Chronic otitis media is a chronic inflammation of the middle ear cavity, with clinical manifestations such as ear pus, hearing loss (conductive deafness) and tympanic membrane perforation. Our traditional typing method divides chronic otitis media into simple, osteochondritic and cholesteatomatous types. Foreign scholars classify chronic otitis media into chronic otitis media exacerbation (with or without cholesteatoma), chronic otitis media quiescence (tympanic membrane perforation, invagination pouch, adhesion type and auditory chain fixation or defect) and chronic otitis media quiescence with recurrent acute attacks. The author believes that the choice of treatment for otitis media depends on whether there is a cholesteatoma or not. If there is a cholesteatoma, surgery must be performed as soon as possible, otherwise it will lead to serious complications; if there is no cholesteatoma, surgery can be performed at a later date, or if economic conditions do not allow or work is too busy to perform surgery, medication can be applied to relieve symptoms. With the improvement of ear microsurgery technology, the results of tympanoplasty surgery performed in China are close to those of famous ear centers abroad. Currently, the cure rate of patients with otitis media operated in our hospital is 95% (dry ear rate), and about 70% of patients have some degree of hearing improvement. The following are answers to questions frequently asked by patients with chronic otitis media: 1. What kind of otitis media must be treated surgically? Patients with cholesteatoma of the middle ear must be treated surgically. Cholesteatoma of the middle ear is a pseudotumor, which is essentially an accumulation of squamous epithelium in the middle ear cavity that expands and grows. If the cholesteatoma is not treated surgically, it will destroy the structures of the middle ear, inner ear, facial nerve and brain plate (a thin layer of bone between the middle ear cavity and brain tissue), leading to serious complications such as sensorineural deafness (destruction of the inner ear), facial palsy (nerve damage due to compression of the facial nerve), epidural abscess and brain abscess (destruction of the brain plate). The serious complications such as sensorineural deafness (destruction of the inner ear), facial palsy (nerve damage due to compression of the facial nerve), epidural abscess and brain abscess (destruction of the brain plate). 2. How is recurrent otitis media treated? Surgery is recommended for recurrent otitis media or otitis media that cannot be controlled with antibiotics. Recurrent otitis media that is not properly treated can easily be complicated by cholesteatoma, and recurrent attacks can affect the function of the auditory chain and lead to hearing loss and cause a lot of trouble in the patient’s life. With the improvement of ear microsurgery technology, early surgical treatment can not only cure otitis media but also improve the hearing of patients. 3. Do I need surgery for resting otitis media with tympanic membrane perforation and hearing loss? This is a group of patients who have tympanic membrane perforation with varying degrees of conductive deafness, but who have not had an attack (drainage) for several years. If the patient’s hearing loss is not significant and does not have much impact on life surgery is not necessary. If surgery is chosen, it is done to improve hearing and improve quality of life (e.g. swimming, diving, etc.). As the standard of living improves, more and more patients choose tympanic membrane repair and auditory chain reconstruction or reorganization surgery and obtain satisfactory hearing results. 4. What does otitis media surgery involve? The principles of otitis media surgery are: complete removal of the lesion, reconstruction of hearing function and prevention of complications and recurrence. At present, almost all otitis media surgeries in our hospital are performed by tympanoplasty, which consists of the following: microscopic removal of all lesions in the middle ear cavity (cholesteatoma, granulation, polyps, inflamed bone and damaged auditory tuberosity), followed by reconstruction of the middle ear structure (repair of the tympanic membrane and reconstruction of the auditory chain). 5. Can otitis media surgery improve my hearing? Whether hearing can be improved depends on the condition of the lesion. If the auditory chain is not completely fixed, hearing can be improved after tympanoplasty; if the auditory chain is fixed, the hearing effect of the first-stage surgery is poor. If a patient with otitis media has a high expectation of hearing improvement, I suggest a staged surgery: one stage of surgery to remove the lesion and complete tympanoplasty (general anesthesia surgery), and then one year after surgery, a second stage of reconstruction surgery of the auditory chain (local anesthesia surgery), which can improve hearing significantly. 6.What are the precautions after surgery? Regular review after surgery is recommended. After open tympanoplasty, scabs will accumulate in the middle ear cavity, and it is recommended to go to the hospital every six months to remove the scabs. If the scab builds up and is not removed, a bacterial infection under the scab may occur, leading to a recurrence of otitis media. Patients who have completed wall tympanoplasty or tympanoplasty can be checked every two years, and if there is discharge from the ear canal, please go to the hospital immediately.