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Operations for glue ear

Grommet surgery

Grommet surgery involves a small operation under general anaesthetic where fluid is drained from the middle ear and a ventilation tube (grommet) is inserted in the eardrum to allow air into the middle ear.

Removing the fluid from the middle ear helps the sound vibrations transfer to the inner ear to improve hearing, and the grommet keeps the air flowing into the middle ear to stop the glue ear returning.

Who is grommet surgery suitable for?

Grommet surgery is an important treatment for a small minority of children with long term glue ear in both ears, and with speech, language and educational development problems. 

  • Watchful waiting is the best management strategy as middle ear fluid will clear up on its own in 90% of  children in 12 months.
How effective is grommet surgery?

Grommet surgery is an effective, short-term treatment for glue ear.  Hearing levels are improved for the first 6-9 months after the operation, but by 12-18 months there is no difference between those children who did and did not have surgery (children who don't have surgery get better on their own).

  • Grommet surgery does not cure the underlying cause of glue ear.  Instead it improves hearing to allow for normal learning and development whilst children grow out of glue ear. 
What are the problems associated with grommet surgery?

Having grommet surgery means that your child will need to have a general anaethetic. Often children will have ear discharge after surgery, and there is a small risk of scarring or permanant perforation of the eardrum. 

Grommets normally fall out of the eardrum after 6-12 months and in up to 50% of cases another operation is needed within 5 years.

Adenoid surgery

Adenoids are small clumps of glandular material at the back of your nose and are part of your immune system used to fight infection.  Sometimes the adenoids become swollen and can block the opening of the Eustachian tubes.  Removing them can help the Eustachian tubes work better and help with glue ear.  Normally adenoids are taken out at the same time as grommet surgery, or when tonsils are removed.