“EAR POPPER^®”, NEW DEVICE TO TREAT OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION

Abstract

Otitis media with effusion is a common disease and is the most common cause of hearing impairment among children. It is important to treat this condition in children to provide them a better quality of life. “Ear popper^®” is a new device distributed in the US for non-surgical treatment of middle ear effusion. The device allows easy insufflation of the eustachian tube. We used the “Ear popper^®” for the treatment of middle ear effusion in 18 patients. The patients ranged in age from 2 to 9 years old, and were composed of 8 males and 10 females. Successful insufflation without any problems was achieved in 17 out of the 18 patients at our hospital. This was confirmed by visual observation of the tympanic membrane, impedance audiometry and pure-tone audiometry. The new device is portable and easy to use. Although in this clinical trial, the use of this device was restricted only to doctors at the hospital, we are currently attempting to introduce the use of this device at home by the patients by themselves, just as in the U.S.A. We consider that the home treatment of persistent otitis media with effusion in children with “Ear popper^®” is highly efficacious.