Nursery World - Sound advice

Practitioners need to be aware of children with a common hearing problem, says Sarah Etwell of the National Deaf Children's Society While most people know how common ear infections are in children, many don't realise that such problems are often related to a condition called glue ear. It causes a build-up of fluid in the middle ear, leading to a temporary deafness, and is one of the most common reasons for children under three to be taken to the doctor.

While most people know how common ear infections are in children, many don't realise that such problems are often related to a condition called glue ear. It causes a build-up of fluid in the middle ear, leading to a temporary deafness, and is one of the most common reasons for children under three to be taken to the doctor.

According to the Cochrane Review 2005, around 20 per cent of children between one and three years of age will have glue ear at any one time. In that age range, 80 per cent of children will get glue ear at some point.

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