Grommet Insertion
Glue ear is when the space behind the eardrum is filled with liquid instead of air. Glue ear can develop when there is not enough air getting to the middle ear. This can be because the tubes (called the Eustachian tubes) which help bring air into the middle ear don’t work as well in childhood due to their small size.
This may be an option if your child has had:
- A lot of ear infections
- Hearing problems that affect their speech or schoolwork
- Inserting a Grommet can improve your child’s ear symptoms (ENT UK, 2022)
Surgery involves having an operation to put a small plastic tube called Grommets into the eardrums of both ears or just a single ear. These plastic tubes let air get in and out of your child’s middle ear.
This is a quick procedure, and your child will be able to go home shortly after they have recovered from a general anaesthetic.
Benefits of having Grommet Insertion can include improving your child’s hearing (if hearing difficulties confirmed from a hearing assessment) as well as a reduction in ear infections.
It is important that you understand the possible risks when deciding what to do, these will be discussed at your clinic appointment if surgery is recommended by one of your specialist consultants.
We appreciate that preparing yourselves and your child for surgery can be worrisome, therefore we have included some online information for you to refer to in your own time: