Ear infections are one of the most common pediatric conditions each year. Adults can also have ear infections, but it is far more common in children. You may wonder how ear infections can impact your hearing. Hearing loss can have several causes, and an ear infection can be one of them. The more you understand about ear infections, the easier it will be to care for yourself or your child if one comes along.
Types of Ear Infections
Ear infections, or otitis media, occur when a virus or bacteria causes fluid buildup and inflammation behind the eardrum. These types of ear infections can result in temporary hearing loss.
There are four types of otitis media:
- Acute otitis media: when fluid becomes trapped inside the Eustachian tube (the tube running from the middle ear to the back of the throat) and becomes infected, causing pain and swelling.
- Otitis media with effusion: mucus or fluid builds up inside the Eustachian tube after an infection clears up.
- Chronic suppurative otitis media: persistent discharge from the middle ear caused by perforation to the ear drum. This type of ear infection typically occurs due to ongoing acute otitis media and is a less common form of ear infection.
- Adhesive otitis media: This type of ear infection occurs when the eardrum collapses and adheres to the wall of the middle ear. It typically occurs when the Eustachian tube doesn’t work properly for a stretch of time and is also a less common form of ear infection.
The hearing loss that develops from a middle ear infection is usually temporary. It occurs because fluid trapped in the middle ear inhibits the transmission of sound vibrations. This type of hearing loss is common with ear infections and will typically clear up once the ear infection heals. However, repeated ear infections causing severe hearing loss in the middle ear can lead to permanent hearing loss if the eardrum or other parts of the middle ear are damaged.
While ear infections can cause temporary hearing loss, the most common causes of hearing loss are due to aging, continued exposure to loud noises or genetics.
Symptoms and Management
Ear infections can be painful and uncomfortable; if you have ear pain or pressure, you may have one. It can be harder to tell if your young child has an ear infection since they can’t express themselves, so it’s helpful to watch out for some key symptoms. Some of these symptoms can be found in adults as well.
Common symptoms to observe include:
- Ear drainage
- Trouble hearing
- Inability to lie down comfortably
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Fussiness or irritability
- Fever
- Body language
Ear infections will typically clear up on their own in around three days. A trip to Lecare Pharmacy for pain relievers and compresses can be used to manage symptoms and get you through that time period. It’s also helpful to elevate your or your child’s head when lying down to allow the ear to drain.
If your hearing doesn’t improve once your ear infection has cleared up, contact your doctor to get your hearing checked. For more questions about ear infections or to schedule an appointment, contact Mt. Hood ENT & Allergy.