Autoinflation reduces middle ear effusion in children with otitis media with effusion.

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is defined as accumulation of fluid in the middle ear in absence of signs or symptoms of an acute ear infection.1 OME is usually associated with a conductive hearing loss that may affect the quality of life.1 Surgical treatment of OME with grommets is associated with substantial healthcare costs and is usually considered after a period of watchful waiting, leaving most children with OME untreated during this period.1 This raises the need for an efficient, non-invasive treatment option that can be offered to children with OME at an early stage. In 1968, Hunt-Williams presented a new method for autoinflation involving a plastic end-piece connected to a balloon, later developed into the Otovent device.2 The present study evaluates the effect of autoinflation with this method on children with OME