A common condition affecting hearing in childhood is “glue ear” which falls into the domain of conductive hearing loss. Glue ear is a painless condition in which thick, sticky fluid collects behind the eardrum. The fluid blocks the middle part of the ear and can cause impaired hearing. It usually affects children and is also known as

  • Chronic otitis media with effusion (OME)
  • Secretory otitis media
  • Middle-ear effusion

What Happens

The thick fluid prevents normal movement of the small bones in the middle ear that are necessary for hearing. Glue ear is common in children because of the nature of their eustachian tubes, the tubes that connect the ears with the back of the throat. Children with Down Syndrome and Cleft palate are more prone to glue ear.

Different kinds of fluid may be present behind the eardrum, ranging from a yellow liquid to a thick, white material that resembles glue (hence the name, glue ear).

Left untreated, glue ear can:

  • Cause temporary hearing loss
  • Contribute to delayed speech development in young children  ( as they can’t hear speech clearly)
  • Affect a child’s behavior and educational progress
  • In rare cases, cause permanent damage to hearing

About half of all cases of glue ear will resolve on their own within three months. About 90% of cases resolve within six months, and about 90% of cases resolve within three months. It is important to have the condition evaluated by a Doctor, because in the time it may take to resolve on its own, glue ear may affect a child’s speech development or behaviour. Having glue ear is like listening to the world with both fingers stuck in your ears (try it!).

Children with glue ear cannot always hear everything that is said to them but young children may not be able to explain the problem. Signs of glue ear include irritability, and behaviour difficulties. The child may also want the TV volume high. They may also leave off the ends of their words as they cannot hear the whole word.  Any child who appears not to be hearing well should be evaluated by a Doctor and have a hearing test.