In this episode, I share the deeply personal and frustrating journey of discovering that my son’s behaviour, speech delays, and social struggles weren’t defiance, they were signs of undiagnosed glue ear.
We talk about:
What glue ear is and why it’s so often missed
The signs we overlooked at home and in nursery
How airway health and glue ear are linked
Why so many children are labelled before they’re properly heard
What finally made a difference—and how it changed everything
This one is for the parents who feel like something’s off… and are tired of being told it’s “just behaviour.”
00:00 – Welcome & intro: the hidden impact of glue ear
01:15 – First signs: “He ignored me.” But did he really?
03:00 – Behaviour, not disobedience: connecting the dots
05:05 – Doubts at home: the guilt, the second-guessing
07:20 – A second nursery flags a concern: instinct reawakened
08:45 – Building the case: what to track before going to the GP
10:50 – Hearing test #1: the start of clarity
12:20 – What is glue ear? A simple explanation
13:50 – Why glue ear is more common in mouth breathers
15:40 – Study spotlight: research linking airway dysfunction & glue ear
17:30 – The rollercoaster of NHS testing & waiting
19:10 – Antibiotics, infections & fluctuating results
20:25 – Hearing test #5 and a long-awaited diagnosis
21:40 – Finally: hearing aids—and the moment it all changed
23:20 – “Mummy, I can hear the birds.”
24:10 – The emotional aftermath: relief, guilt, and clarity
25:30 – Glue ear isn’t always obvious—it hides in plain sight
26:50 – Why hearing loss can mimic behaviour disorders
28:00 – Action steps for parents: what to say, do, and ask
30:00 – Final message: you’re not imagining it. You’re observing it. Keep going.
