Glue Ear: Otitis Media with effusion

Question 1

how long is the glue ear pathway?

Answer 1

Because it is so common, You do a first assessment and then a second assessment in 3 months if glue ear is still consistent. If there is no glue ear, they go through a different pathway. If glue ear is still persistent, you start management pathway option.

Question 2

What test do we do for glue ear and how does it present?

Answer 2

Otoscope, Tymponometry, Audiogram. (low freq usually affected more than hight freq, conductive HL with an airborne gap)

Question 3

OME Management options?

Answer 3

1. Active observation (watch and wait) mild to moderate losses and hesitant on surgical intervention.
2. Hearing Aids: helps with the hearing loss.
   BC Aids: utilising the underlining bc levels.
3. Grommets: surgical intervention: helps treat the glue ear but not a future intervention. Glue ear can return, grommets can last for a couple weeks.
4. Autoinflation: this helps open the Eustachian tube so it can drain the fluid that’s in the ear, (max 4 weeks)

Question 4

time plan for reviewing glue ear:

Answer 4

Active observation: 3-6 month review.
Hearing Aids: 3- month review
Grommets: Post operative hearing test. Self referral?
Autoinflation: up to 4 weeks use. 3- months review

Question 5

Factors that increase the risk of glue ear:

Answer 5

family history of ear infection, siblings with glue ear, being bottle fed instead of breastfed, prone to infections usually, household where people smoke.