27/04/2023
Is your child constantly getting ear infections and you don’t know why?
There's an interesting connection here! In the image above you can see the Eustachian tube, which is a tube that runs from the middle ear to the back of your nose and throat. The purpose of these tubes is to drain fluid from the middle ear and to balance pressure on either side of the ear drum.
The Eustachian tubes need to open and close so they can properly drain and function, so what causes the tubes to open and close? This would be the Palatini muscles. The Palatini muscles are activated when the tongue hits the soft palate (which is the back 2/3rds of the palate).
So when a child does not have proper tongue posture and has an incorrect swallowing pattern, the middle and back of the tongue are not being used, meaning it does not touch the soft palate. With the Palatini muscles not activated, the Eustachian tubes have trouble draining, leading to a middle ear infection.
There are many things that can contribute to an improper swallowing pattern like pacifiers, bottles, sippy cups, thumb sucking, or a tongue tie.
If it's common for your child to get ear infections, I recommend seeing a functional airway dentist or a myofunctional therapist to get a full oral assessment to assess tongue function, posture and oral habits, and they will be able to help you from there.
Does your child have frequent ear infections?
