Background: Several studies have indicated that during an episode of otitis media the
child’s balance deteriorates and the child may become clumsy and fall more often.
Objectives: The aim of this work was to assess the balance and vestibular system in children with
otitis media with effusion prior to and after treatment.
Methods: Fifty children with bilateral OME (5–11 years old, 28 females and 22 males) were
involved as a study group. The control group consisted of 30 healthy children age- and sexmatched
(12 females/18 males). All subjects underwent Balance subset of Standardized
Bruininks–Oseretsky test of motor proficiency (BOT-2), a test of static and dynamic balance and
modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction for Balance (m-CTSIB) were done. Objective tests
of vestibular end organ function including both Electronystagmography test ENG and both air
conducted (AC) & bone conducted (BC) vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(VEMP) were
recorded. These tests were performed two times: 1 day prior to and 4 weeks after management.
Results: Only 8 children had history of vertigo or balance disorders. There were statistically significantly
poorer scores in some balance subtest items of BOT-2 as in SOL with eye closed either on
a line or on a balance beam as compared to the control group with significant improvement after
management. Peripheral vestibular (ENG) abnormalities were recorded in 64% of children with statistically
significant higher than the control group (10%) with significant improvement after management.
Prior to treatment, AC-VEMPs were present in 12 (12%) ears while BC-VEMPs were
recorded in 78 (78%) ears that mean ABG was 12.15 ± 2.75. After treatment most children showed
nearly closure of ABG within 10 dB HL, AC-VEMPs were present in 72 (72%) ears and BCVEMPs
were recorded in 90 (90%) ears.
Conclusions: Recurrent or persistent otitis media with effusion impairs the functioning of the
vestibular system in children.