Private glue ear treatment - 4yo

[Mumof305]

Has anyone had experience of glue ear treatment privately? My 4 yo for the last few months has been struggling to hear us, needing tv louder, needing us to repeat ourselves etc. we saw the GP and she said looks like her ears were bulging which could be glue ear. We have private insurance so are seeing an ENT consultant.
does anyone have experience for what happens next please? We haven’t had a hearing test yet, so assuming the consultant can facilitate that (we’re seeing them at a Spire paediatric hospital).
I read that the NHS often just say to wait and see, is that likely the same for private or will they be more proactive?
thank you

If its any help i took my ds to a private ear specialist who cleaned his ear wax, he has narrow ear canals and they tend to get blocked. Best 60.pounds ive ever spent. NHS required a massive waiting list

Yes, it's very easy with private insurance/treatment: they will do a hearing test, and if any issues may recommend grommets to be put in. We had this done at 4 also, and it has made a big difference. It's an easy procedure and the grommets fall out after a few months by themselves. Kids often have fluid build up behind the eardrum from the historic infections.

I would get a private referral if you can. My dc had regular hospital appointments due to keeping an eye on glue ear, also rotten back teeth very young, which was apparently linked. Now as a young adult has been diagnosed with vertigo and progressive hearing loss, in that same ear.

They might look at grommets. Keep the tubes open better. Mine had adenoids removed at same time.

He was five when had it done. Made a big difference to hearing but took longer to distinguish sound and to know what to listen to, especially in noisy environments.

I have come across lots of children who have had grommets inserted while working in a healthcare setting. My question to parents is always "have you noticed a difference?" Some say "yes" and some say "no".

In my training I was taught that 25% of all young children (I cannot remember the age range, I am retired) can be identified as having glue ear at any time.

So from those two points if it were any of my grandchildren I would be wanting an assessment - wait and see for 3 months and then reassess. It might have resolved but if not, then surgery is a good option.

If the child has a hearing loss during the wait and see period a hearing aid is worth a consideration.

We had a private assessment with a consultant. DD had very severe hearing loss from glue ear, and we were told she definitely needed grommets, especially as she was due to start school. She then had adenoids and tonsils out and grommets in on the NHS. This was years ago, not sure if you can still switch between private and NHS in this way. But basically having a proper assessment with a consultant gave us a clear idea of the impact of the problem. Good luck, hope you can resolve it easily.

DD had grommets fitted privately. The NHS waiting list was two and a half years here at that time and she was in Y1 so we didn't want to wait. It was very smooth, she could hear immediately and a couple of years later they came out naturally. I am very glad we did it. She's an adult now, and has had no further problems.

Thank you for your replies - that’s really helpful! We have a private consultant appointment in 2 weeks. She hasn’t had a formal ear test yet so assume that the consultant will order that be done through them too and go from there!

did the consultant diagnose the glue ear or did they need a hearing test also? I’m hoping we can stay with the private hospital for any treatment, but my insurance doesn’t cover “hearing aids” but hopefully if grommets were needed, that they would be covered

GP initially diagnosed but said wait and see. Consultant confirmed and - critically - tsb the hearing tests.