How common is glue ear?
Approximately 70% of all children will have had glue ear by the age of four years. It is much more common among children under eight than other people. Adults are much less likely to develop the condition because their Eustachian tube is bigger and less horizontal than a child’s. • Glue ear is more common in boys than girls. • Glue ear is more common in homes where somebody regularly smokes indoors. • Children who have frequent coughs, colds or ear infections are also more likely to develop glue ear. • If a child has a sibling who has/had glue ear they are more likely to develop it themselves. • Bottle fed babies are more likely to develop glue ear, compared to breast fed babies.
