Can ear infections cause hearing loss?

There are a variety of factors and circumstances that

contribute to hearing loss including environmental exposure to loud noise,

heredity, aging, and medical conditions. Existing medical conditions such as

hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes have been linked to hearing

loss. Another kind of medical condition that can also contribute to the

development of hearing loss is: ear infections.

How Hearing Works

To understand how ear infections impact hearing, it is

important to know how hearing works. Hearing involves a complex process that

involves all of the components that make up our ears:

• Outer Ear: consists of the most visible part of the ear and the ear canal (also known as the auditory canal).

• Middle Ear: the ear drum separates the

  outer from the middle ear which includes the ossicles, three tiny bones that

  are connected, and the Eustachian tube. This tube connects the middle ear to

  the throat and maintains the pressure within the middle ear so that fluid or

  air pressure does not accumulate.

• Inner Ear: includes the cochlea (filled

  with hair cells and fluid), canals responsible for balance, and the auditory

  nerve which sends information to the brain.

The outer ear absorbs sound from the environment which

travels through the ear canal and strikes the eardrum. This causes the eardrum

to vibrate and the soundwaves are amplified and sent further into the ear with

the help of the ossicles. The cochlea is triggered and the movement of the hair

cells (and fluid) helps translate the soundwaves into electrical signals that

the auditory nerve carries to the brain. When any part of the ear is damaged,

this process is disrupted, this is known as hearing loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Ear infections can cause conductive hearing loss which is

one of three types (the other two are sensorineural and mixed hearing loss).

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is impact or damage to the outer or

middle ear. This can be caused by several factors including: wax buildup,

fluid, abnormal bone growths or tumors, and ear infections. These obstructions

restrict or prevent soundwaves from traveling through the ear canal to the

inner ear. This results in people struggling to hear distinct words and

sentences because sounds are muffled and unclear. Conductive hearing loss is

often temporary and curable!

Types of Ear Infection

There are different types of ear infections that can cause temporary hearing loss:

• Otitis Externa: is the infection of the

  ear canal which results in inflammation and swelling. This can be caused by

  foreign objects entering the ear, excess of wax and most commonly, swimmer’s

  ear. Swimmers ear occurs when there is too much water remaining in the ear.

• Otitis Media: is the infection of the

  middle ear resulting from the buildup of fluid behind the eardrum. This can be

  caused by colds, allergies, or upper respiratory infections. These conditions

  cause the back of the throat and the Eustachian tube to swell. The Eustachian

  tube connects the throat to the middle ear and is responsible for balancing the

  pressure in the middle ear. When inflamed, it is unable to do this and the

  accumulation of pressure creates a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum (as

  fluid is prevented from being drained as what normally occurs).

Though people of any age can experience ear infections, they

are most common among children. This is because their immune system and

Eustachian tube are not as developed as an adult’s.

Symptoms

There are specific symptoms that are commonly experienced as a result of middle-ear infections including:

• Fever

• Earache

• Pressure in the ears

• Dizziness and nausea

• Secretions from the ear (pus, fluid)

• Pulling or scratching ear

• Difficulty hearing

• Sounds and speech are muffled

This results in hearing loss, pain, and discomfort that should be evaluated and treated as soon as possible.

Treatment

Fortunately, there are effective ways to treat and

ultimately cure this type of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss caused by

ear infection is commonly treated through medical procedures, treatments, and

medication. Ear infections can simply subside over a short time or can also be

treated with antibiotics and eardrops. Chronic ear infections can be treated through

a minor surgical procedure. This procedure involves opening the eardrum to

remove excess fluid, making a small incision and placing a ventilation tube

that prevents the buildup of fluid.