Management of Otitis Media with Effusion in Children
Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2012).
Putrajaya (Malaysia): Malaysia Health Technology Assessment Section, Ministry of Health Malaysia, (MOH/PAK/23.12 [GU]), i-59.
This guideline provides recommendations about the management of otitis media with effusion in children 12 years of age and younger and is intended for healthcare professionals at all levels of the healthcare system.
Ministry of Health Malaysia
<p>This guideline was reviewed with the following supporting document:</p>
<ul>
<li>Zulkiflee, S., Siti Sabzah, M. H., et al. (2013). CPG Update: Management of Otitis Media with Effusion in Children. <i>Malaysian Family Physician, 8</i>(2), 32-35. Retrieved from <a href="http://e-mfp.org/pdf/2013v8n2/management-of-otitis-media-with-effusion-in-children.pdf" class="ApplyClass" style="line-height: 1.5;" title="http://e-mfp.org">http://e-mfp.org</a></li>
</ul>
Hearing assessment is recommended for all children with Down syndrome and should be performed early and at six-month intervals (Grade C Evidence; p. 31).
<p>Recommendations regarding evaluation include:</p>
<ul>
<li>"Otitis media with effusion should be ruled out in a child suspected of hearing loss" (Grade C Evidence; p. 4).</li>
<li>"Children with otitis media with effusion (OME) should be followed-up for otological and audiological assessment regularly" (Grade C Evidence; p. 34).</li>
<li>In all suspected cases of OME, pure tone audiometry (measurement of both air and bone conduction thresholds) should be performed (Grade C Evidence; p. 13).</li>
</ul>
"Hearing aids may be considered in persistent bilateral OME [otitis media with effusion] and hearing loss where surgery is contraindicated or not acceptable" (Grade C Evidence; p. 21).
Hearing amplification should be considered in children with Down syndrome and otitis media with effusion in the cases of a stenotic ear canal, mixed hearing loss, or as an alternative to ventilation tubes (Grade C Evidence; p. 31).
"Hearing amplification may be considered as an option in cases of mixed (conductive and sensorineural) and moderate hearing loss in children with cleft palate" (Grade C Evidence; p. 29).
"Hearing assessment should be performed early and [every six months] in all children with cleft palate or cleft lip and palate" (Grade C Evidence; p. 29).
