Those who do diagnostic testing are familiar with the common otitis management and hearing loss aspect of middle ear fluid. Colds and allergies create congestion that spreads through the upper respiratory passages, and often causes Eustachian tube dysfunction. Middle ear fluid, however, also can have a rare but critically important twist; some cases have a dangerous etiology. You are familiar with the clearance process for patients who are interested in purchasing hearing aids, including the conditions that make ENT evaluation mandatory. Unilateral hearing loss, for example, could be caused by a life-threatening disease such as a brainstem tumor, and middle ear fluid falls in this same category.
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