Your young child has a middle ear infection: otitis media. There is a build-up of fluid, bacteria, and white blood cells, or pus, inside of the middle ear chamber. Why has this affected the child's hearing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The auditory ossicles, which consist of the malleus, incus, and stapes, transmit sound waves from the tympanic membrane to the oval window of the inner ear. When there is a build-up of fluid, bacteria, or pus in the middle ear, it can prevent the ossicles from vibrating freely, resulting in a conductive hearing loss. This means that sound waves cannot be efficiently transmitted to the inner ear, leading to a reduction in hearing ability.

Your Young Child Has a Middle Ear Infection: Otitis Media