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Ears problems can be painful and distressing, especially for children. Often they can go away on their own but it is always worth seeing your GP with any symptoms.
Certain people are more prone to ear infections, such as those with diabetes or chronic skin conditions like eczema. People who spend a lot of time in water are also at risk of outer ear infections.
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Ear infections occur when the ear canal and eardrum become inflamed. The eardrum is a thin membrane that separates the ear canal from the middle ear. The eardrum lets sound enter the ear but also creates pressure on the middle ear that helps equalize air pressure with the outside world. Infections of the ear can cause pain and a high fever. The eardrum can rupture in some cases, which causes fluid to drain from the ear.
Infections usually come from viruses, but bacteria can also trigger ear infections in people with weakened immune systems. Those include babies and children, especially those under the age of 3. The immune systems of these people are still developing. Allergies can also trigger ear infections. People with allergies to pollen, animal dander and other things can develop ear infections more easily than others.
A person who gets an ear infection might experience pain, a fever and a feeling of fullness in the ear. The eardrum can rupture, which may lead to a feeling of dizziness, nausea and a ringing or buzzing in the ears. Some people have a condition called chronic suppurative otitis media, which has no signs or symptoms but causes permanent damage to the middle ear tissue and hearing.
The most common type of ear infection is a viral ear infection, which usually comes on the heels of a cold or the flu. These viruses block the Eustachian tube, causing it to fill with fluid. Bacteria then take over the ear, causing inflammation, swelling and fever.
An ear infection usually lasts about a week. Doctors usually prescribe medicine called antibiotics (say: an-tie-buh-tikes), which clear up bacterial infections and help the body fight them off. A person who is taking antibiotics should continue to take the medication for as many days as the doctor tells them to, even if they feel better.
To prevent ear infections, try to avoid getting colds and the flu, and keep your hands clean. Also, don’t put anything in your ear canal. Babies should be breastfed if possible because the antibodies in their mother’s milk can fight viruses and bacteria that cause infections. If you bottle-feed your child, hold them upright while they’re drinking to avoid formula and other liquids flowing backward into the ear canal.
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The ear canal is lined with a waxy material that helps to protect the ears from moisture, debris and bacterial infection. When the ear canal produces too much earwax, it can cause symptoms like an earache, a feeling of fullness in the ears and sometimes a foul smell. Excess earwax can also cause temporary hearing loss. Earwax is produced by special glands in the ear canal. The earwax acts as a protective lining and carries dead skin cells, dirt, debris and bacteria away from the ears. It also keeps the ear from drying out and provides lubrication for the eardrum. Earwax also has fatty acids that help to moisturize the ear canal and skin around the ear.
Attempting to remove excess earwax yourself can damage your ears. You should never try to clean your ears with cotton swabs, paperclips or any other objects because you could push the earwax deeper into the ear canal or even rupture your eardrum. The best way to safely remove earwax is to see a Houston ENT doctor.
When earwax is produced correctly, it usually moves up the ear canal and falls out of the ear opening. It is normal for earwax to come out in balls or clumps from your ears while eating, talking and taking a shower. It is also a good idea to chew or move your jaws to help the earwax slide up and out of the ear.
If the earwax becomes impacted, it can cause complications including mild deafness and a foul odor from the ear canal. People who have narrower ear canals, wear hearing aids or have a history of earwax impaction are more prone to develop impacted earwax.
A doctor can use medical tools to remove impacted earwax. They can also offer a home treatment to prevent earwax blockage by applying a small amount of mineral oil or baby oil to the outer ear canal, which will soften the earwax and allow it to fall out naturally. They can also use a rubber-bulb syringe to run body-temperature water through the ear canal to dislodge earwax.
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If you hear ringing, buzzing or other sounds in your ears that don’t have any external source, it’s called tinnitus. It can affect your quality of life, but it’s not always a sign of something serious and often gets better by itself over time. If it doesn’t, or if it’s constant, you might need to seek medical advice.
Your GP can look in your ears to see if the noise is caused by something they can treat, such as an ear infection or a build-up of earwax. They can also check your hearing and refer you to a specialist for further tests and treatment if needed.
Tinnitus can be a sign of a problem with your blood vessels or the nerves that control hearing and balance. Blood vessel problems, such as high blood pressure or narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) can affect the flow of blood to your ear and cause tinnitus. Malformations in the bones that connect to your ear and can also affect your hearing are another common cause of tinnitus.
Other conditions that can trigger tinnitus include head and neck injuries, temporomandibular disorders, which cause jaw pain and dysfunction, and certain chronic health problems such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, thyroid issues and some autoimmune diseases like lupus. Tinnitus is also linked to otosclerosis, a condition where the bones in your middle ear stiffen.
Your doctor will ask you about your past health and any medications you’re taking, and they might do a physical exam of your head, face, arms and legs to see if the tinnitus changes or worsens when you move. They might also recommend a CT or MRI scan to help them find the cause.
If your tinnitus is caused by hearing loss, your GP may prescribe hearing aids and offer counselling to help you cope with the change in your sense of hearing. They might suggest masking devices that play a sound to distract you from your tinnitus, and they can also provide strategies for dealing with the anxiety, stress or depression that tinnitus can sometimes bring on.
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A person who swims often or has a family history of ear infections may develop swimmer’s ear (otitis externa). This is when an infection occurs in the outer ear canal or eardrum. Symptoms can include itching, a plugged feeling and pain. It usually comes on quickly, within hours or days of swimming or being in the water. The condition is not dangerous but can be uncomfortable. Typically, the ear canal will become red and swollen. This is because the ear canal is irritated by moisture and different kinds of bacteria.
A doctor will diagnose swimmer’s ear by taking a look at the ears with a lighted tool called an otoscope. The otoscope allows doctors to see the skin of the ear canal and the eardrum. A swab from the ear can also help to determine what kind of infection is present. In some cases, the doctor will prescribe eardrops with antibiotics, steroids or other ingredients to fight the infection and reduce swelling. In addition, a doctor will probably recommend that patients keep their ears as dry as possible for 7 to 10 days. This means not showering or shampooing and keeping the ear canals free of water while swimming. Using a cotton ball covered in petroleum jelly as a form of earplug while bathing is a good idea.
In some cases, the infection from swimmer’s ear can become serious and lead to permanent damage. This is when the infection spreads to the cartilage in the outer ear and bones of the lower part of the skull. This is a rare complication of swimmer’s ear and is most likely to happen to older adults or those with diabetes and a weak immune system.
In these cases, it is important to contact a physician right away. The physician will drain the fluid from the ear and may clean the ear with suction or an otocurette, a special tool with a scoop on the end. The physician will also prescribe oral antibiotics. This type of ear infection can also be prevented by not trying to remove earwax and making sure the ears stay as dry as possible.
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Ears problems symptoms include ear pain, ringing in the ears, a buildup of earwax and hearing loss. You should see a doctor if you have these symptoms.
Children get ear infections more often than adults. Watch for signs of an infection in your child, such as tugging at their ears or a constant feeling of fullness in the ear.
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If your ear hurts, it may be a sign of an infection or other problem. Get help if the pain is severe, gets worse or doesn’t go away in 24 to 48 hours. A fever also means you or your child needs medical attention right away because it could be a sign of the eardrum rupturing. You can find a primary care doctor near you by using Healthline’s FindCare tool.
The ear has three parts — the outer ear canal, the middle ear that contains tiny bones that amplify sound and the inner ear where sound is turned into electrical impulses for the brain to interpret. A bacterial or viral infection in the ear can cause pain, swelling of the ear canal and other symptoms.
Most ear infections are caused by viruses or bacteria in the Eustachian tubes that connect the ears to the back of the nose and throat, says Adunka. Some infections require antibiotics, and others can be treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief and warm compresses.
Adult ear infections tend to be viral and don’t respond well to antibiotics, but younger children often need them because they have longer Eustachian tubes. They’re also more likely to have a condition called glue ear, which causes fluid build-up deep in the ear.
Symptoms of glue ear are a dull, painful or full feeling in the ear and the sensation that someone is pulling on your earlobe or pushing against the flap that closes the ear canal. You can prevent it by avoiding swimming or taking the swimmer’s ear drops sold over-the-counter as Swim-Ear or other brands to dry up excess water in the ear.
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If you notice fluid leaking from your ear it’s important to see a doctor straight away. This could be a sign of a serious infection or a skull injury. If the fluid is yellow or bloody, this can be a sign of a ruptured ear drum or mastoiditis (an infection of the bone behind your ear).
Normally, the ear canal is protected by a waxy substance called earwax. This helps to remove debris from the ear and has germ-killing properties. However, earwax can build up in the ear canal and lead to pain and discomfort. You can also get ear discharge from water or soap in the ear, or when a cotton swab is left in the ear canal for too long.
In most cases, a medical professional will use a tool called an otoscope to perform a visual examination of your ear canal and middle ear. They will also perform a test called tympanometry, which involves puffing air gently into the ear to check for a perforated eardrum or other signs of middle ear infection.
Sometimes, your doctor may take a sample of the ear discharge and send it to a laboratory for testing. This will allow them to identify the bacteria or fungus causing the infection. Then they can prescribe an antibiotic to kill the organisms. The treatment for ear infections will depend on the type of infection. A severe infection will require hospitalisation and possibly surgery to remove the eardrum. A less serious infection is usually treated with anti-inflammatory medications or ear drops. If you have severe ear pain or a high fever, seek immediate medical attention.
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Ear ringing (often called tinnitus) is noise in your head that has no source. It can be a ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, humming or roaring sound that seems to come from one or both ears. It can be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating. You can hear it even when no one else is around. You may experience tinnitus with or without hearing loss. It can affect your quality of life.
Tinnitus is most often a symptom of ear-related disorders, but it can also be caused by some health conditions and medications. For example, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis or a tumor can alter the flow of blood to your ear and cause tinnitus. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, migraines, thyroid disorders and certain autoimmune diseases, can also cause tinnitus.
Damage to the muscles, ligaments or cartilage in your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, can cause TMJ disorder and tinnitus. Your TMJ connects your lower jaw to your skull in front of your ears. The disorder can cause pain in your face and jaw, as well as ear noises. You might also have a feeling of fullness in your ear and dizziness when you try to chew or talk. TMJ disorder can also be a symptom of Meniere’s disease, an inner ear condition that causes episodes of ringing in your ears and dizziness.
Other causes of tinnitus include excess earwax, which can block your ears and cause ringing; congestion from allergies that blocks your eustachian tube (the tube that leads from your middle ear to the back of your nose); or tumors like a vestibular schwannoma (a benign tumor on a nerve that carries sound signals to your brain). If you have tinnitus that doesn’t go away with home treatment, see your doctor. Treatment options may include medications, sound maskers and retraining therapy.
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The ears naturally produce earwax. It protects the ear canal by trapping dust and other irritants and slowing the growth of bacteria in the ear. Earwax normally moves toward the outer ear where it either falls out or is washed away with water or saline. However, sometimes the ear produces too much wax or the ear canal becomes misshapen or blocked by jewelry. When earwax buildup occurs, you may experience symptoms like a full sensation in the ears, a plugged or clogged feeling and hearing loss.
In some people, a lubricating agent produced in the ear canal helps to soften earwax, so it can move out of the ear. Regular movements of the jaw and a routine shower help to flush out the ear canal, too. However, cotton swabs and fingers should never be used to remove earwax. In fact, digging out earwax can cause major damage to the ear and lead to infection or even hearing loss.
If you suspect that you have a blockage of earwax, call Dr. Shamala to schedule an ear exam. She can use an otoscope to see if there is a swollen, dry or impacted earwax plug in your ear canal and determine the severity of the earwax buildup.
She may advise that you wait a few days to see if the earwax will move on its own or she can put ear drops in your ears to help soften and break up the earwax. If that doesn’t work, she can also use a safe and effective ear irrigation treatment to safely remove the earwax. This is done in the office with a simple procedure that is usually painless.
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When you’re hearing loss, sounds aren’t as clear or as loud. People’s voices sound mumbled or distorted, and you may have trouble following conversations in noisy environments. You might have to ask others to repeat themselves or avoid social situations altogether, which can lead to loneliness and isolation.
Hearing loss happens when the tiny hair cells in your inner ear don’t change sounds into electric signals that your brain can understand. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent. It can affect one or both ears and comes from different causes, like aging, exposure to loud noises, or certain medications, such as antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, and loop diuretics. It can also be genetic or inherited, such as Usher syndrome or Pendred Syndrome, or caused by disease, such as Meniere’s disease or cholesteatoma.
You can have two kinds of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss can happen when the 3 tiny bones that carry sound from the outer to the middle ear (the ossicles) are damaged, or when there’s too much earwax. You can’t reverse conductive hearing loss, but over-the-counter eardrops or a medical procedure called a stapedectomy (removing the stapes bone in the middle ear) can help. Sensorineural hearing loss can occur when the hair cells that detect sound in your inner ear are injured, diseased, don’t work correctly, or have died. You can’t reverse this type of hearing loss, but you might find that hearing aids improve your ability to hear. You might also experience tinnitus, which is sound that rings in your ears instead of real speech or music. It can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, buzzing, or other sounds, and it can come and go.
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Earaches are common in children. They can be a sign of ear infections, but they can also signal other health conditions.
A doctor can diagnose an ear infection by looking at your child’s ears with an otoscope and checking for a ruptured eardrum. She may also give your child pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). If symptoms don’t improve within 48 to 72 hours, she will prescribe antibiotics.
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The ear is made of three parts: the outer part of the ear collects sound waves and leads to the ear canal and eardrum; the middle ear includes the eardrum and the tympanic membrane that separates it from the inner ear; and the inner ear contains tiny bones that amplify and translate sounds into electrical impulses that the brain understands as sound. Infections of any one of these parts can cause pain, discomfort, ear sensitivity and problems with balance and hearing.
Usually, an ear infection is caused by bacteria or viruses in the ear canal or in the Eustachian tube that extends from the middle ear to the back of the throat and nose. The eardrum can rupture due to the buildup of fluid or from pressure in the middle ear. A ruptured eardrum often heals without treatment, but in some cases, it may not, leading to long-term ear pain and sometimes even permanent hearing loss or a condition called tinnitus.
Other ear symptoms include fullness in the ears, pain when lying down, dizziness and feeling that the ear is clogged with a hard mass. If these symptoms occur, the person should see a doctor as soon as possible. Depending on the cause of the ear problem, the doctor may perform an examination using a special light to see inside the ear canal or might recommend other diagnostic tests, such as a throat culture to detect bacteria or a simple test that bounces sound against the eardrum to determine how much fluid is in the ear.
A swollen eardrum or a perforated eardrum usually requires antibiotic treatment. A ruptured eardrum may leave behind a persistent, pus-like discharge, which should also be treated with antibiotics. Occasionally, the infection may spread from the ear into the mastoid bone in the skull, which is more serious and needs to be treated with surgery.
A doctor may suggest ear tubes for children who have repeated ear infections. This surgery involves placing a small tube in the eardrum to keep fluid from building up and relieve pressure in the middle ear. It is the most common type of surgery for children, and it is usually done under anesthesia. The tubes usually fall out on their own after 6 months to a year.
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Many cases of ear pain and infection are treated with oral or topical drugs as tablets or drops. Antibiotics (medicine that fights bacteria) are often used, especially if the infection is in the outer ear. Painkilling drugs (analgesics) are usually also prescribed. For young children, over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be advised if there is severe pain. For more serious infections an ENT doctor may give a starting dose of a strong antibiotic by injection. This is especially useful for babies and children.
If your child has fluid build-up in the middle ear, your GP may recommend observation rather than medication at first to see whether it clears on its own. In some cases, the GP will gently puff air against the eardrum with a pneumatic otoscope. If there is fluid behind the eardrum, it doesn’t move, so it is likely that the infection has not yet caused a rupture. In other cases, a needle is used to drain the fluid from the ear (tympanocentesis). The fluid is tested for signs of infection, and the GP will prescribe antibiotic eardrops if the results are positive.
A small number of people with otitis media with effusion do not respond to antibiotics and may need further tests or treatment. In these cases, your GP will probably refer the child to a specialist (audiologist) or speech therapist for tests of hearing and language development.
In some cases, your GP may advise that you try home remedies before prescribing any medicines. For example, a warm compress made by soaking a washcloth in hot water and wringing out the excess may ease the pain. Gargling with salt water may also help to relieve earache.
It is important to keep ears clean, but overzealous cleaning can actually cause more pain and irritation by pushing earwax deeper into the ear canal. You should never try to remove earwax on your own, as this can damage the delicate eardrum and lead to a painful infection.
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Ear infections occur when fluid builds up in the middle ear. The middle ear is an air-filled space that contains tiny, vibrating bones that pick up sound waves and help you hear. These bones can become irritated and infected by viruses or bacteria. This can lead to a swollen, red eardrum and painful ears. You may also have a hard time hearing and feel dizzy. These ear problems are most common in children and babies. They are more likely to get them because their immune systems aren’t as strong. But adults can get them too.
A viral infection, such as the common cold or influenza, usually causes ear infections. Viruses can cause inflammation that blocks the narrow Eustachian tube. Without this opening, air and fluid can’t flow through the ear canal and the eardrum can’t be inflated correctly. This creates a space for bacteria to grow.
If you or your child has a severe earache or has a sudden fever, see your doctor right away. This could be a sign that your eardrum is about to rupture.
Most ear pain is due to an infection that is easily treated with antibiotics. Most ear infections clear up within three days.
The best way to prevent ear infections is to keep the Eustachian tubes open. This is easier to do when the nasal and sinus passages are clear. Rinsing daily with saline helps to remove irritants from the nasopharynx, the area at the back of your nose where the Eustachian tubes open. Avoiding allergens can also help. This includes avoiding secondhand smoke and using nasal sprays that relieve allergies.
Your doctor may recommend putting small metal or plastic tubes in your ears (ear tubes) if you have recurrent infections. These tubes let fluid drain out of the ear, which can help reduce infection and pressure in the ear. Your ear, nose and throat doctor, or ENT, can perform this surgery for you or your child. This procedure can also improve your ability to hear and speak. You may need to get these tubes removed later in life.
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Using home remedies to help ease the pain of an ear infection can be helpful. Most of these home treatments won’t cure the infection, but they can help relieve the symptoms and make you more comfortable. These treatments include over-the-counter pain relievers and warm or cold compresses. Always follow the instructions on the package. Some home remedies may be unsafe or ineffective, especially if you have a perforated eardrum, or if your child is less than 2 years old.
Garlic is a common natural remedy for ear infections because it has potent antimicrobial and pain-relieving properties. (1)
You can eat garlic to reduce ear pain or mix it with olive oil and apply around the ear. (2)
Salt has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce swelling, pain, and tenderness in the ear. It can be applied as a warm compress or in a sock filled with salt and placed on the affected ear. (3)
Tea tree oil has powerful therapeutic properties that help kill bacteria and prevent viruses from reproducing. You can use a few drops of essential oil in a cotton ball and apply it on the affected ear.
Using hydrogen peroxide can help relieve earache by removing excess fluid from the ear canal. (5)
The anti-inflammatory properties of mango leaf can also help to relieve earache. Grind or crush 2-3 mango leaves and extract the juice. Using a clean dropper, put 2-3 drops of this juice into the infected ear and tilt your head until the liquid drains out. Repeat daily until the earache goes away.
Heat or cold therapy can reduce earache by relaxing the muscles in your neck and shoulders. Heat relaxes the muscles, improves blood flow, and numbs pain. A warm bath or shower can also be used to relieve earache. You can try alternating between hot and cold for 10 minutes at a time. Pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help alleviate the pain of an earache. However, be careful to avoid aspirin in children because it can cause a rare but serious condition called Reye’s syndrome.
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Your ears help you hear the sounds of the world around you. They also play a key role in helping you balance, learn to speak and develop self-confidence.
Ear conditions like ear infections or a build-up of earwax can affect your hearing. Other problems that may affect your hearing include:
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Ear infections, or otitis media, are caused by germs (usually bacteria) in the middle ear. They often begin after a person has a cold or upper respiratory infection. The bacteria in the air enter the ear through the Eustachian tubes and cause inflammation. Viruses are often the cause of ear infections in infants and toddlers, while bacteria are more common in older children and adults.
During an ear infection, the eardrum becomes red and bulges out. Fluid buildup in the middle ear causes the earache. In some cases, a person can feel like they have a full-blown earache but have no swollen glands or a fever. Often, the infection will clear up on its own within three days. If the earache doesn’t go away, it’s a good idea to see your GP.
Your GP will usually check your ear with an instrument called an otoscope. This device looks in the ear canal and the eardrum. It also blows a puff of air into the ear to see if the eardrum moves normally, as it should do when you’re not infected.
If the GP decides you have an ear infection, they may prescribe medicine to treat it. Antibiotics (say: an-tie-BUH-tiks) help to get rid of the bacteria that are causing the infection. The GP might also give you drops that contain a painkiller and an anaesthetic to relieve the pain while the antibiotic works.
Some ear infections can be dangerous, especially if left untreated. They can spread to the mastoid bone (which is in the skull behind the ear) and cause a serious infection known as mastoiditis. It can also spread to the membranes that surround the brain and cause a life-threatening infection called meningitis.
Children are more likely to have ear infections than other people, partly because of the anatomy of their ear canals and partly because their immune systems are still developing. People with a weakened immune system, such as those with chronic fatigue syndrome or HIV/AIDS, are also more likely to develop ear infections.
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Ear wax is produced by a special ear canal lining and helps protect your ears from infection, water and other foreign materials. It also slows the growth of bacteria, helping to keep your ears clean and healthy. Earwax typically forms in the outer third or part of your ear canal, not right up against the eardrum. However, people often attempt to remove the earwax with cotton swabs or other objects, which can actually push the earwax deeper into the ear canal and cause an impaction (blockage).
If your ears are producing a lot of earwax, you may want to visit your doctor for routine cleaning. Your doctor may advise you to use ear drops that help soften the earwax so it can fall out of your ears naturally rather than build up and block your ear canal.
Your doctor may also advise you to use an ear irrigation method to remove excess earwax. In this process, you will stand or sit upright with your head tilted to the side and hold your ear up to allow body-temperature water to wash over the ear. After allowing the water to drain, you can tilt your head in the opposite direction to allow the earwax to slide out of the ear canal on its own.
You may have a hard time removing your own earwax when it builds up because of your ear’s natural process and the shape of your ear canal. Your doctor can remove the earwax using a small device called a curette, which is designed to physically dislodge and scoop earwax from the ear canal.
If you are concerned that you are producing too much earwax or have a problem with it building up in your ears, talk to your doctor. He or she may suggest using eardrops to soften the earwax and then letting it fall out of your ear with regular, routine use. You should never try to remove earwax with your fingers, cotton swabs or other objects, as this can damage the ear and could even push the earwax further into the ear canal and cause an impaction.
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Some deformities of the ear are present at birth (congenital). Others develop due to injury or disease after birth. In general, the ear is made of skin and cartilage. There are four different types of sensory nerves that supply the ear. Some people can wiggle their ears, but the majority of people cannot. Some ear problems are minor and self-correct with time. Others need surgical correction.
Anomalies of the ear may be present on both sides of the head, or only one side. Most are shaped differently or positioned, but some are missing parts of the ear altogether. Children with ear anomalies are often very happy, but it’s important to be aware of the impact on social development.
Most ear anomalies are found at birth, either in a physical examination or during a routine newborn hearing test. They can also be diagnosed in older kids through other tests or by examining them carefully with an otoscope. Ear abnormalities may run in families or be associated with other health conditions such as Treacher Collins syndrome and Down syndrome (trisomy 21).
Various classifications of ear malformations have been proposed. These include Weerda’s classification for pinnal malformations, Kosling’s classification for middle ear malformations and Jackler’s classification of inner ear malformations.
High-resolution computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help determine the extent of a malformation. The CT technique produces an axial projection that shows the anatomy of the temporal bone. However, for precise evaluation of the membranous labyrinth and conductive hearing structures, MRI is superior.
Some ear anomalies, such as cupped ears or a small ear canal, can be corrected with a procedure known as molding. In this process, your child’s plastic surgeon reshapes the ears using tissue from another part of his or her body such as ribs or back. The surgeon can also build a framework for the ear with plastic or a permanent implant. Depending on your child’s age and the extent of his or her ear problem, this surgery may be performed in two to three stages. A successful outcome depends on the cooperation of your child during the healing process.
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Whether it happens gradually or suddenly, hearing loss can be disorienting. It can cause trouble following conversations in noisy places, making out some high-pitched sounds and finding words difficult to understand. You might also notice a ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or feel fullness in your ear.
There are three primary types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when something prevents sound from reaching the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear that amplify the sound. Ear infections, earwax buildup and problems with the middle-ear muscles can all contribute to this type of hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss involves a problem with the inner ear or the connection from the inner ear to the brain. This kind of hearing loss can happen when the ear’s tiny hair cells become damaged or die, and it may be permanent. Other causes include loud noise, herpes zoster of the ear and certain medicines.
Mixed hearing loss is when you have both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It can be caused by a combination of things, like an ear infection and hearing loss due to old age.
Children and young adults are more likely to get ear infections than other people. This is because their adenoids — the glands at the back of the throat that help open and close the ear canal — are still active, so they’re more likely to trap fluid behind the eardrum. Also, they have shorter ear canals and smaller eardrums than other people.
Many types of ear problems are temporary and can be treated with medicine or surgery. Other types of ear problems, such as herpes zoster of the ears and acoustic neuroma, are more serious.
Practicing healthy lifestyle habits and avoiding exposure to loud noises can reduce the risk of long-term hearing loss. If you have a hearing problem, tell your family doctor or an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist). He or she can refer you to an audiologist who can test your hearing and provide treatment. This health professional can recommend hearing aids if necessary.