead to hearing loss that resolves when the fluid is no longer present. OME in adults is often linked to other health conditions, like allergies, sinus infection or tumors. Most cases of OME don’t require treatment, but it’s important to address any underlying health conditions that might be contributing to fluid behind your eardrum.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Searight F T, Singh R, & Peterson D C.Otitis media with effusion.National Library of Medicine.January 20, 2023.MedlinePlus.Otitis media with effusion.Knott, L.Otitis media with effusion: Glue ear.Patient UK. January 10, 2022.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Otitis media with effusion (OME).Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Ottis media with effusion: Comparative effectiveness of treatments.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Searight F T, Singh R, & Peterson D C.Otitis media with effusion.National Library of Medicine.January 20, 2023.MedlinePlus.Otitis media with effusion.Knott, L.Otitis media with effusion: Glue ear.Patient UK. January 10, 2022.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Otitis media with effusion (OME).Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Ottis media with effusion: Comparative effectiveness of treatments.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Searight F T, Singh R, & Peterson D C.Otitis media with effusion.National Library of Medicine.January 20, 2023.MedlinePlus.Otitis media with effusion.Knott, L.Otitis media with effusion: Glue ear.Patient UK. January 10, 2022.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Otitis media with effusion (OME).Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Ottis media with effusion: Comparative effectiveness of treatments.
Searight F T, Singh R, & Peterson D C.Otitis media with effusion.National Library of Medicine.January 20, 2023.
MedlinePlus.Otitis media with effusion.
Knott, L.Otitis media with effusion: Glue ear.Patient UK. January 10, 2022.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Otitis media with effusion (OME).
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Ottis media with effusion: Comparative effectiveness of treatments.
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