Commentary - Glue ear: there’s a better alternative to grommet surgery

Mark Maslin There are better, less invasive methods than surgery to treat "glue ear," an affliction that can affect a toddler's hearing, writes Professor Mark Maslin (UCL Geography) with João Lino at the Universidade do Porto in The Conversation. Glitches in our evolutionary development mean that 80% of four-year-olds get glue ear, a temporary loss of hearing. Many have costly and unnecessary surgery despite there being excellent non-surgical alternatives. Glue ear or secretory otitis media, to give it its medical name, is caused by a build up of fluid in the middle ear. It can affect a child's hearing, speech, learning and behaviour. Although glue ear usually resolves on its own, it can last for many months. During this time, most children receive no treatment and have to face the consequences of considerable hearing loss for weeks or months at an important stage of their development.