Glue ear, known as adhesive otitis, is a condition that occurs when the middle part of your ear fills with fluid. This part of the ear is located behind the eardrum. The fluid can become thick and sticky, like glue.
Overtime, glue ear is likely to lead to a middle ear infection. It can also make it difficult for you to hear. Such complications can become serious, so it’s important to identify and treat glue ear promptly.
Glue ear happens when thick fluid builds up inside your middle ear. As with general ear infections, glue ear tends to be more common in children.
This is because the eustachian tubes deep inside the ear are narrower than an adult’s and more prone to becoming clogged. These tubes are responsible for helping the ear maintain healthy space free of excess fluids.
Normally, the space behind the middle ear is only filled with air. But sometimes fluid can build up in the space as a result of an illness, such as a cold or virus.
Severe allergies may also cause such issues inside the middle ear. In such cases, the eustachian tubes can become swollen and constricted, leading to fluid buildup.
Other risk factors for glue ear include:
The main symptom of glue ear is difficulty hearing. Unlike ear infection, children with glue ear do not appear to be obviously sick or unwell. The condition is usually painless and infants and young children with glue ear may not be able to communicate their hearing loss. Consequently, glue ear is often missed in children.
The following may indicate that a child has glue ear:
Older children and adults with glue ear often complain of muffled hearing or a sense of fullness in the ear.
If you think your child has glue ear or you are concerned about their hearing or language development you should take them to your GP.
Glue ear is diagnosed after taking a medical history and examination of a child’s ears using an instrument that allows a doctor to look closely at the ear canal and ear drum.
An instrument that measures how well the ear drum moves back and forth may also be used. If there is fluid in the middle ear, the ear drum does not move.
Sometimes a hearing test may be recommended.
Glue ear usually gets better on its own but this can take weeks or months. As children grow their eustachian tubes get larger and become more efficient in draining fluid from the middle ear, hence preventing the build-up of fluid.
Most GPs will not treat glue ear at first, unless there are also signs of an ear infection. Instead, they will re-check the problem in 2 to 3 months. If glue ear lasts longer than 3 months, treatment may be required, which is usually either regular check-ups or grommets.
Regular check-ups
If your child’s hearing and speech development are normal, your GP may simply recommend regular follow-up appointments to check their ears since the likelihood of glue ear lessens as children grow older.
Grommets
Children who get glue ear often or if their glue ear lasts longer than 3 months may benefit from the fitting of grommets. Grommets are tiny plastic ventilation tubes that are inserted in the ear drum to let air access the middle ear, which reduces the risk of fluid building up.
Grommets are a temporary measure that allow time for the eustachian tubes to mature and become fully functional. Grommets usually fall out of the ear by themselves after about 6 to 18 months. The fitting of grommets requires referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
Hearing usually returns to normal after the grommets have been fitted. However, if hearing or language development issues persist despite grommets having been fitted, a hearing test may be required.
Immediately post op – Your child may be in some discomfort. This usually does not last longer than a few minutes and is associated with disorientation from the anaesthetic. You will go home 1 hour after the operation.
Day 1 – 7 – Your child may have some discharge of blood and pus from the ear. This is normal. Use the drops if they are prescribed and if your child is in pain either panadol or nurofen are usually all they will need. They can have a shower but can’t go swimming.
After day 7 – Recommence swimming lessons with ear plugs and a swimming cap. Don’t allow your child to put their head under water in the bath.
If your child gets discharge from their ears, it is usually due to an upper respiratory tract infection. Your child should be placed on antibiotic drops if it continues for more than 24 hours. This can be prescribed by your GP.
If the discharge continues for more than one week then contact our rooms as your surgeon will need to see you and likely suction out your child’s ears.
Initial follow up is one month after surgery then again approximately one year after the operation with a repeat hearing test.
What if the grommets fall out? Grommets are designed to fall out. There is no need to worry. After the grommets have fallen out your child should have a repeat hearing test and you should return to see your surgeon.
Other treatments
In some cases, a tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils) may be necessary for the eustachian tubes to work correctly.
Use of antibiotics, decongestants, antihistamines, and corticosteroids will not help glue ear.
The risk of glue ear can be reduced by:
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