Glue ear is not always treated. Your GP will usually wait and see if the symptoms get better on their own.
This is because there's no effective medicine for glue ear, and it often clears up on its own within 3 months.
They may still monitor your child for up to a year in case the symptoms change or get worse.
Your GP may suggest trying a treatment called autoinflation while waiting for symptoms to improve. Autoinflation can help fluid in the ear to drain.
It's done by either:
- blowing up a special balloon using one nostril at a time
- swallowing while holding the nostrils closed
As autoinflation has to be done several times a day, it's not usually recommended for children under 3 years old.
If glue ear causes an ear infection, your GP may prescribe antibiotics.