Types:
    1.  Nonsuppurative Otitis Media (the fluid filling the middle ear cavity contains no
                                                    bacteria and is not infected)
    2.  Suppurative Otitis Media (the fluid filling the middle ear cavity contains bacteria
                                                and is infected)

Classified by duration:
    1.  Acute - 0 to 21 days
    2.  Subacute - 22 days to 8 weeks
    3.  Chronic - longer than 8 weeks

Prevalence:
    - 1 in 3 of all office visits under age 5
    - 3 in 4 of all follow-up visits
    - 23% of office visits during age 1 to 40% during age 4-5
    - 50% of all children have 1 episode by 1; 75% by age 2
    - 2 million Pressure Equilization (PE) tubes inserted per year

Causes:
    - Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
    - Eustachian Tube Obstruction
    - Upper Respiratory Infection
    - Cold
    - Allergies
    - Viral infection
    - Bottle feeding (laying on their back)
    - idiopathic

Symptoms:
    - Pain
    - Sensation of fullness
    - Fever (depending on type)
    - Dizziness
    - Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Audiologic Results:
    -Otoscopic Exam:
        1.  Red or yellow TM depending upon degree of inflammation & amount of fluid
        2.  Bubbles
        3.  Bulging TM
        4.  Retracted TM
        5.  Discharge
        6.  Perforation

    - Pure tone:
        1.  20-30 dB conductive loss
        2.  Depending on the type of otitis media, there could be up to a 60 dB cond loss.

    - WRS:
        - Excellent when presented at the appropriate level

    - Tympanogram:
        - The following chart lists the tympanometric results that you are most likely to
        see in otitis media:
 

Types
Pressure
Compliance
Type A
-150 to +200
Normal (0.28 - 2.5)
Type B
None
None
Type C
> -150
Normal (0.28 - 2.5)

        - Typical progression of an ear infection according to tympanograms is:
            - Type A » Type C » Type B » Type C » Type A


Treatment/Management Issues:
    1.  Natural History
        - 60% recovered in 1 month
        - 81% recovered in 2 months
        - 91% recovered in 3 months
    2.  Decongestants » not recommended
    3.  Antihistamines » not recommended
    4.  Adenoidectomy » not recommended
    5.  Tonsillectomy » not recommended
    6.  Pressure Equalization Tube/ Ventilation Tubes/ Tympanostomy Tubes
    7.  Antibiotics

(Information taken from Lisa M. from Ball State University Au.D. program)