Glue ear is where the empty middle part of the ear canal fills up with fluid. It’s more common in children but adults can sometimes get it too.
The main symptom of glue ear is temporary loss of hearing in 1 or both ears.
Glue ear often gets better on its own. If needed, a GP may suggest treatment to drain the fluid, such as blowing up a small balloon using your nose.
The main symptom of glue ear is temporary loss of hearing in 1 or both ears.
The most common symptom of glue ear is temporary hearing loss. It can affect both ears at the same time.
Other symptoms may include:
Glue ear is much more common in children, but adults with glue ear have the same symptoms.
Glue ear often gets better on its own. If needed, a GP may suggest treatment to drain the fluid, such as blowing up a small balloon using your nose.
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:
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.