Glue Ear
Recently my nephew had glue ear. I had never heard of it so I made it my business to find something out! I thought others might like to know what I turned up about this condition.
The doctor told us that the main thing is to be aware that my nephew would have compromised hearing until the condition goes away or was treated. He suggested the following:
•Talk clearly and more loudly than usual without shouting
•Attract your child's attention before speaking and then talk directly face to face, at their level.
•Cut out any background noise when you talk - turn off the TV!
•Consider that a child`s frustration or bad behaviour may be due to dulled hearing.
•Talk to your child's teacher if your child is at school or nursery. Sitting your child near to the teacher might be a help.
•Don't let anybody smoke in the same space as your child.
Even after an episode of glue ear has cleared up, remember the problem may return for a while in the future,after a cold or ear infection for example
Our doctor told us that as children grow older, problems with glue ear usually go away. This is because the Eustachian tube widens, and the drainage of the middle ear improves. In general, the older the child, the less likely fluid will build up in the middle ear. Also, in older children, any fluid that does build up after a cold is likely to clear quickly. Glue ear rarely persists in children over the age of eight. In nearly all cases, once the fluid has gone, hearing returns to normal. Rarely, some adults are troubled with glue ear.
Rarely, long-term glue ear may lead to middle ear damage and some permanent hearing loss, so we are having our doctor keep a close eye on him!
|