Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.
ZDNET Highlights
- Earflow is a medical device that relieves middle ear pressure.
- Nearly 90% of children in one study survived surgery using Earflow.
- Earflow is awaiting FDA approval. Its sales are expected to start in the first quarter.
Ear infections are a common problem in young children, which if prolonged can lead to ear canal surgery. About 700,000 children need this surgery in the US each year. but a new product called earflow According to preliminary studies, potentially 90% of these children could survive surgery.
Earflow is a medical device designed to look and function like a sippy cup for children under the age of two. When you sip from the cup, a small mask forms a seal over your nose, and with each swallow, air flows through the nose. Pressure on the nasal cavity helps open the Eustachian tube in the ear, allowing trapped fluid to drain out.
Too: CES 2026 live blog: Latest news on TV, AI, phones and more
in a hurry peer-reviewed study Of 21 children ages one to 12 who used EarFlow for four weeks, 86% showed significant hearing improvement, with the average improvement in hearing being 10 decibels — essentially doubling their perceived sound intensity, Dr. Matthew Oldkowski, EarFlow co-founder, told me at CES. About 90% of participants did not need surgery after three months.
Oldakovsky has been working on earflow since 2018, when he was a fellow at Stanford Biodesign. He saw a disconnect between parents concerned about their child’s hearing and discomfort and physicians whose only solution after a certain point was surgery.
Also: The world’s first breast milk monitor is a sleeper hit for parents at CES 2026 — here’s how it works
“We really saw that there was a need for a non-invasive solution to the most common pediatric problem,” Oldakowski said. “If you’re in a situation where you know your child has this condition, and your option is surgery, then Earflow is an option you can choose.”
The device comes with a game-based app that keeps kids motivated to drink. You don’t actually feel the air flow, so there’s no barrier to drinking from the cup, Oldakowski said.
The EarFlow are currently going through the FDA approval process and are expected to go on sale in February. The price is expected to be set between $250 and $300.
