EARFLO THE GO IN PILBARA

Earbus CEO Dr Lara Shur with EarFlo co-founders Dr Matt Oldakowski & Ms Intan Oldakowska

Earbus Foundation research partner, EarFlo, have developed an innovative device to assist in the treatment of glue ear and middle ear disease. With the support of the Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance, we will now expand the successful clinical trial to the Pilbara region. Aboriginal children will now have access to this non-invasive treatment which has the potential to change the way we treat middle ear disease in children.

Glue ear is a condition affecting up to 90 per cent of children at least once and is highly prevalent in Aboriginal children. It can cause hearing, balance and sleep problems as well as irritability. The EarFlo, which looks like a sippy cup and delivers air through a child's nose while drinking, helps to clear out the fluid in the ear causing the painful condition. 

EarFlo co-founder, Intan Oldakowska, said the next stage of the trial would see parents take the device home for daily use with their children. 

"It looks very familiar to the child and can fit easily within the morning and evening routine during mealtimes," she said. "Over a period of two to four weeks of daily treatment what we would like to see is the fluid in the middle ear can be drained and the hearing can be restored to the child so they can get earlier treatment to avoid developmental delay and avoid surgery."

Glue ear is currently treated by waiting to see if the issue can resolve on its own or surgery and insertion of a tube through the eardrum. Surgery wait times can be as long as three years.