Glue ear is a condition when the middle ear fills up with a sticky substance. Although most common in children under the age of seven, it can affect older children and adults. If you have found your hearing has dulled or have noticed that someone, particularly a child, is not responding to sound as normal, it is possible the condition is glue ear.
The cause
Glue ear can be caused by an ear infection or a problem with the Eustachian tubes. Blockages in the Eustachian tubes can be caused by colds, sinusitis, enlarged adenoids, and allergies.
Symptoms
As well as dulled hearing, other symptoms you may notice are tinnitus and balance problems. In children, you may notice irritability, loss of concentration, tiredness, quiet speech, and a delay in speech and learning development.
Does it need treatment?
Generally, glue ear goes away on its own without treatment within three months, but sometimes the problem can persist. It is worth getting it diagnosed to make sure that glue ear is the cause of the hearing loss. If you are concerned, it is worth getting an appointment with a GP or qualified audiologist. If you are not sure what audiology services are available near you, an internet search will provide some options. A search in your area, such as typing ‘audiologist Poole’, will give you results like https://www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/poole.
Diagnosis and treatment
Glue ear can be diagnosed by an inspection of the ear using an otoscope, tympanometry that tests the function and mobility of the eardrum and middle ear, and by simply carrying out a hearing test.
While glue ear usually clears up on its own, if it persists, the audiologist may use balloon dilation treatment to increase pressure in the nasopharynx to help open up the Eustachian tubes, allowing fluid to more easily drain away. Another treatment is grommets, which are small tubes that are inserted to allow air to pass between the outer and middle ear.
While glue ear clears up, hearing aids may be recommended if the condition is causing significant hearing loss.