Remote Management of Otitis Media with Effusion (Glue Ear) with a Bone Conducting Headset Kit During COVID-19

Background: Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) causing hearing impairments affects ~1 in 10 children starting school in UK/ Europe. 80% have at least one episode with most having conductive hearing loss. Studies showed children with OME hear better with bone conducting headsets. During COVID-19 we investigated whether children with deafness secondary OME, without access to audiology or grommet surgery, could be aided with bone conduction kits and the HearGlueEar app. Methods: Starting July 2020, during COVID-19, children aged 3-11 years with OME and on a grommet waiting list were invited to a single arm, prospective study. They received the kit, instructions and HearGlueEar app by post. By 3 weeks parents were asked to charge and pair the devices, attend a remote consultation and complete an OMQ-14 questionnaire. Remote follow-up lasted 3 months. Outcomes: ability to use the equipment, complete the questionnaire about child’s hearing and behaviour before and with the equipment, declining grommet surgery or where deafness resolved, and give opinion about the intervention.Findings26 children enrolled. Families used the kit at home and school. Most found remote consultations positive and convenient. OMQ-14 responses were 90% positive. Comments were: “Other people have said, wow his speech is clearer.”, “It is making a real difference at home.”, “He said over and over again, “I can hear everybody, wow, wow, wow.”, “It is no exaggeration to say this has made an astronomical improvement to his quality of life”. One child reported “I can hear my best friend again”. “She is getting on really well with the headphones - pairing them with the iPad at home is simply brilliant.” Three families continued with the headset to avoid grommets. Interpretation: Posting a bone conduction kit, HearGlueEar app and remote consultation is effective support for children with deafness secondary to OME. Trial Registration: The study was registered IRAS 262816. Funding Statement: None of the authors have received any funding or payment for completing the research nor benefitted from sales of the equipment. Declaration of Interests: Dr Tamsin Holland Brown helped create the free, charity funded, Hear Glue Ear app that was used in this study. Dr Holland Brown has not received funding or payment related to the Hear Glue Ear app. Other authors declare no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Solihull REC and Health Research Authority (HRA).