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Abstract DEFINITION AND TERMINOLOGY; Accumulations of fluid in the tympanic cavity are by far the most frequent causes of hearing disorders during childhood. The new voluminous literature on these conditions illustrates the confusing and contradictory views of the factors that might initiate and maintain them. The dimensions of the problem are apparent from the numerous and imprecise descriptive terminologies for these disorders which have been used during the past decade. As a matter of fact there is no other area in the field of otolaryngology where so many synonyms or pseudosynonyms have been employed, including such terms as ”serous otitis media”, ”catarrh of the middle ear”, ”tympanic HyDROPs”, (2 3) ”tubotympanic Catarrh”, ”mucoid ear”, ”Secretory otitis”. ’ However the term ”middle ear effusion” is probably more suitable than most in the fact that it encompasses all varieties of the condition with minimal prejudice. TYPES OF FLUID; Middle ear effusions are characterized by the presence of non purulent fluid in the middle ear |