Hi. New to site.

[daruvalla]

Hi. I'm Sam. I am 39 and care for my husband who is heading for an MS diagnosis when we can get a neurologist to give him regular MRI scans amongst other tests. He became ill in 2008. My seven year old son also has chronic ear infections (glue ear). He has suffered these since being a baby and they have caused, conductive hearing loss, speech and language delay, communication problems and emotional issues.. I also have a daughter who will be 2 in January.

[rosemary]

Hi Sam,

Welcome to the forum. You sure do have your hands full. Hope you find time to take a look round, any questions just holler.

x x

[charles47]

Hi Daruvalla and welcome.

Glue ear can cause all sorts of problems with hearing but I've always been told that once treated the communication issues are not usually a problem unless there are other underlying problems. Sometimes "invisible" problems can be attributed to the known...

[no1mum]

Hi and a warm welcome from me.

[daruvalla]

Hi Charles47.

It is a common preconception that Glue Ear does not cause communication problems. Indeed a lot of professionals do not realise that research has proved that it can cause S&L delay, communication problems, psychological, emotional and behavioural problems. Glue Ear tends to be thought of as a condition that either is short lived and self correcting, or at worst, cured with grommets. In many cases this is true. But there are also many unlucky children like my son for whom grommets are not the cure, though they do help. Often this can be due to ear infections or the child can have so much mucus that it just keeps pushing the grommets out. My son has both problems. People including professionals tend to allocate another label because they do not fully understand the condition. I run the Campaign for the Awareness of Glue Ear at www.glueear.org.uk in case you would like to read more about it.

Thanks for your welcome to the site.

Sam.

[Scally]

Hi, its great to have another carer on board, and doubly so to have a new topic expert. Isnt glue ear commonly associated with a higher chance of hearing loss? I know it is more common in people with DS (like my son) but luckily he has always had great hearing. We know another lovely lad with DS who isnt so lucky - he has eventually opted for bone anchored aids.

[daruvalla]

Hi. Yes glue ear is associated with conductive hearing loss. This is either because the mucus blocks the inner or outer ear or because of damage to the ear due to repeated infection.
Can i ask in my ignorance what DS stands for. I think i know but i don't want to assume.

Thanks.

[no1mum]

Hiya,

DS is Downs Syndrome.
Regarding glue ear and repeated ear infections, had that problem with my daughter, she's been pretty lucky because her hearing is only slightly down to what it should be.

[delboy]

Hi sam big welcome form me . So nice that you have joined us

[charles47]

People including professionals tend to allocate another label because they do not fully understand the condition. I run the Campaign for the Awareness of Glue Ear at www.glueear.org.uk in case you would like to read more about it.

Thanks for that - I'll take a look!