How to treat glue ear in adults

The fluid impairs the movements of the ear drum and therefore reduces the conduction of sound from the ear drum to the hearing organ (inner ear), resulting in reduced hearing.

It is the commonest cause of partial deafness in young children.

Glue ear or autism

It is estimated that one in four children are affected with glue ear at some stage of their lives.

What causes glue ear?

Risk factors for glue ear are: young age (especially under six), winter months, regular day care with many other children (at nursery or school), a family history of glue ear (in siblings and parents) and passive smoking.

Nasal allergies and acid reflux may also be involved in some cases.

Children with certain conditions such as Down’s syndrome or cleft palate are also commonly affected, and their glue ear tends to be more persistent.

The Eustachian tube (which connects the back of the nose to the middle ear) normally plays an important role in maintaining equal air pressure between the outside and inside of the middle ear.

This is most obvious as the ears “pop” when flying. In reality, a little squirt of air u

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what is glue ear in adults