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This high-tech sippy cup at CES 2026 could prevent your kid from needing ear tubes

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Alison DeNisco Rayome/ZDNET

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ZDNET's key takeaways

Earflo is a medical device that relieves middle ear pressure.

Using Earflo led nearly 90% of kids in a study to avoid surgery.

Earflo is awaiting FDA clearance. It's expected to go on sale in Q1.

Ear infections are a common issue for young children that, when chronic, can lead to ear tube surgery. About 700,000 children in the US need this surgery each year. But a new product called Earflo could potentially help up to 90% of these kids avoid the surgery altogether, according to early studies.

Earflo is a medical device designed to look and work like a sippy cup for kids as young as two. When you sip from the cup, a small mask forms a seal on your nose, and with each swallow, air flows through the nose. The pressure on the nasal cavity helps open the eustachian tubes in the ear, releasing trapped fluid.

Also: CES 2026 live blog: Latest news on TVs, AI, phones, more

Alison DeNisco Rayome/ZDNET

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