What is glue ear?
Glue ear occurs when the middle ear fills up with a glue-like, sticky fluid. This fluid makes it difficult for sound to pass through the middle ear to the inner ear, which can cause reduced or ‘dulled’ hearing. Glue ear is a common condition that occurs mainly in infants and young children under the age of seven but can also affect older children and adults.
Medically referred to as ‘Otitis media with Effusion’ (OME), glue ear can affect one or both ears. It is usually temporary and will often clear up on its own without the need for treatment. However, when it doesn’t clear up, it can cause temporary hearing loss and can also affect speech and language development in children and therefore professional help and advice should be sought straight away.
What causes glue ear?
Glue ear is most often caused by ear infections, particularly in children. Fluid can build up in the middle ear due to an ear infection and sometimes this doesn’t clear when the infection goes, resulting in glue ear.
The other main cause of glue ear is a blockage in, or a problem with, the Eustachian tubes. The Eustachian tubes connect the middle ear with the back of the throat and help control the pressure in the ear. They also drain any build-up of fluid in the middle ear. Coughs, colds, allergies, sinusitis, and enlarged adenoids can all result in fluid not draining properly through the eustachian tube and causing glue ear. Because children’s Eustachian tubes are often much narrower and are at lesser angle than adults, children are prone to more frequent and more severe blockages. This is one of the main reasons why glue ear is most common in younger children.
What are the signs and symptoms of glue ear?
Temporary hearing loss in one or both ears is the most common symptom of glue ear. Reduced hearing, a feeling of congestion or a build-up of pressure in your ears, tinnitus (a ringing of buzzing sound in your ears), earache and repeated ear infections are other common symptoms. Allergies and irritation caused by smoke can also lead to glue ear. Glue ear can also cause problems with balance.
In babies and young children who may not be able to explain or verbalise a change in or loss of hearing, symptoms may include:
– not responding when their name is called
– lack of concentration
– changes in behaviour
– tiredness and irritability
– speaking quietly
– delays in speech and learning development
Will glue ear go away by without treatment?
Glue ear will often clear up within 3 months, with no need for treatment. However, if symptoms persist, make an appointment for your child to see their GP or a qualified audiologist, especially if they are suffering from hearing loss. It is important to establish that any hearing loss is due to glue ear and not due to other possible causes.
How is glue ear diagnosed?
It is often possible to diagnose glue ear by inspecting the ears using an otoscope, a hand-held medical device with a magnifying lens and a light. The tip of the otoscope is placed into the ear canal for the GP or audiologist to see down the ear canal to the eardrum. They may be able to see fluid behind the eardrum or may be able diagnose glue ear by assessing the state of the eardrum itself.
Tympanometry is also often used to help diagnose glue ear. Tympanometry tests the mobility and function of the eardrum and middle-ear by changing the air pressure in the middle ear. A special graph called a tympanogram will be produced by the audiologist undertaking the test to show you the results.
An audiologist may also want to do a hearing test, to check whether any fluid that they find is affecting the hearing of the patient.
They will then discuss the results of these tests with you and recommend a treatment plan to get rid of the glue ear.
What treatments are available for glue ear?
As mentioned earlier, glue ear will often clear up naturally, without the need for treatment. However when glue ear persists, are there are several possible treatment options, depending on its likely cause and its severity.
Balloon dilation treatment may be recommended. A purpose-manufactured balloon is inflated by the patient by blowing into it from one nostril, while keeping the other nostril closed. This increases pressure in the nasopharynx, helping to open-up the Eustachian tubes so that fluid can drain away more easily. This treatment is suitable for most children but must be done under the guidance of a GP or audiologist using only use a purpose manufactured balloon, for example Otovent.
Grommets
In cases of severe or persistent glue ear, grommets may be suggested. This involves a surgical procedure done under general anaesthetic in which a very small incision is made in the eardrum. Fluid is then drained from the middle ear and grommets (very small, hollow tubes) are inserted, allowing air to pass between the middle and outer ear, equalising pressure in the ear. Grommets usually improve the patient’s quality of hearing immediately. They will generally fall out of the ear naturally after 6 to 12 months.
Hearing Aids and other hearing devices
If glue ear is causing hearing loss, hearing aids may be recommended to improve the quality of a patient’s hearing until the glue ear has cleared and their hearing has returned to normal levels. Other devices include bone-conduction products like Hear Glue Ear.
What should I do if I think that someone in my family has glue ear?
If you think that you or a member of your family have glue ear, make an appointment to see your GP or Audiologist as soon as you can. If glue ear persists and has been present for 8-12 weeks it is important to get it diagnosed and treated to avoid on-going hearing loss and development of speech and language in children.
If you are concerned about possible hearing loss, you may want to consider booking an appointment at Kent Hearing for a hearing assessment to establish the cause, extent and type of hearing loss that you or your child are experiencing. This can be done by calling us on 01732 525912.
If you experience a sudden loss of hearing, it is very important to make an emergency appointment to see your GP or audiologist, as sudden hearing loss needs to be investigated straight away to ensure that hearing can return to normal levels
How can Kent Hearing help with glue ear?
Dr Priya Carling AuD, RHAD and her team are highly experienced in diagnosing and treating glue ear and have successfully helped hundreds of patients with this condition. Our team are well known for their expertise in paediatric hearing care and offer diagnostic hearing assessments, earwax removal by microsuction, tinnitus management and custom earplugs for both adults and children of all ages.
To book an appointment with us please call us on 01732 525912 or email us at info@kenthearing.com.
You can find out more about the comprehensive paediatric hearing services we offer here.