Other treatments

For most children, the middle ear fluid should clear up in 3 months and watchful waiting is the best management strategy.  

Non-surgical treatments

Medical treatments like antibiotics, antihistamines, decongestants and nasal steroids are sometimes given to children with glue ear, but there is no evidence that they are effective and some of them have unwanted side effects.

Alternative and complementary therapies like osteopathy, chiropractic and homeopathy are not currently recommended for glue ear as there is not enough evidence that they work.

Temporary hearing aids are an option for some children with hearing difficulties associated with glue ear.  They can help children distinguish between background noise, such as general classroom sounds, and foreground noise such as conversation and the teacher speaking. 

  • You can find more information about hearing aids from the National Deaf Children Society (NDCS website) or speak to your child's healthcare provider.

Surgical treatments

If your child has long term problems with hearing loss in both ears, and there are concerns that your child has behavioural /educational problems or speech and language delay they may be referred to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to discuss surgical options (grommet surgery).

 

Consultation with nurse

 

 

Operations for glue ear

Grommet surgery

Grommet surgery involves a small operation under general anaesthetic where fluid is drained from the middle ear and a ventilation tube (grommet) is inserted in the eardrum to allow air into the middle ear.

Removing the fluid from the middle ear helps the sound vibrations transfer to the inner ear to improve hearing, and the grommet keeps the air flowing into the middle ear to stop the glue ear returning.

Who is grommet surgery suitable for?

Grommet surgery is an important treatment for a small minority of children with long term glue ear in both ears, and with speech, language and educational development problems. 

  • Watchful waiting is the best management strategy as middle ear fluid will clear up on its own in 90% of  children in 12 months.
How effective is grommet surgery?

Grommet surgery is an effective, short-term treatment for glue ear.  Hearing levels are improved for the first 6-9 months after the operation, but by 12-18 months there is no difference between those children who did and did not have surgery (children who don't have surgery get better on their own).

  • Grommet surgery does not cure the underlying cause of glue ear.  Instead it improves hearing to allow for normal learning and development whilst children grow out of glue ear. 
What are the problems associated with grommet surgery?

Having grommet surgery means that your child will need to have a general anaethetic. Often children will have ear discharge after surgery, and there is a small risk of scarring or permanant perforation of the eardrum. 

Grommets normally fall out of the eardrum after 6-12 months and in up to 50% of cases another operation is needed within 5 years.

Adenoid surgery

Adenoids are small clumps of glandular material at the back of your nose and are part of your immune system used to fight infection.  Sometimes the adenoids become swollen and can block the opening of the Eustachian tubes.  Removing them can help the Eustachian tubes work better and help with glue ear.  Normally adenoids are taken out at the same time as grommet surgery, or when tonsils are removed.