A condition common in children where they struggle to hear clearly this is because the Eustachian tube (a narrow tube that runs from your middle ear to the back of your throat that helps to maintain ear pressure and clear mucus and debris from the ear) loses the ability to drain away the mucus causing a build up of mucus which could lead to glue ear.
Age-related hearing loss is gradual, whereas children with glue ear often have fluctuations in their hearing, with reduction associated with colds in the winter months.
Rarely if affects adults usually after a cold.
Cause
Unknown
Person (particular children have) a narrow or a more horizontal Eustachian tube hence can’t drain away mucus effectively.
It’s more common in children and should be diagnosed and treated quickly, the patient need to see a Medical Doctor on the same day, if not possible go to hospital.
Long-term glue ear can affect a child’s hearing and speech development, their concentration, behaviour and performance at school.
Richard AM. Otitis media with effusion. In Kerr AG, Adams DA & Cinnamond MJ. Scott Brown’s Otolaryngology: Paediatric Otolaryngology. 6th edn. London: Hodder Education Publishers; 1996
General information
Please see your Medical Doctor sooner rather than later as this condition must be diagnosed by an ear throat nose specialist.
This condition usually resolves spontaneously within three months; however, if the patient’s hearing loss persists after three months and the child is symptomatic, then temporary hearing aids or surgical intervention, such as grommets, may be required.
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Glue Ear in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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