ENT conditions (Mr Gaurav Kumar)

  My Child Suddenly Cannot Hear Properly in One Ear — What Should I Do? A child suddenly saying: “I can't hear out of this ear” can be surprisingly worrying. Sometimes they describe the ear as blocked. Sometimes sounds seem far away or “underwater”. An older child may notice the difference immediately when using headphones, while a younger child may simply turn their good ear towards you. In many children there is a relatively straightforward explanation, such as earwax, middle-ear fluid or an ear infection . But there is one important message parents should know: A genuinely sudden, unexplained reduction in hearing should not automatically be assumed to be wax or glue ear. Current NHS advice recommends urgent medical assessment when a child develops sudden hearing loss in one or both ears. Understanding the different types of hearing loss helps explain why. How does a child normally hear? Sound travels through three main areas. The outer ear collects sound and carrie...

  Auto-Inflation for Glue Ear in Children: A Parent’s Evidence Guide for London & Essex If your child has glue ear, you may have been told to wait and see whether it improves before considering treatments such as hearing aids or grommets. Understandably, many parents then search for another question: “Can we do anything at home to help the fluid clear?” One option you may come across is auto-inflation , sometimes using a purpose-designed nasal balloon. Parents across London, East London, Brentwood and Essex frequently want to know whether it really works, whether it is safe and whether it might help their child avoid an operation. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon , advises that auto-inflation can be a useful option for selected children with otitis media with effusion, but it should be viewed as part of an overall hearing-management plan rather than as a guaranteed cure. What is glue ear? Glue ear is the everyday name for otitis media with effusion , or OME. It means fl...

  My Child Has Ear Discharge After Grommets — Is This Normal? A Parent’s Guide Your child had grommets inserted to help with glue ear or recurrent middle-ear problems. Their hearing may have improved. They returned to nursery or school. Everything seemed settled. Then one morning you notice: fluid coming from the ear. Perhaps there is a small mark on the pillow. Perhaps the ear looks wet. Sometimes the discharge is yellow or sticky; occasionally parents notice an unpleasant smell. The immediate question is usually: “Has something gone wrong with the grommet?” The reassuring answer is that ear discharge in a child with grommets is a recognised problem and is often treatable. A small amount of clear or lightly blood-stained fluid shortly after the operation can occur. University Hospitals Sussex's children's grommet guidance , reviewed 18 June 2026 , describes slight clear discharge during the first day or so as something that can happen after surgery. Discharge that persists, de...