Ear Infection Hearing Loss Problems

Hearing loss can occur due to many different factors including heredity, excessive noise, aging, injury, or infections. The most common type of hearing loss affects the auditory nerve. This is called sensorineural hearing loss.  Did you know that an ear infection can cause hearing loss?  This is called conductive hearing loss.  It is caused when infection in the middle ear causes fluid to build up obstructing the movement of the eardrum and the tiny bones attached to it.

Ear infection hearing loss can occur in children and adults

Conductive hearing loss is often caused by an obstruction in the middle ear. This part of the ear uses tiny hairs and bones to move the sound to your auditory nerve.   Any obstruction, build-up of wax, fluid, or a hole in the eardrum, can cause conductive hearing loss.  Fluid buildup in the middle ear can become infected. This is most common in early babies and toddlers between the ages of 3 months and 3 years.  However, they can be common in children up to 8. Some children experience repeated ear infections.

Although ear infections aren’t as common in adults as they are in children, they do occur.

Signs and Symptoms of an Ear Infection

Ear infections often start with a sore throat, a cold, or an upper respiratory infection. If it is a bacterial infection, it can travel into the middle ear.  The middle ear is a microbe-friendly environment meaning that it provides the perfect space for the bacterium to multiply and spread.

Your child might not be able to tell you that their ear hurts. to say “my ear hurts. They may show the following signs:

• Pulling or tugging at their ears
• Crying and fussing
• Difficulty sleeping
• Fever
• The ear is draining fluid
• Difficulty balancing or showing signs of clumsiness
• Do not respond to quiet sounds or seems to struggle with hearing

In adults the signs and symptoms  are similar:

• A feeling of nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or spinning sensation
• Inflamed, red eardrum
• Trouble balancing or walking
• Inflammation makes the ear feel full
• Earache that worsens over time
• a spinning sensation or dizziness
• Ruptured ear drum (extreme pain, then no pain in the ear)

For mild earaches, there are some home remedies you can try: 

• A cool or warm compress is placed over the ear.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers
• Chewing gum may lower the pressure in the ear and ease symptoms 

Why do Children Get More Ear Infections Than Adults?

Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections because they have smaller eustachian tubes and they are more level.  Fluid buildup in the ear becomes problematic because of this.  If the eustachian tubes become blocked or swell with mucus due to a respiratory illness or a cold, fluid may not drain properly.

Children are born without a fully developed immune system.  This makes it much more difficult for a child’s body to fight off infections.  Children with recurring ear infections may need to have tubes placed in their ears to help fluid drain properly until they grow enough to self-drain the fluid

When Should I Call A Doctor?

If you have a persistent earache,  fluid coming from your ear, or the pain increases over 24 hours, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible because it is always better to treat an infection in its early stages.  Antibiotics can be prescribed by your doctor to treat an infection and reduce the possibility of hearing loss.

Other signs that may show up with an ear infection that needs immediate care

Ear Infections and Hearing Loss

In most cases, hearing loss caused by an ear infection subsides after treatment as it is only temporary.  Your doctor may choose to prescribe you antibiotics to treat your ear infection.  With a successful round of medication, your hearing should return to normal.  But if ear infections become a recurring theme, then you may want to see an audiologist, who is a hearing specialist, who may insert a tube in your eardrum to help drain the excess fluid.

 When the fluid is eliminated, pressure is reduced and pain relief occurs. This technique also prevents your eardrum from rupturing. Recurring ear infections can lead to a thickening and- scarring of the tympanic membrane called tympanosclerosis.  Hearing is reduced when a perforated eardrum and tympanosclerosis occur. Permanent hearing loss can transpire when ear infections go untreated.  The bacterium is active and multiplies by breaking down the delicate bones in the eardrum that amplifies sound ways.  The bones don’t grow back once they are damaged and hearing is damaged. 

If you think you may have an ear infection, see your doctor as soon as possible. Chronic ear infections can cause serious damage, the longer you wait to see a professional. Ear infections can start small from allergies, colds, or sinus infections. It is important to reduce factors like smoking that may increase respiratory problems in the future.

We Can Help

If you have a recurring ear infection or are still having difficulty hearing, consult your audiologist you may have some conductive hearing loss or damage to your middle ear.  At Hearing Associates of Las Vegas, we are a family practice that can address your hearing loss issues. Our expert audiologists are available to answer your questions and help you hear better, and faster. There are several reasons why children are more likely than adults to get ear infections.

Eustachian tubes are smaller and more level in children than they are in adults. This makes it difficult for fluid to drain out of the ear, even under normal conditions. If the eustachian tubes are swollen or blocked with mucus due to a cold or other respiratory illness, fluid may not be able to drain.

A child’s immune system isn’t as effective as an adult’s because it’s still developing. This makes it harder for children to fight infections.

As part of the immune system, the adenoids respond to bacteria passing through the nose and mouth. Sometimes bacteria get trapped in the adenoids, causing a chronic infection that can then pass on to the eustachian tubes and the middle ear.