Evaluation of balance disturbances in children with middle ear effusion

Objectives: Vertigo and dizziness are not common complaints in childhood, but are present more often than formerly thought. These symptoms are usually caused by otitis media (OM) and middle ear effusion (MEE), two of the most common disorders in children, but were not studied until recently. The purpose of this study was to determine objectively the incidence of balance-related symptoms occurring in children with long lasting MEE and to determine if these symptoms resolve following the insertion of ventilation tubes (VT). Methods: In total 64 children, aged between 4.5 and 7.5 years, were studied using the Bruininks-Oseretsky tests for motor proficiency, before and after insertion of VT. They were compared to 57 healthy children with no history of middle ear diseases. Results: Pathological findings were identified in 39 children with chronic MEE, as compared to only four children of the controls. Following VT insertion the symptoms and signs of balance disturbances resolved in mostly all the operated children. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that balance-related symptoms often encountered in young children may result from chronic MEE and that these symptoms resolve following ventilation of the middle ear. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.