Glue ear is a common problem in children. Thick fluid (glue) accumulates behind the ear drum and causes a variable level of hearing loss, ranging from 0 to 50 decibels (dB). This degree of hearing loss can change normal speech into a whisper and if both ears are affected by glue this may affect development of speech in young children.

Glue ear is most common in 2-4 year olds and in this age range 15-20% of children will have glue ear at any one time. Some 42% of children have one or more episodes of glue ear during their fourth year. By the age of 7 the number of children affected at any one time is 5% Speech development occurs early in life and, unfortunately, about 6% of 2 year olds have significant hearing loss (25dB or more) that may impair this.

The main risk factors for glue ear that you can change are parental smoking and bottle feeding as a baby rather than breast feeding. If your child suffers from glue ear and you smoke then it is time to stop and give him/her a chance of recovery and normal hearing. Glue ear is more common during the winter and spring.

Fifty per cent of glue ear episodes resolve within 3 months, 75% have resolved by 6 months. Only 5% of children have glue ear for a year or more. For this reason, it is tempting to treat glue ear conservatively as most children get better without treatment. Surgery to drain the ear (and insert small plastic tubes called grommets to prevent re-accumulation of glue) is sometimes performed if hearing loss is profound and affecting both ears. However, the benefits are neither great nor long lasting. At 6 months after surgery the average reduction in hearing loss is 12dB and only 6dB twelve months after surgery. Between one fifth and one third of children receiving grommets have some ear discharge and perforation of the ear drum, and this persists in 5%.

Because of this, children with glue ear are encouraged to wait to determine whether the condition will resolve spontaneously. The glue will disperse more efficiently if the middle ear is ventilated. The chemist will be able to supply you with a small gadget called "Otovent." This is a small plastic widget with a soft balloon attached to it. The child is encouraged to blow up the balloon using his/her nose. This has the effect of opening up the Eustachian tube connecting the middle ear to the back of the mouth, allowing a little of the fluid to drain. "Otovent" is not a prescribable item.