What happens with glue ear?
A child gets glue ear when a thick, sticky fluid builds up inside his or her ear.[4] • Normally the middle ear is filled with air. But when you have glue ear, this area fills with fluid. The fluid is a bit like the catarrh that can get stuck in your throat. • The fluid can stop the eardrum and the three small bones from moving freely, so they can’t carry sounds to the inner ear. • This may mean your child can’t hear properly. • Your child may get fluid inside one or both ears. About 40 percent of children with glue ear have it in both ears. • In many children glue ear clears up after a short period. But in some children the fluid doesn’t go away. About 4 in 5 children still have glue ear after a month, and over half still have glue ear after three months.[1] [2] About 1 in 20 children still have glue ear after a year.[2] [5] • Between 3 and 4 in every 10 children who get glue ear once will keep on getting it.
