What are the signs of glue ear?

Children with glue ear experience differing degrees of hearing loss. There may be no loss of hearing at all, or it may be quite severe.

The level of hearing may also change from day to day. Parents should watch out for the following signs (but remember that not every child affected will display all the signs):

• Children with glue ear may appear inattentive or prone to daydreaming. They may seem to be “hearing only when they want to”.
• Children may turn up the TV or say “pardon”, “eh?” or “what?” more than usual. They may mishear words when not looking at the speaker and fail to hear sounds from outside their field of vision.
• Some children talk too loudly - others talk less. They may mispronounce words or speak less clearly than normal.
• Ear infections, which often come before and sometimes follow glue ear, can cause discomfort and pain, making children fretful.
• Some children become quiet and withdrawn or anxious as a result of their difficulty hearing when with a group of people.
• Having to concentrate hard to hear what people are saying is very tiring, so children may be particularly grumpy and tired by the end of the day.
• Not hearing properly can frustrate children and they may become over-active or have temper tantrums, especially when they are tired.
• Children may become unsettled at school or nursery and feel left out of some activities.
• Children may ask for things to be repeated, or misunderstand instructions or appear lost when asked to do something.
• Children may have difficulty following what is being said in noisy environments or large rooms.
• Some children may appear to have a hearing ability that changes from month to month, especially in winter.