Glue Ear

What Can I Do To Help My Child?

It is important that glue ear be identified as soon as possible. Until the condition is resolved, parents may wish to:

  • Make teachers and the school nurse aware of the difficulties that glue ear can cause, especially behavioral issues and temporary hearing loss
  • Suggest that the child be seated near the teacher in the classroom, in order to better understand what is being discussed in class

It also is important to ensure that children eat a balance diet, get enough exercise, and get enough sleep.

Some parents have found that cutting down on the amount of dairy products (such as milk, cream, and cheese) has helped in reducing the production of mucus in their child. But these foods are also sources of essential nutrients for children, so any reduction of dairy products should be replaced with adequate substitutes. Your child’s doctor can help with diet decisions.

How-To Information:

Here are some basic communication tips:

  • Get the child’s attention before beginning to speak
  • Make sure you face the child as much as possible
  • Keep background noise to a minimum
  • Speak clearly and maintain a normal rhythm of speech

Nice To Know:

A pinch of relief

To relieve a feeling of fullness in the ear, have your child try this simple trick: Take a deep breath, close the mouth, and try to blow air out through the nose while pinching its end firmly closed. This may help to equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the air outside after air travel, and may help open the eustachian tubes in cases of glue ear. Just be sure to warn your child not to blow too hard.

 

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