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Kids Health Info

Glue ear

  • Key points

    • Glue ear is caused by fluid that collects behind the eardrum, in the middle ear. It usually clears on its own with no treatment, but sometimes requires surgery to insert grommets for drainage.
    • Hearing and speech development can be affected if glue ear is persistent.

    What is glue ear?

    Ear infections are very common in small children. Most infections get better quickly and are not usually serious. The two types of ear infections often seen in children are middle ear infections (otitis media) and outer ear infections (otitis externa). Most ear infections involve the middle ear.

    Ear_diagram_KHI_-_RCH

    Figure one: Diagram of an ear.

    Every time a middle ear infection happens, fluid collects behind the ear drum. This fluid usually slowly clears by itself, but children who get frequent infections may have fluid stay behind the eardrum for longer. This is called glue ear. Glue ear may last for many weeks or months, making it harder for your child to hear. Occasionally, glue ear can temporarily affect language development.

    Signs and symptoms of glue ear

    Glue ear is not an infection, but usually follows one or more middle ear infections. Signs and symptoms of glue ear can include:

    • problems hearing – children may want to have things repeated, talk loudly or have the television up loud. Parents or teachers may notice this, especially in noisy places such as classrooms. In smaller children, hearing difficulties may delay or stall their language development.
    • some pressure or pain in the ear.
    • irritability or problems sleeping.
    • problems with balance.

    When to see a doctor

    If your child has frequent ear infections or their hearing appears to be affected by glue ear, they should have their hearing tested by a hearing specialist (an audiologist). Your GP may also refer them to see a paediatrician or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.

    Treatment

    • If your child is not bothered by the glue ear, no treatment is needed. It usually goes away by itself over time.
    • If the glue ear still persists and is affecting your child's hearing over many months, your doctor or ENT specialist may suggest surgery. This is a quick operation during which small tubes (called grommets) are put into your child's ear. These tubes help fluid drain from the middle ear.

    Care at home

    • If your child is in pain, you can give them pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. See our fact sheet Pain relief for children.
    • If your child’s doctor prescribes ear drops, have your child lie down with the affected ear facing the ceiling. Put the drops in and keep your child in the same position for a few minutes, to allow the drops to be absorbed (or place a cotton wool ball in the ear to keep the drops in the canal).
    • If your child has hearing troubles that don't improve in the weeks following a middle ear infection, or continues to be irritable, go back to the GP as your child may have glue ear.
    • Your child may sleep better at night if they are propped up on two or more pillows (only do this if your child is old enough to use pillows).
    • Don’t allow anyone to smoke in the home or around your child. Cigarette smoke has been shown to stop fluids from being able to drain from the eardrum.
    • Most children outgrow glue ear and have perfect and undamaged ears with normal hearing when they get older.

    Common questions about glue ear

    Can my child go swimming with glue ear?

    If your child has glue ear, it is okay for them to swim unless if their ear drum is perforated. Discuss this with your GP or specialist.

    If my child has speech problems caused by glue ear, will surgery help their speech improve?

    If language delay is caused by difficulty hearing from glue ear, then correcting the glue ear often results in rapid improvements in language. Most children catch up quickly with their peers and the delay is completely corrected.

    Should I clean my child’s ears to prevent a build-up of wax?

    No. There is no need to remove the wax in a child’s ears. The body is able to do this by itself. Large clumps of wax that are visible at the opening of the ear canal can be removed, but earbuds should not be used in children.

    For more information


    Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency department, with input from Otolaryngology. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

    Reviewed May 2018

    Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

Updated July 2025

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