One of the ear conditions that your child is vulnerable to acquiring is glue ear. This condition is characterised by a fluid-like substance filling up the middle ear and typically occurs either when the Eustachian tube is blocked or has become progressively narrow. As a result, rather than air being present in the middle ear, fluid starts to seep in and can cause a host of hearing problems for your toddler.
Luckily, glue ear can quickly be remedied through ear surgery. Nonetheless, you have to know how to spot the symptoms of this condition so that you can seek the right medical assistance. Read this list of signs that indicate your child may be in need of glue ear surgery.
1. Your child is experiencing diminished hearing
One of the primary signs of glue ear is when your child starts to experience dulled hearing. Take note that this does not imply that they will suffer complete hearing loss. However, you may find that you have to speak louder to catch their attention or it may seem like they are ignoring you when that it is not the case.
The severity of the diminished hearing will vary from one child to the next. Moreover, the intensity may also change from one day to another. These variations are because the thickness of the fluid in your child's ear is what will determine how deteriorated their hearing will be. In addition to this, external factors such as change of weather could also make the fluid more or less viscous, and this will change your child's degree of hearing.
Overall, if your child starts to seem unresponsive to sounds, it is best to have an ENT specialist check for the underlying cause.
2. Your child is experiencing intermittent pain
While glue ear is not particularly painful, it can become debilitating for some children. And if your child cannot communicate clearly, they may not be able to alert you to the pain in their ear. It is up to you to notice any changes that may imply they are afflicted with an earache. The most common way that you could decipher this is when your toddler has suddenly picked up a habit of pulling at their earlobes. This habit typically implies they are feeling some discomfort, even if the pain is not extreme.
You should keep in mind that the longer the fluid is left undisturbed in the middle ear, the better the environment for bacteria and other microbes. Thus, your child may become especially vulnerable to other ear infections.
Share16 July 2018
Hello! My name is Edward and this is my ENT blog. ENT stands for Ear, Nose and Throat. When I developed a problem with my throat, I went to my doctor. My GP referred me to the local ENT department so I could see a specialist. I was really worried when I went into the hospital, however, I soon felt much better once I had met with the specialist. The ENT doctor performed a number of tests. He also explained to me the various possible causes of my medical complaint. Once my ENT doctor received the results, he treated the condition.