Acute and chronic ear disease (ear infections, ear discharge, glue ear)
In glue ear (Otitis media with effusion, OME) the middle ear is filled with thick, glue-like mucus. As a result the hearing is reduced. You may not realise your child has an ear problem as it is often painless.
Consider glue ear if your child:
- does not understand you or respond to sound
- does not learn to speak
Glue ear can be treated, and hearing restored with the insertion of grommets.