Effect of otitis media on the vestibular system in children.

Forty-one children with otitis media (OM) were evaluated by moving platform posturography (Equitest, NeuroCom) before and after insertion of tympanostomy tubes, and were compared to children with no ear disease (N = 50). Velocity of sway increased with increasing difficulty of test conditions (I-VI) for both groups of children (p < .001), and children less than 7 years of age had a higher velocity than children 7 years old or older (p < .001). Children with OM had a higher velocity than normal children (p < .05). For children tested less than 30 days after insertion of tympanostomy tubes, the velocity for condition VI was significantly lower than before insertion (p < .05). Also, that the 6 children who had fallen on all trials on condition V or VI were able to stand on these trials after insertion of tympanostomy tubes indicates an improvement. These findings indicate that episodes of OM may affect balance, leaving children more clumsy and accident-prone, and possibly impairing motor development.