Анестезия и клинические исследования
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ISSN: 2155-6148
ISSN: 2155-6148
Tamsin Holland Brown*
Children undergoing anaesthetics for medical or surgical procedures need to hear to communicate, assent, consent
and understand what is happening on the day of surgery. Temporary hearing loss secondary to a condition called glue
ear (also known as Otitis Media with Effusion, OME) is common in children, affecting 80% of children at least once
before the age of 10years. Surgery (tympanostomy tubes, ventilation tubes or grommet insertion operations) to
provide a resolution for glue ear is one of the most common operations in children.
Studies show that simple, affordable headsets that work via bone-conduction (BC) technology help children with glue
ear related hearing loss. In hospitals globally, health professionals have challenges with communication whilst wearing
face masks, PPE and social distancing which impact most on patients with a hearing loss. Affordable BC headsets to
assist listening could potentially be a preoperative solution to improve communication, assent and anxiety in children
with evidence of glue ear.