‘Help me hear’ - ways to support a child with glue ear
Attention
It is important to get your child’s attention before starting to talk to them.
Background noise
Trying to make sense of speech when there are lots of competing sounds will be very difficult. It will be much easier to hear speech in a quiet room e.g. turn the television off.
Clear speech
Get closer and speak clearly, avoid speaking from a distance and shouting. In group settings, ensure that your child is seated at the front, closest to the speaker.
Don’t smoke
Ensure that children are not exposed to passive smoking as this increases the risk of colds and chest infections and makes it more likely for a child to develop glue ear.
Encourage
Listening with glue ear is hard work and tiring. Try to give a child extra clues and repeat instructions to help them to hear speech.
Face-to-face
Make sure that your face can be clearly seen. Use visual aids and gestures to promote understanding of the spoken word.
Give more time to respond
A child with a hearing loss will be working hard to process what they have heard, particularly if they are listening in noise.
