What is a common finding in Otitis Media with Effusion (OME)?

In cases of Otitis Media with Effusion (OME), a key characteristic is the presence of muffled hearing and a sensation of chronic pressure in the ear. OME is primarily associated with the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear without the presence of an acute infection; this fluid can impact hearing by dampening sound transmission. As a result, patients often report a feeling of fullness or pressure in the affected ear, which may lead to conductive hearing loss due to the interference with normal auditory function.

The other choices reflect conditions that are not typical of OME. For example, a painful ear infection more accurately describes acute otitis media, which involves an active infection and inflammation. Similarly, a red tympanic membrane typically indicates acute infection rather than effusion. Swelling of the outer ear is associated with external ear conditions and does not relate to the middle ear fluid characteristic of OME. Thus, muffled hearing and the sensation of pressure are definitive signs that align with the diagnosis of Otitis Media with Effusion.