Free resource for families with children who have glue ear

Glue ear is one of the most common hearing issues affecting young children.

In fact, it affects as many as eight out of ten children under the age of ten.

To help youngsters understand the condition, the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) has created a comic book.

The story – Harvey gets Grommets – is a step by step guide presented in an accessible way for children and their parents to learn about glue ear and the way it is treated.

Grommet surgery is the most common surgery young children go through.

In 2011, 32,000 children in England went through the procedure.

Glue ear occurs when the middle ear is blocked with fluid. Without treatment it can lead to delayed speech and affect the child’s behaviour.

NDCS Audiologist, Vicki Kirwin said: “Glue ear causes hearing problems but can also be painful making children unhappy and irritable. It’s important that parents are able to identify glue ear and talk to their child about what it means and how it can be treated.
“We have designed Harvey gets Grommets to give parents a resource that they can share with their child, providing them with vital information on the condition and addressing any concerns they may have about the treatment.”

To order free copies of the Harvey gets Grommets, call the NDCS Freephone Helpline on 0808 800 8880 (voice and text) or visit www.ndcs.org.uk