Nursery World - A Unique Child: Health - A guide to ... glue ear

Glue ear is one of the most common childhood illnesses, but what
are the symptoms and how is it treated? Audiologist Vicki Kirwin
explains.

For ears to work properly, the middle ear needs to be kept full of air. The air travels through the eustachian tube, which runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat. In children, this tube doesn't work as well, and if it becomes blocked air cannot enter the middle ear. When this happens, the cells lining the middle ear begin to produce a runny fluid, which can get thicker as it fills the middle ear.

With fluid blocking the middle ear, it becomes harder for sound to pass to the inner ear, making quieter sounds difficult to hear. It can be like listening to the world with both fingers stuck in your ears. It is hard work - try it for yourself!

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