Ear Infections and Hearing

If you suspect any kind of ear infection, please seek medical guidance from your physician.

Outer Ear Infections

Outer ear infections are called “otitis externa”. These infections commonly occur with swimming, hence they are also referred to as “swimmer’s ear”. An outer ear infection causes redness and swelling in your ear canal and can be caused by bacteria, fungi, viral infections, or allergies. They are often painful and sometimes itchy. A conductive hearing loss may occur if flaking or oozing skin causes a blockage in your ear canal.

Middle Ear Infections

Middle ear infections commonly occur in babies, toddlers, and young children. The middle ear is the space between the eardrum and inner ear which has ossicles (the tiny bones of the ear) and air. Fluid build-up can occur in the middle ear when the eustachian tube isn’t functioning well. This could be from inflammation, swelling, malformation, or an immature eustachian tube (e.g. young children). If this fluid is infected, this is called “acute otitis media”. Sometimes these kinds of infections require medical treatment and sometimes they clear up on their own. 

When there is fluid build up behind the eardrum, it blocks sound from transferring well through the middle ear. This results in a conductive hearing loss. As fluid drains from out of the middle ear, hearing should gradually recover.

Inner Ear Infections

An inner ear infection is most common in adulthood, though children can have them as well. Inner ear infections are called “otitis interna”. There are different kinds of inner ear infections depending on what part of the inner ear is infected: labyrinthitis (an infection in the labyrinth of the inner ear) and vestibular neuritis (an infection of the vestibular nerve). Inner ear infections often cause hearing and balance issues.