Glue ear research
Many studies have tried to find out what factors make a child more at risk of getting glue ear.
Researchers have been trying to identify those risk factors most likely to result in more persistent glue ear, and to use that information, in conjunction with new biological discoveries, to develop new treatment methods.
Deafness Research UK is supporting research which is investigating the link between gastric reflux and glue ear.
The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the throat. In children this tube is angled differently than it is in adults, which means that when stomach juices come up into the throat (gastric reflux), they can reach the middle ear more easily, where they can cause damage. It is therefore possible that in cases where glue ear is persistent, it may be due to an allergic inflammation in response to the damage caused by gastric reflux.
This research should increase our understanding of the causes of glue ear and enable the development of new diagnostic tests, as well as new treatments, which in the future may reduce the need for surgical intervention (grommets).
Deafness Research UK is also aiming to ensure that children receive the most effective treatment for glue ear. At present, there is uncertainty among health professionals about what kind of treatment is most effective. Some studies have shown that hearing improves in children with glue ear when grommets are fitted and that many children experience further benefit if their adenoids are removed. However, the size and range of these benefits may not be worth the cost and the small degree of risk in a child who is mildly affected.
Research at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, some of it funded by Deafness Research UK, is helping specialists to decide what treatment is best for each child. As part of this research, a recent study showed that children who received grommet insertion and underwent an adenoidectomy were less likely to return for further ENT care. This suggests that a combined approach may be a more effective way of preventing recurrences of glue ear.
