The medical name for what most people call an ear infection is otitis media. Ear infections are most prominent after a sinus infection or a cold, and though they’re fairly common in babies and young kids, adults can be impacted as well. An ear infection can even be caused by an infected tooth.
A prominent symptom of a middle ear infection is hearing loss, but is it temporary or permanent? The answer is not always a straightforward one. When someone has an infected ear, a lot is happening there. It’s important to get a better understanding of the damage that an ear infection can do and how hearing is impacted in order to better understand the risks.
Otitis Media – Exactly What is it?
Simply stated, an infection of the middle ear is the common name for otitis media. Bacteria are the most prevalent cause, but any type of microorganism could also be the cause.
There are different types of ear infections, depending on where in the ear they develop. Otitis externa, also known as swimmer’s ear, happens when the outer ear, or pinna, gets infected. Labyrinthitis is the term for an infection of the cochlea.
The space in front of the cochlea but behind the eardrum is the middle ear. The three tiny bones that vibrate the inner ear membrane, known as ossicles, are housed in this part of the ear. Often, this type of infection puts so much pressure on the eardrum that it ruptures, causing a great deal of pain. Your inability to hear is also a result of this pressure. The movement of soundwaves is impeded when material from the infection accumulates enough to obstruct the ear canal.
Here are a few symptoms of adult ear infections:
- Hearing loss
- Pain in the ear
- Ear drainage
Hearing will usually come back with time. The ear canal opens back up when the pressure diminishes. Your hearing recovers when the infection is resolved. This is not always the case, though.
When Ear Infections Become Chronic
Ear infections happen at least one time in most people’s lives. Other people might develop ear infections again and again, making them chronic. More substantial and potentially permanent hearing loss can be the result of complications from chronic ear infections, and that’s even more likely with neglected ear infections.
Ear Infections Can Cause Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss can be the result of ear infections. This means that sound waves are too weak by the time they reach the inner ear. Sound waves become powerful enough to vibrate the components of the inner ear by being amplified by mechanisms along the ear canal. Conductive hearing loss results when changes in the canal diminish the sound wave’s ability to get enough amplification.
When you have an ear infection, bacteria in the ear get a bit out of control. In order to survive, they need nourishment, which causes them to feast on the parts of the ear canal responsible for sound amplification. The tiny bones and the eardrum are normally part of this damage. It only takes a small amount of damage to break apart these fragile bones. When these little bones are destroyed, they don’t ever come back. You won’t get your hearing back after this type of irreversible damage. Prosthetic bones can sometimes be surgically installed. The eardrum could have some scar tissue that interferes with its movement after it heals. This can also be addressed by surgical procedures.
Is it Possible to Prevent This Irreversible Loss of Hearing?
The first thing to do if you think you might have an ear infection is to consult a physician. Your chance of a smooth recovery depends on getting prompt treatment. Never disregard chronic ear infections. How much damage is done has a lot to do with the severity of the infection. Ear infections are usually the result of sinus infections, colds, or allergies, so do your best to avoid them. Your risk of developing chronic ear infections is increased by smoking, so if you do, quit now!
Consult a doctor if you’re still having issues after an ear infection. You might have some damage, but other things besides ear infections can lead to conductive hearing loss. Hearing aids can be beneficial if you find out that you have any permanent hearing loss.
