Specialities

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Glue Ear [Serous Otitis Media]

Glue ear is a condition where the middle ear fills with glue-like fluid instead of air. This causes dulled hearing. It clears by itself in most cases. Treatment with a balloon that is blown up by the child using their nose may help in some cases. An operation to clear the fluid and to insert grommets may be advised if glue ear persists.

What is the ear like and how do we hear?

The ear is divided into three parts - the outer, middle, and inner ear. Sound waves come into the outer (external) ear and hit the eardrum causing the eardrum to vibrate. Behind the eardrum, in the middle ear, are three tiny bones (ossicles) - the malleus, incus, and stapes. The vibrations pass from the eardrum to these middle ear bones. The bones then transmit the vibrations to the cochlea in the inner ear. The cochlea converts the vibrations to sound signals which are sent down the ear nerve to the brain which we 'hear'.

The middle ear behind the eardrum is normally filled with air. The middle ear is connected to the back of the nose by a thin channel, the Eustachian tube. This tube is normally closed. But, from time to time (usually when we swallow or yawn), it opens to let air into the middle ear, and to drain any fluid out.

What is glue ear?

Glue ear is a condition where the middle ear becomes filled with fluid that looks like glue. It can affect one or both ears. The fluid dampens the vibrations of the eardrum and bones (ossicles) made by the sound waves. The cochlea receives dampened vibrations, and so the 'volume' of the hearing is 'turned down'. Glue ear usually occurs in young children, but it can develop at any age.

What causes glue ear?

The exact cause is not clear. It is probably due to the Eustachian tube not working properly. The balance of fluid and air in the middle ear may become altered if the Eustachian tube is narrow, blocked, or does not open properly. Air in the middle ear may gradually pass into the nearby cells if it is not replaced by air coming up the Eustachian tube. A vacuum may then develop in the middle ear. This may cause fluid to seep into the middle ear from the nearby cells.

Some children develop glue ear after a cough, cold, or ear infection when extra mucus is made. The mucus may build up in the middle ear and not drain well down the Eustachian tube. However, in many cases glue ear does not begin with an ear infection.

How common is glue ear?

It is common. More than 7 in 10 children have at least one episode of glue ear before they are four years old. In most cases it only lasts a short while. Boys are more commonly affected than girls. It is more common in children who:

• live in homes where people smoke.

• were bottle fed rather than breast fed.

• have frequent coughs, colds, or ear infections.

• have a brother or sister who had glue ear.

What are the symptoms of glue ear?

Dulled hearing
This is the main problem. Hearing does not go completely. The hearing loss can vary from mild to severe, and can vary from day to day. Older children may say if their hearing is dulled. However, dulled hearing in a younger child may not be noticed at first by parents or teachers, particularly if only one ear is affected. You may find that your child turns the TV or radio up loud, or often says 'what' or 'pardon' when you talk to them. Babies may appear less responsive to normal sounds.

Pain
This is not usually a main symptom, but mild earache may occur from time to time. Children and babies may pull at their ears if they have mild pain. However, the gluey fluid is a good food for bacteria (germs), and ear infections are more common in children with glue ear. This may then cause bad earache for the duration of an infection. Always have some painkiller in your home in case earache develops.

Education and behaviour may be affected if dulled hearing persists
Speech may develop slower than normal in young children if they cannot hear so well. If dulled hearing is not noticed then children may not learn so well at school. They may also become frustrated if they cannot follow what is going on. They may feel left out of some activities. This may lead to behaviour problems, poor concentration, and not doing as well as expected at school. Some children become quiet and withdrawn if they cannot hear well.

How does glue ear progress?

The outlook is usually good. Many children only have symptoms for a short time (a few weeks or so). The fluid often drains away gradually, air returns, and hearing then returns to normal.

• Hearing is back to normal within three months in about 5 in 10 cases.

• Hearing is back to normal within a year in more than 9 in 10 cases.

• Glue ear persists for a year or more in about 1 in 20 cases.

Some children have several episodes of glue ear which cause short but recurring bouts of reduced hearing. The total time of reduced hearing may then add up to quite a few months.

Are any tests needed?

A referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist may be advised at some point. This may be straight away for babies who have hearing loss. (This is to rule out other serious causes of hearing loss.) It may be after a period of 'watchful waiting' in older children who previously had good hearing. Hearing tests and ear tests can confirm the cause of hearing loss and show how bad the hearing has become.

What is the treatment for glue ear?

Watchful waiting ('wait and see')
No treatment is usually advised at first as the outlook is good. The length of time advised to 'wait and see' can vary, and may depend on certain factors. For example, whether the glue ear is recurrent or new, the severity of the hearing loss, the age of the child, etc. For a 'typical' situation, a doctor may advise that you wait several months to see if the glue ear clears.

Surgery
A small operation may be advised if glue ear persists, or is severe. This involves making a tiny cut (about 2-3mm) in the eardrum under anaesthetic. The fluid is drained and a grommet (ventilation tube) is often inserted. A grommet is like a tiny pipe that is put across the eardrum. It helps to drain any fluid, and lets air into the middle ear. Hearing improves immediately.

Grommets normally fall out of the ear as the eardrum grows, usually after 6-12 months. By this time the glue ear has often gone away. The hole in the eardrum made for the grommet normally heals quickly when the grommet falls out. Sometimes grommets need to be put in on more than one occasion if glue ear recurs. (See a separate leaflet called 'Operations for Glue Ear'.)

In some cases, the adenoids are also taken out to improve the drainage of the Eustachian tube. Adenoids are small clumps of glandular tissue (similar to tonsils). They are attached at the back of the nose cavity near to the opening of the Eustachian tube.

What can I do for my child with glue ear?

The main thing is to be aware that your child may have dulled hearing until the condition goes away or is treated. The following are some tips.

• Talk clearly and more loudly than usual (but you don't have to shout).

• Attract your child's attention before speaking to them. Talk directly face to face, and down at their level.

• Cut out background noise when you talk to your child (for example, turn off the TV or radio).

• Understand that your child`s frustration or bad behaviour may be due to dulled hearing.

• Discuss the problem with the teacher if your child is at school or nursery. Sitting near to the teacher may help. Often in a class there are several children with glue ear, and raising awareness of glue ear with teachers is helpful.

• Don't let anybody smoke in the same home as your child.

Even after a bout of glue ear has cleared up, remember the problem may return for a while after a cold or ear infection.

Does glue ear go away?

As children grow older, problems with glue ear usually go away completely. This is probably because the Eustachian tube widens, and the drainage of the middle ear improves. In general, the older the child becomes, the less likely fluid will build up in the middle ear. Also, in older children, any fluid that does build up after a cold is likely to clear quickly. The problem has usually gone by the age of 7-8. Glue ear rarely persists in children over the age of eight.

The main concern is to make sure that your child's education does not suffer until the problem goes. In nearly all cases, once the fluid has gone, hearing returns to normal. Very rarely, persistent long-term glue ear may lead to middle ear damage and some permanent hearing loss.

Some common questions about glue ear

Can glue ear be prevented?
The cause of glue ear is not fully understood, and there is no way of preventing most cases. However, the risk of developing glue ear is less in children who live in homes free of cigarette smoke, and who are breast fed.

Are children routinely checked for hearing?
Yes. All children should have a routine hearing test either shortly after birth or aged about 8-9 months. However, most cases of glue ear develop in children aged 2-5 years. Therefore, hearing may have been fine at the routine hearing test, but then become dulled at a latter time. See a doctor if you suspect your child has dulled hearing at any age.

Can medication clear glue ear?
Various medicines have been tried to help clear glue ear. For example, antihistamines, steroids, decongestants, antibiotics, and medicines to 'thin' mucus. However, research studies have shown that none of these medicines are much use in the treatment of glue ear.

In summary

• Glue ear is common in young children. It causes dulled hearing.

• In most cases it goes away by itself over a few months.

• Dulled hearing may affect education and behaviour.

• An operation to drain the fluid and insert grommets may be advised if glue ear persists.