Health Problems that Affect Hearing

When you think about it, it’s amazing what our ears do! Not only do just three tiny bones inside the ear allow us to hear, the inner ear also controls balance. Sometimes illness can involve the ears as well as other parts of the body. Here are some health problems that affect hearing.

Middle ear infections

A feeling of fullness in your ear or relief when it “popped” can be a symptom of a middle ear infection. This occurs when the part of the ear called the Eustachian tube is blocked or swollen. It happens when germs or moisture get into the ear, perhaps due to a cold or allergies. Middle ear infections tend to occur more often in children because their Eustachian tubes are not fully developed. Antibiotics usually can clear up a middle ear infection.

Airplane ear

Anyone who travels on a plane has experienced airplane ear. It happens when the air pressure in your ear and the air pressure around you are not in balance (due to a quick rise or fall in altitude). This puts stress on your eardrum and makes your ears feel full and diminishes hearing.

Airplane ear usually is easy to cure with a yawn, a couple of swallows or chewing gum. In rare cases, a doctor may have to help reverse the condition.

Swimmer’s ear

It’s an annoying feeling when you have water in your ears and it generally happens after swimming. The water alone is not a problem, but when that moist environment in your ear attracts bacteria, it causes swimmer’s ear, an infection of the ear canal. Swimmer’s ear also can occur if you get water in your ears during bathing or even if you scratch the inside of your ear canal with a finger or a cotton swab. It’s usually treated with eardrops, but a more serious infection may need the attention of a health care professional.

Allergies, colds and flus

Sneezing, coughing, congestion all can affect hearing. Whether the symptoms are caused due to an allergic reaction to pollen, grass or dust or from a cold virus or the flu, it’s very uncomfortable to have blocked ears along with a stuffy nose and itchy eyes.

The ears become affected when fluid builds up in the middle ear. This clogs the Eustachian tube, an integral part of the middle ear. The Eustachian tube works to release pressure in the ear, much like a drainage tube. When it’s clogged, things sound muffled. Antihistamines and decongestants often can assist in getting rid of that stuffy feeling.

 Because our ears play such an important role in day-to-day life, it can be upsetting when illness or a problem temporarily diminishes our hearing. But once the symptoms go away, normal hearing should return. Any lingering problems should be checked out by your health care professional.