A Clear Guide to Glue Ear
Expert Management of Glue Ear
Glue ear commonly affects children and adults when fluid collects behind the eardrum, causing muffled hearing or pressure. It settles with time and treatment. Urgent review is needed if hearing loss worsens suddenly, pain or discharge develops, balance problems appear, speech delays emerge, or symptoms follow infection, injury, or persist beyond recovery.
Middle Ear Fluid
An Overview of Glue Ear
Glue ear occurs when thick fluid builds up in the middle ear space behind the eardrum. This fluid prevents sound from moving freely, leading to reduced hearing, a blocked sensation, or ear pressure. It often follows a cold, ear infection, or eustachian tube dysfunction, which interferes with normal drainage from the middle ear.
The condition is common in children but can affect adults, particularly during periods of nasal congestion or sinus problems. Hearing levels may fluctuate as fluid changes. Glue ear usually improves as the middle ear clears, but persistent fluid can affect hearing clarity, communication, and speech development if not monitored or treated appropriately.
Pinpointing the Cause
Diagnosing Glue Ear
When to Get Checked
Glue ear often resolves on its own, but some symptoms suggest closer review is needed to protect hearing and development.
You should get assessed if hearing loss persists beyond a few weeks, worsens suddenly, affects one ear more than the other, or is associated with ear pain, discharge, balance problems, speech delay, behavioural changes, or learning difficulties. A review is also important if symptoms persist after repeated infections or injuries, or if they do not improve with initial treatment.
How We Assess Glue Ear
Our specialist begins by exploring the full story behind symptoms. We further ask when hearing changes started, whether they fluctuate, and if there is a history of colds, infections, allergies, or nasal congestion. At Harley AVM, we also look at speech, concentration, balance, and sleep, particularly in children, to understand how middle ear fluid is affecting daily function.
Assessment is tailored to the individual and may include pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex threshold testing, eustachian tube function assessment, otoacoustic emissions, speech audiometry, and speech-in-noise tests. Our senior audiovestibular physician reviews all results, ensuring decisions are based on both test findings and real-world impact.
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DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Specialist Tests to Assess Hearing, Balance and Inner Ear Health
Harley Street Specialists in Hearing, Dizziness & Balance
Specialist Care for Glue Ear
Every Glue Ear case is different. Your consultant will create a tailored plan to address your specific symptoms and lifestyle – when it started, how it affects your day, and which tests and treatments are right for you.