Speech and language development
Children with glue ear may experience some delay in their speech and language development, particularly if their loss of hearing is prolonged and occurs before the age of three.
However, in most cases, the delay is only temporary, and children usually catch up with their peers once their hearing returns to normal.
One study looked at how children with an early history of glue ear performed at school. They found no significant differences when compared with other children of the same age.
Acute ear infection
An acute ear infection (otitis media) is a common complication of glue ear. It develops when bacteria infect the fluid inside the middle ear.
Symptoms of otitis media in children include:
- ear pain
- crying more than usual
- problems sleeping
- having a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
- a discharge of fluid or pus from the ear
About four out of five cases of otitis media will pass within two to three days without the need for treatment.
Antibiotics can be used if symptoms are particularly severe.
Read more about the treatment of otitis media.
Tympanosclerosis
Tympanosclerosis is a term that describes the slight thickening of the eardrum tissue. It is a common complication in children with glue ear who were treated with grommets. It occurs in around one in four cases.
It is uncertain whether the thickening of the ear drum is due to the grommets, glue ear itself, or a combination of both.
A small amount of hearing loss is the most common symptom of tympanosclerosis. However, it is usually so mild that it is barely noticeable. When hearing loss is more severe, surgery may be required to reconstruct the ear drum.
Perforation
If glue ear is complicated by infection, there is a small risk that pus can form inside the middle ear. The pus can put pressure on the ear causing a hole (perforation) to develop in the ear drum.
A perforated ear drum is an uncommon complication of glue ear, occurring in an estimated 1 in 50 cases.
Having a perforated ear drum can lead to some loss of hearing. However, in most cases the ear drum heals by itself, within six to eight weeks.
In the remaining cases, a perforated ear drum can be treated using a type of minor surgery called myringoplasty where tissue is used to seal the hole in the ear drum.
Read more about the treatment of perforated eardrum.
