Could your child develop glue ear and suffer hearing loss
without your knowledge?
Glue Ear is a hearing impairment commonly seen in children.
It results in a hearing loss with an average of 20 decibels
(db HL). Due to this condition, normal speech seems to be a
whisper. Glue ear is mostly seen in small children around
the age of three. As the children get older, the
probability of glue ear reduces.
Glue ear is a painless condition. The back of the eardrum
fills with a thick, sticky fluid, which causes blockage in
the middle ear. The movement of bones is minimized in the
ear due to the thick fluid. This leads to loss of hearing.
If glue ear is not given proper treatment, it will lead to
delayed speech in young children, and affect a child's
behavior and educational progress. Sometimes, it may cause
permanent damage to hearing.
The thick yellowish white fluid behind the eardrum looks
like glue, hence the name glue ear. It is also known as
chronic otitis media with effusion, or middle ear effusion
or secretory otitis media.
Causes Of Glue Ear
Glue ear occurs when there is a problem in the Eustachian
tube. This tube connects the middle ear to back of the
throat and nose. The middle ear is filled with air that
travels through the Eustachian tube to the back of the
nose. The tube helps the middle ear to drain the fluids.
When there is an ear infection, the Eustachian tube swells.
This swelling blocks the middle ear drainage. As a result,
there will not be a proper airflow from the tube to the
nose. When this happens, the middle ear builds up pressure,
which leads to the formation of a thick and glue-like
fluid. This fluid fills the middle ear which leads to
partial deafness.
In the case of babies, the Eustachian tube is shorter and
straighter that in adults. This makes them less efficient
in draining the ear, which results in blockage. Children,
when colds and sore throats in children can infect the tube
will lead to glue ear. And in some children, the adenoids
are likely to be increased in size. This will block the
opening of the tube, which in turn leads to hearing loss.
Effects Of Glue Ear
A person suffering from glue ear will have muffled hearing.
It will not be complete deafness. Detecting hearing loss in
small children is not easy since they will not be able to
converse properly. Such children may not pay attention to
others. School children may be poor at studies. They will
want to watch TV with the sound volume high. In the case of
babies, there will be a delay in speech. The early stages
of glue ear will be pain free. Children suffering from this
disease will be clumsier than normal. If not detected in
time, it will lead to impaired hearing.
Treatment for Glue Ear
There are various treatments for curing glue ear. It can be
done either by intake of medicines or by minor surgery.
Glue ear can be treated by three methods:
• Antibiotics: Antibiotic therapy has been proved effective
for children suffering from glue ear. Due to the infection,
which leads to glue ear, the child will suffer from pain.
Antibiotics are the best-prescribed medicines for glue ear.
If the infection is present and if it is not treated on
time, child will end up with a hearing loss.
• Myringotomy: Myringotomy is a method, which helps in
draining the fluid from the middle ear. A small opening is
made on the eardrum. This incision helps in removing the
fluid from the middle ear. It takes about a week's time for
the eardrum to heal.
Myringotomy is also done to insert ear tubes in the
eardrums. This helps in allowing free flow of air between
the Eustachian tube and the nose and throat. It also helps
in further drainage of fluids.
• Ear Tubes: Ear tubes are also called tympanostomy tubes,
or grommets. In ear tube surgery, the surgeon will make an
incision in the eardrum to remove the excess fluid from the
middle ear. A small metal or plastic tube will be inserted
through this incision. This will help in removing the
excess fluid through the ear canal. The operation is done
through the eardrum externally without any cut on the
child's skin.
Once the ear tube is placed, the child's hearing capability
will be back to normal. The tube stays in the ear. It will
fall out on its own once the eardrum closes.
When the child is suffering from glue ear, make sure that
water does not enter his eardrum. The child should have
earplugs or cotton coated with petroleum jelly to avoid the
water getting inside the ear. This can help in reducing
further infection and pain.
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