How can glue ear affect my child?

Glue ear can affect children by causing a hearing loss. In younger children (around 2-3 years old) there may be an impact on speech development. Parents may notice that their child’s speech is not so clear and that they may miss the beginnings and ends of words and mix up certain consonants such as "b" and "d."

 Behavioural issues can also occur, with children becoming easily frustrated and tired,  "losing it" and withdrawing from larger groups of children.

School teachers may notice that children may be easily distracted and have trouble following instructions especially in group situations such as in swimming classes. Some children experience loudness intolerance particularly with the hoover and hairdryers