Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common condition in childhood. Generally, the condition is asymptomatic and resolves within 3 months. However, in some cases the condition persists and results in conductive hearing loss. For children whose OME lasts 3 months or more, they may be provided with treatment through insertion of a ventilation tube (grommet) through their eardrum or they may be fitted with a hearing aid.

Despite OME being a temporary condition, it is estimated that 30-40% of children have recurrent OME over several years. By age 6 to 7 years, prevalence of OME drops to around 3-8%. The literature on OME & hearing loss, and its impact on child development has mainly focused on the early years, with little investigation of those with OME persisting beyond age 7. Hence, we aim to investigate the relationship between long-term OME and hearing loss (defined here as persisting beyond age 7) and developmental outcomes in late childhood in a prospective longitudinal cohort study.