Abstract
Background Ear infections in children often cause abnormal postural stability. However, the long-term effects of recurrent ear infections on postural stability have not been investigated. Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term effects of multiple ear infections on pediatric postural stability. Methods Forty children aged 10-12 years were divided into two groups (18 participants with a history of tympanostomy tubes and/or 3 or more ear infections prior to age five and 22 participants without a history of tympanostomy tubes and/or 0-2 ear infections prior to age five). Computerized Stability Evaluation Test (SET) and noncomputerized postural stability were measured for all participants. Results A significant difference was found in median postural stability scores in the SET during a tandem stance on an unstable surface between the two groups (median (minimum, maximum) of 9.1 (1.4, 11.4) versus 5.8 (1.7, 12.8), p = 0.04). In addition, there was a significant difference in median Pediatric Balance Scale scores between participants with versus without ear infection (54 (47, 56) versus 56 (55, 56), p = 0.001). Conclusions Results suggest that children ages 10-12 with a history of tympanostomy tubes and/or 3 or more ear infections prior to age five have decreased postural stability.
Highlights
Otitis media with effusion (OME), or “glue ear,” has been defined as a serous to thick fluid in the middle ear without acute infection symptoms that can cause temporary hearing loss [1,2,3]
There was no significant difference in mean postural stability in Computerized Dynamic Posturography with Immersion Virtual Reality (CDP-IVR) at baseline, during eyes open, eyes closed, and immersion virtual reality conditions
A significant difference was found in median postural stability scores in the Stability Evaluation Test (SET) during tandem stance on an unstable surface between the two groups (median (minimum, Table 1: Mean (SD) of characteristics and outcomes by the study group (N = 40)
Summary
Otitis media with effusion (OME), or “glue ear,” has been defined as a serous to thick fluid in the middle ear without acute infection symptoms that can cause temporary hearing loss [1,2,3]. The effect of OME on postural stability in children has been assessed by many investigators; none of these studies analyzed postural stability changes depending on the functional condition of the middle ear [6]. Ear infections in children often cause abnormal postural stability. The long-term effects of recurrent ear infections on postural stability have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term effects of multiple ear infections on pediatric postural stability. Results suggest that children ages 10-12 with a history of tympanostomy tubes and/or 3 or more ear infections prior to age five have decreased postural stability
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