Matthew Georgiou faced significant challenges in school.
“He just wasn’t paying attention,” his mother, Melissa, explained. Teachers kept remarking that he was smart but off in his own world.
Initially, his behavior seemed rebellious, but it turned out there was a deeper issue—Matthew was actually deaf.
Like his brother, Nicholas, Matthew had problems with Eustachian tube dysfunction. This condition prevents the small tube that connects the throat to the middle ear from functioning properly, leading to blocked airflow and increased pressure, which can result in symptoms like tinnitus, pain, fluid buildup, and hearing loss.
Both boys had already undergone a procedure to insert grommets into their eardrums, aiming to reduce fluid and enhance airflow. However, this fix doesn’t always last, and some kids may need additional procedures down the line.
The Georgios were contemplating yet another surgery for Matthew when they learned about a new non-invasive device. It’s priced at $279 and designed for home use in children as young as two.
The Earflo device looks like a high-tech sippy cup, created by biomedical engineers in Perth.
As children drink from it, a soft mask seals under their noses. Swallowing forces air into their nasal passages, helping to open up blocked Eustachian tubes, equalizing pressure, and clearing trapped fluid.
“For more than 50 years, we’ve known that this method is effective, but it hadn’t been adapted for younger children until now,” Dr. Intan Oldakowska, a co-founder of Earflo, noted.
“This age range is when these problems are most common, leading to many surgeries.”
The device is accompanied by a companion app that tracks swallows and checks if the Eustachian tubes open properly. When a child successfully swallows, a rocket in the app takes off, soaring upward.
This game motivates kids to engage in the two-minute treatment consistently, rewarding them with digital prizes. Parents can also monitor usage and progress through the app.
Matthew first used the Earflo device at 12 years old and now, at 15, he found it effective. While it’s primarily for kids, adults can use it as well, according to Oldakowska.
“We were astonished that it actually worked,” Melissa added.
She felt that Matthew might have been a bit too old for the device, yet he was eager to give it a shot to avoid another surgery.
Recently, Earflo received FDA approval, marking its launch in the U.S. market at $279.
In clinical trials, 21 participants, aged 1 to 12, with otitis media with effusion, were instructed to use Earflo twice daily for a month.
Remarkably, after one use, 86% of these children showed immediate improvement in middle ear pressure. Four weeks later, 86% experienced significant hearing enhancement, and surgery was ruled out for 89% of them.
It took about a week of regular usage for Matthew to notice changes.
“Earflo eliminated the need for another set of grommets, which we would have had to resort to,” Melissa expressed.
“As a parent, the last thing you want is to put your child through another surgery, even if it’s deemed a simple one.”
Nationwide, Eustachian tube dysfunction and chronic otitis media with effusion significantly affect children, with around 70% of kids experiencing it by age seven, often leading to hearing issues, infections, and delays in speech.
Despite the challenges, doctors traditionally adopt a “wait and see” approach for about three months before considering surgery, which is performed over a million times annually on children in the U.S.
About 80% of patients may still find they need a second set of tubes, even after surgery.
“We created Earflo because, honestly, it’s exhausting and heartbreaking to see kids struggle with ear pain and hearing loss, which disrupts their learning,” Ordakowska noted.
“Our aim is to provide families with an accessible, science-backed solution they can use at home before resorting to surgery.”
