Glue ear - Diagnosing glue ear

A diagnosis of glue ear can usually be confirmed using an instrument called an otoscope.

An otoscope is a small hand-held device that has a magnifying glass and a light source at the end. It is used to study the inside of the ear and can detect signs that usually indicate fluid inside the middle ear.

These include:

• the ear drum being pulled inwards
• the ear drum being an unusual colour
• the ear drum having a cloudy appearance
• bubbles and fluid inside the ear

Further testing

Further tests are usually only required if your child's symptoms persist for more than three months. The tests will usually be carried out at your local ear, nose and throat (ENT) department and include:

• audiometry – to assess the extent of your child's hearing loss
• tympanometry – to assess the movement and workings of the eardrum and the bones in the middle ear

These tests are discussed in more detail below.

Audiometry

Audiometry is a hearing test that uses a machine called an audiometer to produce sounds of different volume and frequency.

Your child listens to the sounds through headphones and they are asked to say when they can hear a sound and when they cannot.

An audiometry test does not cause any discomfort and most children tend to find it interesting.

Your child's ability to hear the different sounds can be seen on a chart called an audiogram.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry is a test that measures how the ear drum reacts to changes in air pressure. A healthy ear drum should move easily if there is a change in air pressure. If your child's ear drum moves slowly or not at all, it usually suggests that there is fluid behind it.

During a tympanometry test, a probe is placed into your child's ear. The probe changes the air pressure at regular intervals while transmitting a sound into the ear.

A measuring device is attached to the probe to record how the sound reflects back from the ear and how changes in air pressure affect these measurements.

If less sound is reflected back when the air pressure inside the ear is high, it usually indicates that the ear drum is having problems moving because of fluid.

Read more about hearing tests in children.