Audiology
Glue ear is the most common cause of a conductive hearing loss. It occurs when the middle ear (also known as tympanic cavity) becomes filled with fluid, rather than air. This can follow a heavy cold or dysfunction with the Eustachian tube which keeps the pressure behind the eardrum equal to the pressure outside the eardrum. Approximately 80% of all children may suffer with glue ear at some point.
Glue ear can resolve naturally, usually within 2 to 3 months. But, if it becomes persistent, it can be treated surgically with the removal of fluid from the middle ear and the insertion of grommets into the eardrum. Presence of glue ear can result in a conductive hearing loss (blockage of sound to the organ of hearing) and this can fluctuate from day to day. Until this has been treated, beware that a child suffering with glue ear is likely to struggle to hear, especially in noisy situations such as a classroom.
How classroom acoustics affect a child with impaired hearing
Improving listening conditions in the classroom by reducing background noise will help all children, including those with varying degrees of hearing loss.
A child’s ability to hear the teacher’s voice decreases dramatically towards the back of the room
- Noise affects a child’s ability to understand speech.
- Noise creates noise – the noisier the environment the noisier children become.
- Background noise has been shown to have a negative effect on children’s achievements in standardised assessments and SATs.
- Internal noise sources including the children themselves, furniture, clattering pens or pencils, computers and printers, fans, heaters, lighting.
- External noise sources including adjacent classrooms, corridors, playground, outdoor PE, grass cutters, traffic.
How you can help?
- Ensure the child is sitting near you and that they can see your face clearly, but can also see as many of the rest of the class as possible.
- Speak in a normal voice, at normal speed.
- Keep background noise to a minimum.
- Whenever possible, check that the child has understood by asking open questions. Gain the child’s attention before important information is given.
- Allow the hearing impaired child more time to think and talk.
- Repeat contributions from other children in class discussions, as the hearing impaired child may not have heard them or had the opportunity to lip-read.
- Take care with activities such as note taking, TV and video.
- The child cannot watch you to lip-read and do something else at the same time.
- Write key words on the board – but don’t continue to talk whilst you do this or the child will not be able to lip-read.
- Try not to stand in front of the window as this will put your face in shadow and make lip-reading very difficult.
- Try not to walk around whilst you are speaking.
The classroom acoustic and educational advice has kindly been given to the Sensory Teaching Advisory and Resource Service (STARs), should you have any queries regarding this or hearing loss please contact the Audiology Department on 01642 854071.
Contact us
If you require further information, please contact us on:
- Telephone: 01642 854071 or
- Switchboard: 01642 850850, Extension 54071
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/audiology/childrens-hearing/
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]