There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, caused by a physical blockage that prevents soundwaves from traveling through the ear; sensorineural, caused by damage to the sensory cells within the inner ear; and mixed, which is a combination of the two. Let’s focus on conductive hearing loss and the different factors that can cause it.
Malformed Outer Ear
You can be born with conductive hearing loss if your outer ear is malformed. Microtia/anotia is a congenital malformation of the ear, “in which the external ear (auricle) is underdeveloped and either abnormally shaped (microtia) or absent (anotia),” reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These types of malformations can prevent soundwaves from being able to travel through the ear.
In many cases, a malformed ear can be corrected with surgery.
Impacted Earwax
It’s especially common for earwax to become impacted among people who wear hearing aids since the ear canal is blocked by the device, preventing wax from working its way out of the ear canals. This can also occur if you wear earbuds regularly, produce a lot of earwax or push earwax deep into the ear with a Q-tip. Symptoms of impacted earwax include earache, feeling of fullness in the ear, itchy ear, odor or discharge from the ear, hearing loss, dizziness and tinnitus (ringing in the ear).
You can attempt to remove impacted earwax by purchasing over-the-counter eardrops to soften the wax, applying them as directed and then irrigating your ears in the shower. If this doesn’t work, visit an expert at North Alabama ENT Associates to have it professionally removed.
Fluid in the Ear
The Eustachian tubes are the passageways between the middle ear and the back of the throat. Their job is to allow fluid to drain from the middle ear and to equalize pressure between the ears and the environment. If they become inflamed due to a respiratory infection or allergies, fluid can pool in the middle ear, and in some cases, bacteria begin to grow.
The best way to address fluid in the ear is to treat the underlying condition, like taking an antihistamine for allergies or decongestants in the case of a cold. While a physician will take a wait-and-see approach to most ear infections, they will prescribe antibiotics if they suspect a bacterial infection.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call North Alabama ENT Associates today.