What can you do about glue ear
Treatment options will depend on the degree and impact of the hearing loss and not all children need treatment.
Non-interventional treatment with hearing aid amplification is an option with the main provision being in the NHS but this may be difficult to organise logistically `
The Otovent device is a balloon that is inflated by blowing through one nostril and this in turn attempts to open the eustachian tube with positive pressure. This can be challenging for younger children and is generally only possible in children >4 years.
The use of long term antibiotics and nasal steroids has not been shown to be effective and is not recommended
A grommet is a plastic tube that is placed across the tympanic membrane to allow ventilation of the middle ear
This is the most definitive treatment of glue ear but requires a short general anaesthetic
