Glue ear
Overview
Glue ear is where the middle part of the ear canal fills up with fluid. This can cause temporary hearing loss. It usually clears up within 3 months, but see a GP about any hearing problems.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of glue ear is temporary hearing loss. It can affect both ears at the same time. Other symptoms may include: earache or ear painhearing sounds like ringing or buzzing (tinnitus)problems with balance If glue ear lasts a long time, it can affect a child's speech development and progress at school. Glue ear is much more common in children, but adults with glue ear have the same symptoms.
Treatment
Glue ear is not always treated. The GP will usually wait to see if the symptoms get better on their own. This is because there's no effective medicine for glue ear, and it often clears up on its own within 3 months. Your child may be monitored for up to a year in case their symptoms change or get worse. The GP may suggest trying a treatment called autoinflation while waiting for symptoms to improve. Autoinflation can help fluid in the ear to drain. It's done by either: blowing up a special balloon using 1 nostril at a timeswallowing while holding the nostrils closed As autoinflation has to be done several times a day, it's not usually recommended for children under 3 years old. Antibiotics may be prescribed if glue ear causes anear infection. Your child may be referred to a specialist in hospital if: glue ear symptoms are affecting their learning and developmentthey already had severe hearing loss before glue earthey haveDown's syndromeor acleft lip and palate, as glue ear is less likely to get better by itself The 2 main treatments are temporaryhearing aidsor grommets (small tubes implanted in the ear). Occasionally, surgery may be recommended to remove some glands at the back of the nose (adenoids). This is known as anadenoidectomy. The specialist in hospital will help you decide on the best treatment option. A grommet is a small tube that's placed in your child's ear during surgery. It drains fluid away and keeps the eardrum open. The grommet should fall out naturally within 6 to 12 months as your child's ear gets better.