About Glue Ear
Glue ear is a common condition where glue-like fluid collects in the middle ear, behind the eardrum. It is the most common reason of partial deafness in children. Approximately 1 out of 4 children get affected by glue ear at some stage of their childhood. It is more common in boys, being the most affected between ages two to five. Even so, there are still risks it can occur at later stages, including adulthood.
Glue ear, unfortunately, is sometimes overlooked. There are some warnings though, such as temporary hearing loss and a stuffy feeling in the ears.
Glue ear is very common though. One episode predicts another. It has been proven that children who have experienced glue ear once have more risk in having recurrent episodes.
Certain other risk factors that contribute to glue ear are:
- constant inhalation of nicotine smoke
- having recurrent cough and cold
- glue ears is common in the family; and
- as a baby, he or she was bottle fed rather than breast fed
Having dulled hearing is the most common symptom of glue ear. Sometimes, children who are affected may turn out deaf completely. Hearing loss may range from mild to severe. If it persists, it will affect the child’s normal intellectual development.
A very uncommon symptom, but mild earache may happen sometimes. Affected children might pull at their ears if they feel pain.
Children who have glue ear tend to show slower speech development and even behavioral problems. These are commonly due to the fact that they cannot hear well.
Fortunately, glue ear can be treated. In fact, most glue ears will heal by themselves. However, if glue ear persists, surgery may be needed to remove the glue-like fluid from the middle ear and to place a ventilation tube or “grommet” in the ear drum. It sits across the eardrum, connecting the outer and middle ears, hence allowing pressure in the middle ear to become normal or be equal with the atmosphere.
Is snoring causing a negative impact on your life? Get help from an ENT specialist to improve your life’s quality. This article, About Glue Ear is released under a creative commons attribution licence.
Related posts:
- When Is The Proper Time To Visit Your ENT
- How To Identify If You Are Losing Your Hearing
- Seeking Medical Help For Childhood Cough
- The Nightmare Of Nighttime Cough: How To Help Children
- Reasons Why People Have Tonsillitis
- How To Identify If You Are Nearing Permanent Deafness
- Sleep Apnea Stops Your Breathing During Sleep And Strains Your Relationship
- Treating Chronic Coughs Is Necessary
- Keeping Allergy At Bay: How Parents Can Help Young Kids
- If You Experience These 7 Signs, Nasal Polyps Might Be To Blame