 | What is glue ear? Glue ear is one of the most common childhood illnesses. It is expected that most children will have at least one episode of glue ear in their preschool years. Glue ear results from a build-up of fluid in the middle ear causing pressure on the eardrum. The source of irritation comes from the child not being able to clear this fluid that may have bacteria or virus in it from because of colds or chest infections. For some, this turns in to repeated episodes that are most commonly treated by antibiotics and potentially grommets if the glue ear is persistent. |
What do I look out for?
Not all children present with the “glue” in their ears that is commonly associated with glue ear. The “glue” can build up inside the ear creating pressure on the ear drum. Some common signs of glue ear are
Not all children present with the “glue” in their ears that is commonly associated with glue ear. The “glue” can build up inside the ear creating pressure on the ear drum. Some common signs of glue ear are
- Your child may be experiencing hearing difficulties. If you notice anything uncharacteristic about their behaviour that may be related to situations where you have expected them to respond to an audio cue, it is worth investigating further.
- If your child has repeated colds or upper respiratory irritations this may result in an episode of glue ear. The bacteria or virus from these infections may find its way to the fluid in the ear.
- Your child may begin to constantly nurse their ear. Playing, scratching, cradling their ear is one way your child is communicating that there may be experiencing some ear pain.
- Discharge from the ear is a sure sign which is not necessarily accompanied with any other symptoms.
How can osteopathy help?
Osteopathic treatment can help encourage drainage of the build-up of fluid from the middle. Using gentle hands on treatments the osteopath may choose to work on your child’s head, neck, abdomen or lower body. All techniques used will be to encourage drainage through lymphatic pathways. Research shows that children who have been prescribed antibiotics and or have grommets have fewer repeat episodes of glue ear when osteopathic treatment is also administered (1); therefore potentially reducing the amount of antibiotics your child need to take.
Recent research regarding the experience of osteopathy for glue ear highlights some of the experiences parents had when their child was being treated by an osteopath (2).
I thought, "Oh, he is never gonna lay still for this guy." So I got his favourite blanket, and sit him up. He was about three or four months or five months old. Somewhere in between that time. And I laid him on the little bed and then the osteopath just put his hands on him and Joe* just went... And that was just it. He instantly stopped. I'll never forget it, he instantly stopped. And he just relaxed over about a period of a few minutes. He just relaxed. God, it was amazing. Amazing. It was amazing.
When the hands are on his head, he used to just go... He seems to be like floating. So Joe asked me to go there a couple of times to the osteopath.
I trusted the osteopath, I really trusted the type of treatment, and because we could see results and it was all being explained to us, it was great.
*names have been changed to protect privacy.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have questions about glue ear or if you think osteopathy could benefit your child.
1. Steele KM, Carreiro JE, Haug VJ, Conte JA, Ridpath LC. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on middle ear effusion following acute otitis media in young children: A pilot study. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2014;114(6):436-46.
2. McCulloch JM. Do you hear me? The caregivers experience of osteopathy for their child's otitis media Unitec Institue of Technology 2017.
Osteopathic treatment can help encourage drainage of the build-up of fluid from the middle. Using gentle hands on treatments the osteopath may choose to work on your child’s head, neck, abdomen or lower body. All techniques used will be to encourage drainage through lymphatic pathways. Research shows that children who have been prescribed antibiotics and or have grommets have fewer repeat episodes of glue ear when osteopathic treatment is also administered (1); therefore potentially reducing the amount of antibiotics your child need to take.
Recent research regarding the experience of osteopathy for glue ear highlights some of the experiences parents had when their child was being treated by an osteopath (2).
I thought, "Oh, he is never gonna lay still for this guy." So I got his favourite blanket, and sit him up. He was about three or four months or five months old. Somewhere in between that time. And I laid him on the little bed and then the osteopath just put his hands on him and Joe* just went... And that was just it. He instantly stopped. I'll never forget it, he instantly stopped. And he just relaxed over about a period of a few minutes. He just relaxed. God, it was amazing. Amazing. It was amazing.
When the hands are on his head, he used to just go... He seems to be like floating. So Joe asked me to go there a couple of times to the osteopath.
I trusted the osteopath, I really trusted the type of treatment, and because we could see results and it was all being explained to us, it was great.
*names have been changed to protect privacy.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have questions about glue ear or if you think osteopathy could benefit your child.
1. Steele KM, Carreiro JE, Haug VJ, Conte JA, Ridpath LC. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on middle ear effusion following acute otitis media in young children: A pilot study. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2014;114(6):436-46.
2. McCulloch JM. Do you hear me? The caregivers experience of osteopathy for their child's otitis media Unitec Institue of Technology 2017.
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