Why do children have more ear infections than adults?
Young children tend to develop ear infections more frequently than adults because they are unable to blow their nose properly (and thus evacuate their nasal secretions) and because their Eustachian tube is not the same as that of an adult.
The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx (nose and throat area). It ensures proper ventilation in the ear and balances the air pressure behind the eardrum.
In children, the Eustachian tube is shorter, narrower and more horizontal than in adults. Consequently, it’s easier for the secretions in the nose and throat to migrate into the middle ear, thus causing otitis.
If you have any questions about your hearing or that of a loved one, our hearing health professionals will be happy to answer them.
BY MÉLANIE BRIÈRE, Audiologist, Polyclinique de l’Oreille