Recommended Treatment Guidelines

Fluid in the Middle Ear (Otitis Media with Effusion/Middle Ear Effusion) Click to Print Brochure
To treat fluid in the middle ear, treatment should be done twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, for seven to eleven weeks according to a clinical study. In the study group, hearing was restored to normal in 74% of patients after seven weeks of treatment and 85% after eleven weeks of treatment^[1]. There appears to be no contraindication to extended use.

One treatment consists of four total swallows. The EarPopper should be used once in each nostril, then wait 5 minutes and repeat once again in each nostril for a total of four swallows.

Remember the treatment only occurs at the moment of swallowing while the device is running.

Helpful hint: Where compliance could be an issue in young children, a step-wise approach is recommended:

1. Hold the EarPopper nosepiece beneath the nostril and push the power button, to allow the patient to get used to the sensation of air entering the nose.
2. Hold the EarPopper nosepiece against the nostril, and pinch the other nostril shut.
3. To encourage the patient to swallow with the mouth closed, give the patient a sip of water to hold in his mouth, repeat step 2 and ask the patient to swallow the water.

Recommended Treatment Settings
In younger children (≤7 yr) use the low setting (I) for the first week. Use the high setting (II) for the remainder of the treatment. If the patient experiences discomfort using setting (II), then switch to setting (I).

For adults and older children (>7 yr) the high setting (II) is the recommended treatment setting. If the patient experiences discomfort using setting (II), then switch to the low setting (I).

The EarPopper will not cause an ear infection. However, if the patient develops acute otitis media, or other types of acute infection such as an upper respiratory infection during the treatment period, the EarPopper treatment can be temporarily suspended. Treatment can then be resumed after the infection resolves.

Treatment of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Aerotitis/Barotitis
A clinical study has demonstrated that negative pressure in the middle ear can be relieved by use of the EarPopper^[2]. Patients can use the EarPopper as needed. Often relief will occur after only one treatment.

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction can cause development of negative pressure in the middle ear due to a lack of ventilation and can lead to Otitis Media with Effusion, Aerotitis/Barotitis.

Aerotitis/Barotitis is a result of negative middle ear pressure caused by rapid elevation changes (airplane, diving, mountain climbing, etc.).

Recommended Treatment Settings
For children and adults use the low setting (I). If the negative pressure does not resolve, use the high setting (II). If the patient experiences discomfort using setting (II), then switch to setting (I).

[1] “Non-Surgical Home Treatment of Middle-Ear Effusion and Associated Hearing Loss in Children. Part I: Clinical Trials” ENT JOURNAL Sept 2005. (“Part II: Clinical Trials - Follow Up” ENT Journal Oct 2005)
[2] “Efficacy of a Modified Politzer Apparatus in Management of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in Adults” American Academy of Audiology Journal 10: 496-501 (1999)