Tackle glue ear head on this winter

2 November 2004

Nearly three quarters of a million children in the UK will suffer from glue ear this winter and over a hundred thousand will have marked and persisting hearing problems.

The number of children affected annually is highlighted by the charity Deafness Research UK, which today launches a campaign to help parents of children with glue ear through the winter months, when it is most common.

Glue ear is hard to prevent because it is triggered by infections passed on through contact with friends and family. However, parents can reduce the impact of the temporary hearing problems caused by glue ear; these can be frustrating for children, and, in prolonged or severe cases, can even affect their development.

Many parents looking back on their child's history of glue ear wish they had been given better information earlier on. Working with the UK's leading glue ear researchers, Deafness Research UK has produced a new leaflet describing communication tactics reported by parents as helpful. Top Tips for Helping your Child Through Glue Ear gives a list of tactics to use to ensure children hear, and understand, what is being said to them.

Glue ear is extremely common (over 80% of children get it at some stage) and surgery offers the only known effective treatment. In fact, glue ear is the most common reason why children undergo surgery.

Some years ago the NHS adopted a policy of 'watchful waiting' with cautious referral so as not to exceed health service capacity. As a consequence of this, and a lack of agreed criteria, GPs vary in their perception of the point at which a child should be referred to an ENT specialist. This has led to delays in getting children with persistent glue ear referred.

"But," says Professor Mark Haggard, Deafness Research UK's glue ear adviser, "parents need not be powerless in the face of glue ear.

"Because glue ear strikes at the critical nursery and primary school years, it can affect a child's learning, reading ability and behaviour. It is crucial for parents and teachers to understand the condition and the tactics they can follow. We found a surprising proportion of parents were unaware of the simple tactics of attracting a child's attention or bending down and facing a child when talking. Steps like this can lessen the impact of glue ear."

Deafness Research UK produces a range of information on glue ear covering tests, treatments and research. A separate factsheet is also available for teachers.

Parents can obtain a copy of the leaflet, as well as other information about glue ear and childhood deafness, from Deafness Research UK's free Information Service.

• Freephone 0808 808 2222
• email info@deafnessresearch.org.uk
• website www.deafnessresearch.org.uk

Note to editors

• Deafness Research UK is the UK's medical charity for deaf and hard of hearing people. It is currently funding over 30 research projects across the UK, covering all aspects of hearing research, with more in the pipeline.
• Glue ear is a build up of a sticky fluid in the middle ear space which occurs after ear infections, stops the eardrum moving freely and so impairs children's hearing. The hearing loss caused by glue ear often makes children frustrated and tired. Signs vary with age, but an affected child may appear inattentive, have temper tantrums, or become quiet and withdrawn because of his/her hearing difficulty. Many become unsettled at school if they cannot follow or participate in classroom activities.

For more information on glue ear, research or case studies, please contact: Joanne Keane, Deafness Research UK Communications, phone 020 7837 8092, mobile 0779 2929 731, email joanne.keane@deafnessresearch.org.uk

- - ends - -