Good hearing is needed for the overall development of a child. In adults impaired hearing may have profound effect on daily living and socialising. Glue ear also called Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) is one of the commonest causes of hearing loss in childhood. It occurs when there is a collection of thick fluid behind the ear drum. The fluid impairs the movement of the ear drum in response to sound and can cause significant hearing loss. The sound that a child with Glue ear hears is similar to the sound we hear when we block our ear with a piece of cotton wool.

WHAT CAUSES GLUE EAR?

Glue ear occurs as a result of repeated colds or ear infections. Sometimes it may occur due to blockage of the Eustachian tube (a tube which connects the ear to the back of the nose) by adenoid gland or tumour. The condition commonly occurs in young children as they are more prone to ear infections and common cold. Also children have enlarged adenoid glands which can block the Eustachian tube. Adults can also develop glue ear though the incidence is much less.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF GLUE EAR?

Patients with Glue ear suffer from hearing loss which may vary from individual to individual.

Some of the common signs that are found in children are

a) Children with glue ear may appear inattentive.

b) Ear infections, sometimes follow glue ear, can cause discomfort and pain.

c) Patients may turn up the TV volume or they may mishear words when not looking at the speaker.

d) Some children talk too loudly- others talk less. They may mispronounce words or speak less clearly than normal.

e) Children may ask for things to be repeated, or misunderstand instructions.

f) Glue ear can also affect a child's balance, emotional well-being and behaviour.

g) Younger children may have problems with their language development or speech.

h) Children having enlarged adenoids may additionally suffer from blocked and running nose, mouth breathing and snoring.

HOW IS THE CONDITION DIAGNOSED?

OME is diagnosed on the basisi of history, clinical findings and certain hearing tests like Audiometry and Tympanometry.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT OF GLUE EAR?

In majority of patients OME resolves spontaneously or with medication. In persistent cases causing significant hearing loss, surgery becomes necessary. A small plastic tube called 'Grommet' is inserted in the ear drum under anaesthesia and the improvement in hearing is quite dramatic. In some patients the adenoid glands are also removed at the same time.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THE CONDITION IS NOT TREATED?

Older children and adults have a feeling that their ear is all blocked up and tend to hear their own sounds more the external sounds.

Younger children may have problems with their language development or speech. Particularly when the glue ear lasts a long time, children can develop difficulties communicating or socializing. Untreated, performance at school may also be affected.

Retraction of the tympanic membrane (The tympanic membrane gets sucked into the middle ear) and subsequent complications can develop as sequelae of OME.

It is important to look out for signs that glue ear might be affecting your child in these ways. If you feel that your child may be having some of these signs then consult an ENT surgeon. Proper diagnosis and early intervention does help in preventing or limiting the scars that this condition can leave behind.