Glue ear: an ongoing global program – closing the audiology gap among First Nations children

Most children globally (~80%) are affected by Otitis Media with Effusion (OME; ‘serous otitis media’ or ‘glue ear’) by four years of age. Most episodes resolve in a timely manner are brief and uncomplicated. Chronic, recurrent and complicated OME has been linked to social disadvantage, with poorer educational and employment outcomes and increased criminal justice system contact. Specific populations are particularly at risk, even in High Income Countries, including children with craniofacial abnormalities, immunocompromise and First Nations children in colonised regions (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, and the Arctic Circle). OME is a significant cause of childhood morbidity, particularly during infancy. Mortality should not occur in High-Income-Countries. However, in Low-Middle-Income Countries, lack of access to health programs can lead to devastating, preventable complications, including death from meningitis, brain abscesses, and sepsis. This emphasises the importance of equitable access to medical resources globally, a universal and ongoing problem for First Nations people. Upper respiratory tract infections (including OME), are the most common reason for children to present to healthcare services, be prescribed antibiotics, and undergo surgery. Although OME is often managed by with antibiotics, guidelines recommend observation for uncomplicated cases, given potential harms for the child (e.g., rash and diarrhoea), and for healthcare (e.g., cost and antibiotic resistance). OME is also the most common reason for hearing impairment among children, and peaks at the time that auditory processing neural pathways, the foundations of cognitive development, are being laid down. Causative effect between OME and impaired cognitive function is hard to prove because of the challenges of designing and analysing rigorous observational studies to emulate clinical trials. Recurrent OME cannot be left untreated due to the potential for its effect on hearing loss and both severe physical harm and significant long-term social consequences. Clinicians should be aware that children’s behavioural and developmental outcomes and balance disturbance may indicate middle ear disease or its sequelae and remain vigilant. Children’s ears should be checked and findings documented at every healthcare visit to ensure close surveillance for this insidious condition, particularly for those most at-risk.