{"id":4411,"date":"2023-04-03T13:49:10","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T13:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/?p=4411"},"modified":"2019-07-05T21:29:14","modified_gmt":"2019-07-05T18:29:14","slug":"otitis-media-with-effusion-glue-ear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/otitis-media-with-effusion-glue-ear\/","title":{"rendered":"Otitis Media with Effusion (glue ear)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/otitis-media-with-effusion-glue-ear\/#Causes_of_Glue_ear\" >Causes of\u00a0Glue ear<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/otitis-media-with-effusion-glue-ear\/#Symptoms\" >Symptoms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/otitis-media-with-effusion-glue-ear\/#Diagnosis\" >Diagnosis\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/otitis-media-with-effusion-glue-ear\/#Treating_Glue_ear\" >Treating\u00a0Glue ear<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Glue Ear is a common childhood condition in which the middle ear becomes filled with fluid. The medical term for glue ear is\u00a0otitis media with effusion\u00a0(OME).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">It&#8217;s estimated that one in five children around the age of two will be affected by glue ear at any given time.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Causes_of_Glue_ear\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: verdana, geneva;\">Causes of\u00a0Glue ear<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">While it is not known exactly what causes glue ear, several things have been identified that may increase the risk of children developing the condition.With glue ear, the Eustachian tube seems to lose the ability to drain away the mucus.\u00a0The mucus builds up inside the ear, which leads to glue ear.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">The reasons for this loss of function are still unclear, but some suggestions include:<\/span><\/div>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">changes in air pressure inside the ear\u00a0that lead to a blockage in the Eustachian tube<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">inflammation of the Eustachian tube\u00a0caused by allergic rhinitis, infection or irritants such as cigarette smoke, which causes the tube to narrow<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">gastric fluids from the stomach that leak up\u00a0through the throat and into the Eustachian tube<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">inflammation and swelling of the adenoid glands\u00a0(small lumps of tissue located at the back of the throat that form part of a child&#8217;s immune system).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Other reasons for glue ear include:<\/span><\/div>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">being bottle-fed\u00a0rather than breastfed<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">having contact with lots of other children, such as at a nursery (this may be because of a higher risk of infection)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">cleft palate, (a birth defect where a child has a split in the roof of their mouth)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Down&#8217;s syndrome\u00a0(a genetic disorder that causes learning difficulties and disrupts physical development)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">cystic fibrosis, (agenetic condition that causes the lungs to clog up with thick, sticky mucus)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Symptoms\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: verdana, geneva;\">Symptoms<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Glue ear is often not obvious and it usually goes undetected.\u00a0Often the first thing a parent notices is hearing loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Signs that your child may be having problems hearing include:\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">struggling to keep up with conversations and seems inattentive<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">becoming aggravated because they are trying harder to hear<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">regularly turning up the volume on the TV<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Other symptoms that may occur include:<\/span><\/div>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">ear pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">disturbed sleep<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">a feeling of fullness in the ear (this is unusual for young children to articulate)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">ringing in the ear (occasionally mentioned by older children)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">balance problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expressable.com\/services\/speech-delay\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">speech delay<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">recurrent acute otitis media superimposed on underlying glue ear.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Whether or not fluid is present can be confirmed by an ear examination.<\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"width: 240px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/30.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Glue ear.ent\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/30.jpg\" alt=\"Glue ear.ent\" width=\"230\" height=\"231\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Glue ear<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diagnosis\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: verdana, geneva;\">Diagnosis\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Otoscopy and ear microscopy is used to evaluate the changes in the external ear canal and eardrum.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Other tests, such as tympanometry, may also be used to examine the middle ear.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Tympanometry measures\u00a0pressure differences between the middle ear and outer ear by measuring how easily the eardrum vibrates back and forth.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">To measure whether the fluid is causing hearing loss, a separate hearing test or <a href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/neuro-otology-exam-lab\/neuro-otology-examination-lab\/\">audiometry<\/a> is necessary.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Treating_Glue_ear\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: verdana, geneva;\">Treating\u00a0Glue ear<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Most cases of glue ear don&#8217;t require treatment as the condition will improve spontaneously, usually within three months.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/31.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Grommet insertion.ent\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/31-300x289.jpg\" alt=\"Grommet insertion.ent\" width=\"300\" height=\"289\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grommet insertion<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Treatment is normally only recommended when symptoms last longer than three months\u00a0and the hearing loss is thought to be significant enough to interfere with a child&#8217;s speech and language development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">In these circumstances, glue ear can usually be treated using minor surgery, which involves placing small tubes (grommets) in the ear to help drain away the fluid.<\/span><\/p>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica;\">Sometimes adenoid hyperplasia may cause obstruction of the Eustachian tubes and therefore be the reason for glue ear.\u00a0In these cases adenoidectomy is performed and very often\u00a0at the same time as a grommet insertion.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row pix_padding_top=&#8221;pix-top-no-padding&#8221; pix_padding_bottom=&#8221;pix-bottom-no-padding&#8221; gradient_colors=&#8221;%5B%7B%7D%5D&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_btn title=&#8221;Contact us&#8221; color=&#8221;turquoise&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; i_icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fa fa-phone&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:%2Fen%2Fcontacts||target:%20_blank|&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_btn title=&#8221;Book an appointment&#8221; color=&#8221;turquoise&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; i_icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fa fa-calendar&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:%2Fen%2Fappointment||target:%20_blank|&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_btn title=&#8221;Get directions&#8221; color=&#8221;turquoise&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; i_icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fa fa-map-marker&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fdir%2F%2FEyiasis%2BENT%2BAcupuncture%2C%2BGeor.%2BDrosini%2B16%2C%2BKifisia%2B145%2B62%2F%4038.0718225%2C23.8122364%2C15z%2Fdata%3D!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x14a19edf40479729%3A0xa4593bd0e0aed04b!2m2!1d23.8122364!2d38.0718225||target:%20_blank|&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Glue ear is a common childhood condition in which the middle ear becomes filled with fluid. The medical term for glue ear is\u00a0otitis media with effusion\u00a0(OME)&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[150,151,152,143],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ent-the-ear","category-neuro-otology","category-neuro-otology-hearing-loss","category-pediatric-ent"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}