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Glue ear

Glue ear causes fluid to build up in the middle ear. It's one of the most common causes of impaired hearing in young children. It is also known as secretory otitis media, otitis media with effusion, or serous otitis media.

The middle ear

The middle ear is directly behind the eardrum. It's made up of three tiny lever-like bones that carry sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. A healthy middle ear should contain air and no fluid.

The middle ear is connected to the back of the nose by a narrow channel called the Eustachian tube. This tube normally remains closed, and will only open when you yawn or swallow. Any fluid that builds up in the middle ear can be drained away by this tube. It also helps to maintain the air pressure within the middle ear.

If the Eustachian tube becomes blocked or swollen, the vacuum of air that builds up can draw fluid into the middle ear cavity from the mucus that lines the rest of the ear. At first the fluid is thin and watery, but later it can become thick and glue-like.

This glue-like substance stops three tiny bones in the ear (called the incus, malleus and stapes) from moving freely. These three bones are responsible for transmitting sound vibrations to the inner ear. If they can't transmit the vibrations, the sounds coming into the ear can be muffled.

Who gets glue ear?

Glue ear is a common condition. More than seven in 10 children have had glue ear once by the time they're four. Although people of any age can develop glue ear, it's most common in children under eight.

Glue ear affects children more often than adults because a child's Eustachian tube is smaller and more horizontal. This makes it easier for the tube to become blocked. Boys are more likely to be affected by glue ear than girls.

Reproduced under the terms of Click-Use Licence number C2009000382. The content of this page has been published under a Click-Use Licence (link this to http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/index) which covers the use of core Crown copyright information. The original material can be found on NHS Choices.