Are Nasal Obstruction, Middle Ear Infections and Hearing Loss associated with Each Other in Children?

From the neonatal period, nasal obstruction is frequently seen in children. Professor Dr. Ümit Taşkın emphasized that the most common cause of this situation is; development of anatomical nose structure and middle ear structures, allergic causes and the presence of adenoid.
 
Professor Dr. Taşkın said that children often suffer from the upper respiratory tract infection for this reason each attack makes breathing more difficult. If the underlying allergic condition is not treated or frequent attacks of infection persist,  adenoid can block the nasopharynx region and block the eustachian tube.

Eustachian tube allows the middle ear to be ventilated by allowing the air in the nasopharynx to pass to the middle ear, the air pressure on both sides of the tympan membrane to be equal and the secretion of the middle ear to the nasopharynx with mucociliary activity. The Audiologist Büşra Köse stated that if the eustachian tube fails to perform its functions, middle ear infections will occur and hearing loss may develop. Professor Dr. Taşkın added that it may be necessary to remove the adenoid in order to prevent the hearing loss from becoming permanent.

Audiologist Büşra Köse emphasized that middle ear problems in children will cause conductive hearing loss and hearing loss in children should not be underestimated. She added: "For this children; audiological evaluation with acoustic immitansmetry, otoacoustic emission, pure tone audiometry test, and speech audiometry is important to the development of language-speech development. The tympanometry test in which the middle ear flexibility is evaluated and the air-bone gaps seen in the pure tone audiometry test are guiding to diagnosis and audiological follow-up. During audiological evaluation in the pediatric group, acoustic immitansmetry, otoacoustic emission test, auditory brainstem response, behavioural observation audiometry between 0-6 months, visual reinforcement audiometry between 6 months and 3 years of age, and conditioned play audiometry results in children between 3-5 years of age are reported. The patient with middle ear problem is referred to the otorhinolaryngology clinic, after the examination/treatment, the audiological evaluation is done and if necessary, it is evaluated in terms of surgery or hearing aid."

Professor Dr. Ümit Taşkın said that another cause of nasal obstruction is the cartilage curvatures in nose and swelling of the concha.

As a result, the importance of regular physician control and audiologic follow-up was emphasized in order to prevent hearing loss in children.