Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

1 2

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Anyone had child investigated for GLUE EAR and it all be ok???

40 replies

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 14:31

Ds (just turned 3) has been to Audiology this morning for a follow up hearing test due to concerns I've had. His hearing is fine (although selective at times like it can be with toddlers ) but I was concerned as when we went in Jan, they told us to come back in 3 months for another check as certain things they wanted to see if improved.

Been back today and they've now referred him to Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist and a hearing assessment. On the form I have for today it says this:

Mild/Moderate hearing loss in left ear
Evidence of Middle Ear Effusion in left ear
Evidence of Eustachian Tube dysfunction (rb)

When we went in Jan I asked what sort of things they are looking out for and he said it's nothing to worry about but they do certain checks to make sure he doesn't have Glue Ear. After today's visit, I had a look at my childrens medical book under Glue Ear (as being referred) and some of this sounds like what's on this form.

I'm hoping it's not Glue Ear as I don't like the sound of what they have to do to treat it. Should I be worried or could it be something totally different?

Just wondering if anyone else's child has been referred for something similar and if so, what was the outcome???

Thanks :)

OP posts:

Report

crazydazy · 07/04/2006 14:40

My DS was also referred to ENT as he kept getting constant colds and coughs and his speech wasn't very good so they wanted to make sure his hearing was okay. His hearing was fine but they decided to remove his tonsils and adenoids as they believed this would help with the congestion and could in turn improve his speech. When he actually went for the operation I was told he would be checked for glue ear and it would be done at the same time as his tonsils/adenoids, it sounded to me like a straightforward procedure but anyway with DS they found he didn't have glue ear and also would not need grommets.

His speech has improved but still gets very congested and has had a cold for 3 weeks now!!! He was only 2 when he had his tonsils removed and it was not a nice thing to put a child through at that age, he was quite poorly afterwards.

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 14:48

Poor love. It's the thought of my baby having to have an operation and possible cut into eardrum etc. that I don't like although your ds went through lots worse :( I had grommits at 5 yrs old and I'm just paranoid about his ears I suppose. My ds doesn't have any speech problems but he does have constant colds and whenever the Dr's have checked his ears (I ask everytime we go, no matter what we go for), the Dr has said they are pink and inflamed. Even when he's just had a course of Amoxicillin. This makes me think the anti-biotics are just a waste of time.

Suppose I'll just have to wait and see.

How long ago was this for you? How is ds now? :)

OP posts:

crazydazy · 07/04/2006 14:55

Well he's almost 4 now and he had the operation when he was 2. He was in a lot of pain afterwards and his throat was very sore, I was quite regretful that I agreed to let him have his tonsils removed because he didn't get tonsillitis but they were very large but it just seemed like he was put through a lot of uneccessary pain. I hated seeing him like that.

I don't think he has benefited really in having it done but its done now.

crazydazy · 07/04/2006 14:55

Hellybelly - forgot to add DS's ears are still always inflamed and he still keeps getting ear infections too, he has had 2 this winter!!!

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 15:07

Your poor ds, not nice to feel he went through that for nothing :(

Hopefully my ds's ears will be fine and it's just a case of paranoid mother syndrome , it's just that he's had 2 or 3 ear infections in the 3 months between seeing them in Jan and seeing them again today! And even when he's been on anti-biotics, it's still not clear. Oh well, will wait for the letter to come through saying when his appointment is!

OP posts:

HenniPenni · 07/04/2006 15:09

Helly, have you thought about cutting out and replacing dairy products with non-dairy products? This is a tried and tested method as it is thought that glue ear/congestion is not helped by dairy products.

My DD3 has grommets fitted for glue ear and also has allergies and when they eventually come out this is the road we will be going down as I don't want her to have grommets again (they have however spoken about hearing aids).

Her speech improved rapidly after the grommits where fitted.

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 15:14

OMG, could that be the cause . I have no experience with this and didn't have a clue about the diary thing but he does drink a lot of milk (more than he needs but it doesn't affect his food intake so I've never been bothered - brought up thinking milk was good). I always give him small chunk of cheese with his lunch.

What could I do to change his diet to help? Apart from reduce milk intake of course! (or alternatives????)

Cheers mate :)

OP posts:

HenniPenni · 07/04/2006 15:18

Glad to help Helly, you could change the dairy products to soya milk products and see if that helps, look at alternative calcium rich sources such as sardines etc.

Got to go to school, back soon with more ideas.

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 15:23

Great thanks :)

School??? Isn't it Easter break?! I'm not even childminding today as the baby I should have was taken to hospital last night :(

Bye for now :)

OP posts:

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 15:26

BTW, something funny for you - as ds would never take the anti-biotics for his ear infections, the Dr and Pharmacist suggested I put it in his milk so he can't taste it. So when I was trying to reduce his milk intake, I was suddenly giving him it 3 times a day to make sure he got his medicine!! Silly eh!

OP posts:

Yorkiegirl · 07/04/2006 15:33

DD2 has just been referred to ENT yesterday as she has had recurrent ear infections and her ears look to be full of crap. GP thinks she has glue ear and will need grommets.

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 15:36

:(

As said before, I had grommets when I was 5 but mine was for build up of wax.

Let me know when you get your appointment through so I can keep my fingers crossed for you! I'm hoping I'm over worrying with ds (rather look silly for that than not worry and then have to see him go through an op!)

OP posts:

Yorkiegirl · 07/04/2006 15:40

apparently tho the grommet op is very straightforward. I am telling myself that anyhow!

KBear · 07/04/2006 15:40

Hellybelly - WOW - spooky....

DS (4) was diagnosed with glue ear 6 weeks ago. I originally took him to gp because he is very nasal and has a lot of catarrh and always needs a tissue.

He also snores and struggles a bit with eating as he can't breathe through his nose very well.

Anyway, got referred to ENT. He said it's glue ear and that DS is probably quite deaf. I was shocked at this as he has shown no signs of deafness, ie he hears when we speak to him even from a different room, he doesn't need the tv loud, his teachers at pre-school haven't noticed anything etc. The ENT put him on Trim....something, an antibiotic, for 6 weeks.

In the meantime we have also taken him to a cranial osteopath (who is wonderful and I have everything faith in him).

Went back to hearing test and meeting with ENT last night.

The glue ear in his left ear has gone, his right ear is improving and his hearing is absolutely fine.

I was soooo happy I can't tell you.

So, my advice is to check out a cranial osteopath and see if that helps before going down the surgery route. Also I am going to try to cut dairy out of his diet and see if that helps his catarrh.

Feel free to CAT me if you want to chat about it. I'm in SE London/Kent so if you're near and want a recommendation for a cranial osteo, let me know.

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 16:18

Yorkiegirl - it is but I don't like the sound of a cut to ear drum and just the whole thing about him being put to sleep so young. It's fine though, don't let me scare you - I've had it done and afterwards I wouldn't even have noticed (just quite sick recovering from anaesthetic). Just me and being over-protective!!

Kbear - I can't CAT as they now charge but I'm on MSN in case you are?

I'm in Reading so not that near you but my friend has just been so may ask for recommendation from her! :)

OP posts:

KBear · 07/04/2006 16:22

How do I find you on MSN? [MSN Newbie emoticon]

foxinsocks · 07/04/2006 16:25

we are going on Monday to see the ENT consultant about dd's ears

I think a lot of her problems are due to a massive build-up of wax. They can't even see in her ears there's so much in there so I'm hoping they can sort that out first.

Helly, has someone had a good look in his ears (GP?)?

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 16:25

my a/c is helencorbett @ boltblue dot com

OP posts:

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 16:27

He's had 2 45 mins assessments at the Audiology unit at the hospital. Today was the 2nd and they are referring him due to pressure in ear. Don't think it's a wax problem - that's what I had!

Good luck with DD's appointment!

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 07/04/2006 16:30

thanks

don't forget to ask how long the referral will take - I was amazed how long the waiting lists are for paediatric ENTs

Hope he is ok - I also hate the thought of the operation

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 16:33

I asked if I would be on a long waiting list and he said no, should hear within a month. Fingers crossed though!!

OP posts:

HellyBelly · 07/04/2006 16:34

p.s. had my op when I was 5 and remember them coming out and guess what - I still have the grommets all these years later, they are stuck to a piece of paper

OP posts:

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

foxinsocks · 07/04/2006 16:35

oh good, perhaps because you're already in the hospital system

(our GP wrote in his referral letter that although dd's hearing loss was quite severe, he thought it was a trivial matter and actually apologised for referring us!!! - I was furious and I'm convinced that's why we seemed to be put to the bottom of the queue!)

foxinsocks · 07/04/2006 16:35

eewwww!

Enid · 07/04/2006 16:36

dd2 has glue ear and mild hearing loss

they assess her regularly but as her speech is very good no grommets mentioned

obv if she gets a cold her hearing goes to pieces but we will see how she is in the summer

Flip

1 2

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.