Glue Ear and the Grommet: Who needs it?
Is Glue ear even a thing? Do you really have glue in your ear ?Is that a problem? How do you get the glue out ?
It sounds strange right to have glue inside your ear, but that’s what happens in some children and adults. It’s a condition where there is a chronic accumulation of mucus(glue) in the middle ear and the mastoid air cell(the bone behind your ear) system.
Its also called serous otitis media, secretory otitis media, mucinous otitis media, glue ear, blue drum, catarrh of the middle ear.
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It’s very common in children zero to two years and can follow:
Earache and acute otitis media
Viral upper respiratory infection without earche.
Both can cause damage to the eustachian tube and retained middle ear fluids.
It can be associated with eustachian tube dysfunction, Adenoids, cleft palate(even after repair), parental smoking, allergies, and Gastro-esophageal reflux.
Its difficult to understand whether the child is hearing well at this age and its often a smart parent who notices the first symptom of decreased hearing. If a child or an adult has persistent heaviness or blocked ear with decreased hearing( most commonly conductive type), with popping sound in ear, it’s often a case of otitis media with effusion .
Diagnosis involves
An otoscopy at your ENT doctor
Pneumatic otoscopy to check mobility of thee ar drum
A Free field audiometry/Behavioural audiometry
OtoAcoustic emission
Pure Tone audiometry in children above 5 years age
Serial tympanometry where a flat B type curve indicates
Other Tests needed
Xray nose and PNS
Xray nasopharynx lateral view.
Glue ear treatment: How will the Glue ear get better?
Counseling to help parents cope better with the condition.It is a condition with a good spontaneous recovery rate. But we need the child to be in a regular follow up and parents need to be aware. If the hearing loss affects speech or schooling then other management may be needed.
Medical management which may include intranasal steroids or antibiotics
Grommet or Ventilation tubes: Let the ear breathe!
If the fluid doesn’t get dried up itself, a small slit is made in the eardrum, called Myringotomy and the fluid /glue aspirated. A small ventilation tube/grommet is inserted, which helps to create a pathway for the fluid to drain.
Once the liquid is drained, the grommet pops out. The procedure is called Myringotomy and grommet insertion, and sometimes Myringotomy may be done without grommet insertion.
Sometimes following grommet insertion, a persistent perforation can be a complication.
A myringotomy and aspiration may not improve hearing. But the grommet insertion does improve hearing levels. The effect is better with adenoidectomy, in someone with enlarged adenoids blocking the eustachian tubes. For children, this needs General anesthesia.
Do adults have Glue Ear?
Yes they can .They too will have decreased hearing,popping sound inear ,occasional mild earache,ringing sound in ear
Did you ever have a glue ear? Have you ever had your ear popping? Let me know in the comments below.
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Had no idea Glue Ear was a thing. Thanks for the insight.
When I had AOM and went to the doctor the otoscope really scared me! For almost 3 weeks I couldn’t hear properly in one ear!!! Now thankfully I am fine but very scared every time i have cold!!
I remember one of my cohort’s kids had this syndrome.
Your topics are so helpful! Thank you for sharing them. When I saw the title of this, I brought back memories of when my grandson was 5 years old, he put a popcorn kernel in his ear. His mom and dad didn’t realize it until he complained of ear pain. Surgery was needed to remove it and the surgeon gave him the kernel in a little bottle, I asked him if you was going to take it to school for show and tell. He replied, “I’m not that stupid” LOL
I have had constant popping in my right ear for years. My PCP’s that I’ve had in the past just said it was something I have to just live with. I know it affects my hearing to a degree, but not significantly. However, it’s accompanied by an almost itchy, tickling sensation whenever I swallow or yawn and the popping happens. Once the more serious medical issues being currently taken care of across the globe have settled down, I’ll discuss it with my newest PCP. Thank you for writing about this.
Is it something to be concerned about when there’s a large production or accumulation of that yellowish orange ear mucus in/on the outer ear? That’s an issue my daughter experiences.
Wax generally self drains out of the ear , if hydration and fat content in diet is adequate.
Thank you
Very helpful information. Thank you.
I think this is part of what is happening with my son. I’m glad to read more about what causes it.
I know the condition of accumulation of wax in ears but “Glue ear” is new as terminology point of view. as usual great post and you had shared all aspects of this common condition so well in this post.
This is really scary to read about, but good to know and be aware rather than panic.