Elm Therapists

Glue ear is a common condition where glue-like fluid collects in the middle ear, behind the eardrum. It is the most common reason of partial deafness in children. About 1 in 4 children get affected by glue ear at some stage of their childhood. Boys are at higher risk of this disease, being the most affected between ages 2 to 5. However, there are still risks it can happen at later stages, including adulthood.

Unfortunately, glue ear sometimes goes unnoticed. There are some signals however, like temporary hearing loss and a stuffy feeling in the ears.

Glue ear is a very common disease. One episode predicts another. It has been known that children who have had one experience having glue ear are more likely to have recurrent episodes.

Other risk factors that may contribute to higher risk of glue ear include:

- living in a home where people smoke

- having recurrent cough and cold

- glue ears is common in the family; and

- as a baby, he or she was bottle fed rather than breast fed

The most common symptom of glue ear is dulled hearing. Oftentimes, children who are affected may end up completely deaf. Hearing loss may range from mild to severe. If it persists, it will affect the child's normal intellectual development.

A very uncommon symptom, but mild earache may happen from time to time. Some affected children would pull at their ears if they feel pain.

Children with glue ear have a propensity to show behavioral problems and slower speech development. These are commonly caused by the fact that they cannot hear well.

Luckily, glue ear can be treated. In fact, most of the time it will heal by themselves. However, should glue ear persist, surgery may be needed to eliminate the glue-like fluid from the middle ear and to place a 'grommet' (ventilation tube) in the ear drum. It sits across the eardrum, connecting the middle and outer ears, thus allowing pressure in the middle ear to normalize or equalize with the atmosphere.