How does water trapped in the ear lead to swimmer’s ear. What are the symptoms of this common summer condition. Can swimmer’s ear cause temporary hearing loss or tinnitus. How is swimmer’s ear treated and prevented.

What is Swimmer’s Ear and How Does It Occur?

Swimmer’s ear, medically known as otitis externa, is an infection of the skin lining the ear canal. This condition often develops when water becomes trapped in the ear, creating a moist environment ideal for bacterial growth. While commonly associated with swimming, any exposure to water can potentially lead to swimmer’s ear.

How does swimmer’s ear develop? When water remains in the ear canal after swimming or bathing, it can create a breeding ground for bacteria. The warm, damp environment within the ear canal becomes perfect for bacterial proliferation, leading to infection and inflammation.

Common Causes of Swimmer’s Ear

• Swimming in untreated water (lakes, rivers, oceans)
• Prolonged exposure to humid environments
• Frequent ear cleaning with cotton swabs
• Skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis

Recognizing the Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear

Identifying swimmer’s ear early can help prevent more severe complications. The initial signs often include a feeling of fullness or blockage in the ear, which may progress to more intense symptoms if left untreated.

Key Symptoms to Watch For:

1. Ear pain that worsens when touching the outer ear
2. Itching inside the ear canal
3. Redness and swelling of the outer ear
4. Discharge from the ear (clear or pus-like)
5. Difficulty hearing or muffled sounds
6. Fever in severe cases

Is swimmer’s ear more common in children? Indeed, children are more susceptible to swimmer’s ear due to their narrower ear canals, which make it easier for water to become trapped.

The Impact of Swimmer’s Ear on Hearing

Many people wonder about the potential hearing-related consequences of swimmer’s ear. Can this condition lead to hearing loss or cause ringing in the ears?

Temporary Hearing Loss

Can swimmer’s ear cause hearing loss? Yes, but it’s typically temporary. The swelling and inflammation in the ear canal can muffle sounds, leading to a temporary reduction in hearing ability. This hearing impairment usually resolves as the infection clears.

Tinnitus and Swimmer’s Ear

Does swimmer’s ear cause tinnitus? In some cases, individuals with swimmer’s ear may experience tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing sensation in the affected ear. Like the hearing loss, this symptom is generally temporary and improves with treatment.

Treatment Options for Swimmer’s Ear

Effective treatment of swimmer’s ear is crucial for quick recovery and prevention of complications. What are the standard treatment approaches for this condition?

Antibiotic Ear Drops

The primary treatment for swimmer’s ear involves antibiotic ear drops prescribed by a healthcare professional. These drops are typically used for 7-10 days and help eliminate the bacterial infection.

Pain Management

Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage the discomfort associated with swimmer’s ear. In some cases, doctors may prescribe stronger pain medication for severe cases.

Keeping the Ear Dry

During treatment, it’s crucial to keep the affected ear dry. This may involve avoiding swimming for up to two weeks and using earplugs or cotton with petroleum jelly during bathing or showering.

Preventing Swimmer’s Ear: Essential Tips

Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to swimmer’s ear. What steps can you take to reduce your risk of developing this condition?

Effective Prevention Strategies:

• Dry your ears thoroughly after swimming or bathing
• Use earplugs when swimming
• Avoid inserting foreign objects into your ears, including cotton swabs
• Consider using alcohol-based ear drops after swimming
• Maintain proper ear hygiene without over-cleaning

Why should you avoid using cotton swabs? Cotton swabs can push earwax deeper into the ear canal and potentially cause small abrasions, increasing the risk of infection.

The Relationship Between Water Activities and Swimmer’s Ear

While swimming is the most commonly associated activity with this condition, any water exposure can potentially lead to swimmer’s ear. How do different water activities impact the risk of developing this infection?

Swimming Pool Safety

Are chlorinated pools safer? While properly maintained swimming pools have lower bacteria levels than natural bodies of water, they still pose a risk for swimmer’s ear. The key is proper ear care after swimming, regardless of the water source.

Natural Water Bodies

Swimming in lakes, rivers, and oceans carries a higher risk of swimmer’s ear due to the higher levels of bacteria present in these environments. Extra precautions, such as using earplugs and thorough ear drying, are especially important after swimming in these locations.

Swimmer’s Ear in Different Age Groups

While swimmer’s ear can affect individuals of all ages, its prevalence and impact can vary across different age groups. How does the risk and management of swimmer’s ear differ between children and adults?

Children and Swimmer’s Ear

Why are children more susceptible to swimmer’s ear? Children have narrower ear canals, making it easier for water to become trapped. Additionally, children often spend more time in water during summer months, increasing their exposure risk.

Adults and Swimmer’s Ear

While less common in adults, swimmer’s ear can still occur. Adults with certain risk factors, such as frequent water exposure or a history of ear problems, may be more prone to developing this condition.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Swimmer’s Ear

Understanding when to consult a healthcare professional is crucial for proper management of swimmer’s ear. What signs indicate that medical attention is necessary?

Signs Requiring Medical Evaluation:

• Severe ear pain
• Persistent symptoms lasting more than a few days
• Fever
• Hearing loss
• Swelling or redness spreading beyond the ear

Why is prompt treatment important? Early intervention can prevent the infection from worsening and reduce the risk of complications, such as temporary hearing loss or spread of the infection to surrounding tissues.

Swimmer’s ear, while common and generally treatable, can cause significant discomfort and temporary hearing issues. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies, you can enjoy water activities with reduced risk. Remember, proper ear care and hygiene are key to preventing this condition, and prompt medical attention can ensure quick recovery if it does occur.

Swimmer’s ear common in the summer

Contributed by Joy Victory, managing editor, Healthy Hearing
Last updated June 10, 20212021-06-10T00:00:00-05:00

For many of us, summer fun includes splashing in the nearest body of water. But what happens when our desire to cool off in the water leads to a painful swimmer’s ear or even temporary hearing loss? It happens more often than you might think.

What is swimmer’s ear?

Swimmer’s ear strikes children more often

than adults.

It’s actually a skin infection

Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the skin of the ear canal, and it can be excruciatingly painful.

The infection enters the ear through bacteria found in water. All water contains bacteria, and the levels are even higher in non-treated water found in lakes, rivers and oceans. When this bacteria-laden water doesn’t drain properly from the ear canal, it becomes trapped. In the warm, moist environment of the ear canal, the bacteria multiply and cause an infection. The infection causes swelling and inflammation; not a good turn of events in a tight space such as an ear canal. The ear canal simply cannot accommodate the swelling and the resulting pain can be excruciating.

A very common problem

Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, affects millions of people every year. The numbers rise in the summer, with nearly half of cases occurring between June and August. Though mostly associated with children—as they are more susceptible due to narrower ear canals—swimmer’s ear can affect people of any age. It also occurs five times more often in swimmers than in the general population.

Even the nickname “swimmer’s ear” is somewhat of a misnomer; although common to swimmers, you don’t have to be a swimmer to get it. Sometimes just living in a hot and humid climate is enough for moisture to build up and become trapped.

“Water that stays in the ear after swimming or even showering, if you don’t get all of the moisture out and get it good and dry, then it can lead to swimmer’s ear. “

“Bacteria proliferate in a warm, moist environment,” said Bridget Redlich, infection preventionist at Lake Charles Memorial Health System in Louisiana. “Water that stays in the ear after swimming or even showering, if you don’t get all of the moisture out and get it good and dry, then it can lead to swimmer’s ear.”

Symptoms of swimmer’s ear

Swimmer’s ear can be very painful.

A full or clogged feeling in the ear that may cause sound to be muffled is often the first telltale sign of swimmer’s ear. If untreated at that point, what follows is intense pain, swelling and sometimes discharge.

Symptoms include:

Can swimmers ear cause permanent hearing loss?

Fortunately, symptoms of swimmer’s ear, including hearing loss, are temporary and get better with treatment.

Can swimmer’s ear cause tinnitus?

Sometimes a ringing in the affected ear, known as tinnitus, can occur. This, too, is usually temporary and gets better with treatment.

Treatment of swimmer’s ear

A healthcare professional can prescribe antibiotic drops; applied for seven to 10 days, they usually take care of the problem. The pain that is a hallmark of swimmer’s ear usually subsides after just a few days.

Keep the ears dry

For the infection to heal, doctors usually recommend no swimming for two weeks. In addition to no swimming (if kids must swim, use ear plugs and ear bands), during the course of treatment ears must be kept dry during bathing or showering; earplugs or cotton with petroleum jelly should be used to keep the moisture out of the ear area.

Q-tips can increase swimmer’s ear risk

Any trauma to the skin of the ear canal can also provide an entry point for the bacteria. People who use cotton swabs to clean their ears, people who scratch their ears a lot or those with eczema or psoriasis are at greater risk for swimmer’s ear due to the skin abrasions.

How do you prevent swimmer’s ear?

The best way to reduce the chances of getting swimmer’s ear is to take some easy precautions:

If you or your child develops swimmer’s ear, your summer fun doesn’t have to end. Seeing your physician or a hearing care professional to get treatment started right away will not only ease your discomfort, it will get you back in the water in no time. To find a clinic near you, visit our consumer-reviewed directory. 

When, Why, and How to Do It

Some people swear by their cotton swabs, and others say ear candles are the way to go. Maybe you’re one of those that says you should never even clean your ears.

About the only thing doctors do agree on putting anything inside your ear is a bad idea. Your ears usually do a good job cleaning themselves and don’t need any extra care. The only reason you should clean them is to soften or remove earwax from the outside of your ear canals. And if you’re going to do that, you’ll need to know how to do it carefully.

Why Your Ears Make Wax

The reason we feel tempted to clean our ears is because of that substance called cerumen, commonly called earwax. It’s normal for your body to produce it, and it actually helps protect and lubricate your ears. If you didn’t have earwax, your ears would probably be itchy and dry.

It even has antibacterial properties, which means your ears are self-cleaning. Earwax is like a filter for your ears, keeping out harmful things like dirt and dust, and trapping them so they don’t go deep inside.

When you chew and move your jaw, you help move old earwax out of the ear canal to the ear opening. That’s where it usually dries up and falls out. But earwax isn’t formed in the deep part of your ear canal; it’s made in the outer section.

So, the only reason you’d have an earwax blockage up against your eardrum, is because you tried to clean your ears with a cotton swab — or something like it — and pushed the wax in deeper.

Swabbing or sticking pointy objects inside your ear can cause other serious problems:

Should You Clean Your Ears?

Ideally, no; your ear canals shouldn’t need cleaning. But if too much earwax builds up and starts to cause symptoms or it keeps your doctor from doing a proper ear exam, you might have something called cerumen impaction. This means earwax has completely filled your ear canal and it can happen in one or both ears.

The symptoms of cerumen impaction are:

• Pain or a feeling of fullness in your ear
• Feeling like your ear is plugged
• Partial loss of hearing, which worsens over time
• Ringing in your ear, known as tinnitus
• Itching, discharge, or a smell coming from your ear
• Coughing

This kind of earwax buildup is rare, but it can happen. But if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, don’t assume earwax is the problem. Call your doctor. They can examine your ears and figure out the cause.

Your doctor can look into your ear canal with a special device and remove any earwax with small instruments, suction, or irrigation.

How to Clean Your Ears, and How Not To

If your problem isn’t serious, but you do feel like you have too much earwax buildup, you can gently clean the outside of your ears. Just use a washcloth. You also can try putting a few drops of baby oil, hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil, or glycerin in your ear to soften the wax. Or you can use an over-the-counter wax removal kit.

Besides cotton swabs or any other small or pointy objects, don’t use ear candles to clean your ears. Studies show they’re not effective and they can even cause injury. These hollow candles are supposed to be inserted into the ear canal and lit at the exposed end, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found they can cause burns and even pierce the inside of the ear.

How They Work & When They Fall Out

What Are Ear Tubes?

Ear tubes are very small metal or plastic tubes a doctor inserts in your child’s ears to help reduce the number of ear infections by allowings fluid or pus to drain. Other names for them include tympanostomy tubes, ventilation tubes, myringotomy tubes or pressure equalization tubes.

They’re like a section of a really tiny drinking straw. They’re round, hollow, and usually made of metal or plastic.

Your doctor makes a small opening in the eardrum and puts in the tube to let air into the middle ear.

Almost all children have at least one ear infection by the time they’re 5. But if they occur over and over or your child has hearing loss because of fluid build-up, your doctor might suggest ear tubes.

If other treatments aren’t working, they can provide relief for your child. They also prevent long-term hearing problems.
 

Chronic Ear Infections

These happen when viruses or bacteria collect in the middle ear, the space right behind the eardrum. Children get more ear infections than adults because their bodies are still developing.

In kids, the parts of the ear that drain fluid, the Eustachian tubes, are smaller and almost level to the ground. That means they don’t drain as well even when a young one is healthy.

When the Eustachian tubes swell or fill with mucus, perhaps during a cold, it’s even worse. It creates just the right conditions for bacteria to thrive, which can lead to infection. And for some kids, it just happens more often.

During an infection, fluid builds up in the middle ear. That creates pressure and pain. It also explains the following signs and symptoms:

• Fluid coming from the ear
• Hard time sleeping
• More fussiness or crying than normal, especially when lying down
• Seeming clumsy or having trouble with balance
• Tugging at an ear

When to Treat Chronic Ear Infections

Your doctor might take a wait-and-see approach. Often, a typical infection goes away on its own, especially if it’s from a virus. Sometimes your child needs antibiotics to kill infections caused by bacteria.

But some kids just get a lot of ear infections and sometimes they don’t clear up very easily. Usually, it doesn’t cause long-term problems, but frequent ones can lead to:

• Delays in learning speech and developing social skills
• Hearing loss
• Infection that spreads to other parts of the head
• Tears, or holes, in the eardrum

Treating Ear Problems with Ear Tubes

Whether your child needs tubes depends on their  history with infections. Your doctor might suggest tubes if your child gets a lot of them, meaning:

• Three or more in 6 months
• Four or more in a year

Most commonly, kids get tubes because of:

• Trapped fluid behind the eardrum
• Long-term infections that antibiotics haven’t helped
• Fluid buildup that causes hearing loss, even if there’s no infection
• Persistent ear infection that results in tearing or a hole in the eardrum

How Ear Tubes Work

Ears have natural ventilation through your eustachian tubes — narrow tubes that run from your middle ear to high in the back of your throat. The side of the tube in your throat opens and closes in order to:

• Stabilize air pressure
• Refresh the air in your ear
• Drain fluid

When swelling or mucus keeps natural ventilation from working, ear tubes act as a small window for your ear. They provide an alternative way to help air flow into and out of the ear, which keeps pressure even and helps the ear drain better.

With better airflow, fluid won’t build up and bacteria won’t have such a friendly home.

If your child has hearing loss from fluid buildup, it goes away as soon as the tubes are in. For delays in development, you’ll likely see improvement in the weeks and months ahead.

Ear Tube Surgery

Before your child’s surgery, you will likely get instructions from the hospital. Children who need to be given something to sleep will have to fast, or go without eating, for a certain number of hours before the surgery. Your child won’t be able to eat anything and can drink only certain liquids.

Check with your doctor to make sure you know:

• How long your child has to fast
• What liquids are OK
• If your child can take any medicine beforehand

Your doctor also will want to know about:

• Any medicine your child takes
• Problems that your child or anyone in your family has with drugs used for anesthesia (which make you unconscious so you won’t feel pain)
• Your child’s drug allergies 

For adults getting ear tubes, your doctor may have similar questions.

Children, like some adults, will have concerns about what’s happening. To help them get ready for surgery, you may want to:

• Ask questions so they can talk about their feelings and you can make sure they’re not confused about anything.
• Be specific about how the surgery will help, such as, “Your ear will feel so much better!”
• Talk ahead of time about going to the hospital. A good general rule is to talk 2 days ahead of time for a 2-year-old, 3 days for a 3-year-old, and so on.
• Let them pick a toy or blanket to take to the hospital.
• Remind them you’ll be there the whole time.

As you talk with children, it’s best to avoid certain phrases. If you say “put you to sleep,” that may remind them of a pet that’s been put down. Instead, you could talk about how a special doctor has medicine to help them sleep really well. The words “cut” or “make a hole” may make a child think of pain. Instead, you can say “make a small opening.”

On the day of the surgery, the first step for younger children is to get medicine so they’ll sleep through the procedure. The main reason is to make sure your child doesn’t move during the procedure.

You’ll take your youngster to a hospital or outpatient surgery center, and doctors will keep a close eye on their heart rate, oxygen, and blood pressure to make sure everything’s going well.

Older children and adults can have the surgery while they’re awake. For them, it can be done in the doctor’s office.

Ear tube surgery takes only about 15 minutes. During it, the surgeon:

• Makes a tiny cut in the eardrum with a scalpel or laser
• Removes fluids from the middle ear with suction
• Puts the tube into the hole in the eardrum

After it’s over, your child will go to a recovery room so nurses and doctors can be sure there were no problems. If all is well, you should be able to take your child home within a few hours.

Surgery and anesthesia can make kids groggy and possibly nauseated for the rest of the day. They should be back to normal after 24 hours.

Your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment 2 to 4 weeks after the surgery to see if the tubes are in the right place and working well.

Risks of Ear Tube Surgery

Ear tube surgery is a safe procedure and doesn’t pose much serious risk. However, your child could have:

• Bleeding or infection
• Scars or weakness in the eardrum
• Tubes that fall out
• Drainage of ear fluid that doesn’t stop
• Blockages in the tubes from blood or mucus
• Eardrums that don’t close after tubes are removed

Some children have problems after being under anesthesia, and may have:

• An allergic reaction
• Trouble breathing
• Heart irregularities
• Nausea or vomiting

During recovery, talk to the doctor if your child has:

• Yellow, brown, or bloody ear discharge for more than a week
• Pain
• Hearing problems
• Balance problems

Ear Tube Surgery Recovery

Children who have been given anesthesia take some time to fully wake up.

They may be groggy, fussy, or a little queasy in the first 24 hours, but after that, they should be back to normal. You can usually take them home a few hours after the surgery.

Your child can go home right away if they weren’t given any anesthesia. The same is true for adults who get tubes.

Your doctor will talk to you about next steps. If everything goes as expected, this might mean a follow-up in 2 to 4 weeks, a hearing test, or ear drops to limit fluid coming from the ears.

If you see yellow, brown, or bloody fluid from the ear for more than a week after surgery, tell your doctor. You’ll also want to check with them if your loved one has ear pain, hearing problems, or trouble with balance.

Some ear tubes are for the short-term. They go in for 6 to 18 months and usually fall out on their own. Others are designed to stay in for longer. They may fall out on their own or might need to be taken out by a doctor.

Once the tubes are out, the opening in the eardrum usually closes on its own. If it doesn’t, your doctor may do a procedure to fix it.

7 Ways to Get Water Out of Your Ears

Now that we’re entering what is traditionally the hottest time of the year in Pennsylvania, many are seeking out water activities to cool off. It’s a great way to beat the heat and humidity, but if you aren’t careful, water can get into your ears and become trapped, causing an infection. Left untreated, you might even experience temporary hearing loss. Needless to say, it’s important to remove as much water as possible from your ears in order to avoid complications such as these.

Tried and True Techniques for Removing Trapped Water

West Chester residents looking for ways to cool off during the dog days of summer often seek out bodies of water. Landlocked Pennsylvania might not have the best surfing conditions, but there are plenty of rivers and lakes in which to swim around. One of them is pretty Great. Regardless of where you dip your toes, water can cause problems when it gets inside your ears.

Signs of water in your ear canals include sounds that appear muffled and a plugged-up feeling in the ears. You might also experience ear pain, loss of balance and coordination, ringing in the ears, runny nose and sore throat. Unless properly removed, trapped water can lead to swimmer’s ear, surfer’s ear and other conditions that may cause a painful infection and side effects that include hearing loss.

We’re betting that doesn’t sound very fun to you! To prevent water from remaining in your ears after a swim or shower (or romp in the kiddie pool), try the following techniques.

• The Gravity/Jiggling Technique. Gravity is a wonderful thing; you can harness its power by lying on the ground with your ear facing the floor; tilting your head and jiggling your earlobe should free any trapped water. A cotton swab can help speed up the process.
• The Valsalva Maneuver. Scuba divers and airline travelers are familiar with this trick. Close your mouth, plug your nose and blow it using modest pressure. This should help equalize the pressure in your ears.
• The Vacuum Technique. No need to bust out the Hoover; simply place your palm over the plugged-up ear and press down softly for a few seconds. This will create a suction effect that will help loosen and drain trapped water.
• The Hairdryer Technique. You can use a hairdryer to help dry out water trapped in your ear. Turn it onto the low heat setting and aim it at your ear from a safe distance. Even if you don’t get it all, the rest should drain within a few minutes.
• The Pulling Technique. Pull back on the outer portion (concha) of your ear by reaching around behind your head and giving it a tug. This straightens out the ear canal so that trapped water has an easy drainage path.
• The Chew and Yawn Technique. Chewing gum and yawning are often effective ways to remove water from your ears. Movement of the mouth relieves pressure in the Eustachian tubes, freeing trapped water. Try shaking your head afterward if you still feel water in there.
• The Chemical Technique. If these tricks don’t work, there are always over-the-counter ear drops designed to remove moisture from your canals. Look for alcohol-based products for best results.

Of course, if water never gets into your ears in the first place, you won’t need any of these handy tips. Going swimming? Your audiologist in Pennsylvania recommends wearing swim plugs or a swim cap. Always dry your ears thoroughly after exposing them to water. If you are plagued by ear pain or pressure after you’ve spent time in the water and are unable to get it to drain with the above techniques, schedule an appointment with an ear, nose and throat doctor in Pennsylvania.

Tinnitus Ringing in the Ears Treatment and Relief

Tinnitus takes on

many forms

Constant ringing, buzzing, whistling and; hissing sounds in the ears can point to a common condition called Tinnitus. Besides soft-to-loud ringing in the ears, the most common form of Tinnitus produces soft-to-loud humming or rushing-water sounds. 

Tonal Tinnitus causes a constant chiming sound in the ears, like a musical note played again and again.

Pulsatile Tinnitus produces a sound that pulsates in time to one’s heartbeat.

Mixed Tinnitus symptoms are characterized by multiple noises heard at the same time.

Objective Tinnitus is very rare and produces noises heard not only by the affected individual, but by others as well. 

Should you get help managing your Tinnitus from a Beltone hearing care professional? 

Although frustrating, Tinnitus is rarely serious. If you are experiencing constant ringing in the ears, or similar unexplained noises, you should see a hearing care professional. 

Visit your local Beltone Hearing Center for a free, comprehensive hearing evaluation that includes an audiogram, medical history, and physical ear examination designed to pinpoint the origin of your Tinnitus—and put you on the road to Tinnitus relief.

It’s easy to make an appointment with a hearing care professional near you.

Tips for

Tinnitus relief  

It’s true that Tinnitus has no cure, but it is possible to achieve Tinnitus relief.  

• Avoid loud noise and wear ear protection when you can’t avoid loud noise 
• Pay special attention to your blood pressure—high blood pressure can be a culprit
• Watch your diet—decreasing salt intake and stimulants such as coffee, soda, tobacco, and aspirin can help
• Make sure to monitor your stress level
• Get ample rest and exercise moderately a few days a week
• Use a competing sound such as a radio, white-noise maker, or fan to help “cancel out” the constant “ringing in the ears” you hear.
• Track  your Tinnitus symptoms in order to identify common triggers.  

Get Beltone’s

Tinnitus Calmer App 

Distract your brain from focusing on your Tinnitus with the help of Beltone’s Tinnitus Calmer app. Available on iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch®, and Android™ devices, the app offers a combination of sound therapy and relaxation exercises that help provide relief from Tinnitus.

Download the FREE app on the iPhone App Store and Google Play Store.

Hearing aids can provide Tinnitus relief

According to a study in The Hearing Review, approximately 60 percent of people with Tinnitus experienced at least some relief from hearing aids, and approximately 22 percent found substantial relief.

When a person begins to lose their hearing, the brain changes the way it processes sound, which can  cause Tinnitus symptoms. Often, the better you hear other sounds clearly, the less you will perceive your Tinnitus. Visit your local Beltone office to discuss your options with a hearing care professional.  

Find your local Beltone Center

Blocked Eustachian Tubes | Michigan Medicine

Topic Overview

What are the eustachian tubes, and how do they get blocked?

The eustachian (say “you-STAY-shee-un”) tubes connect the middle ears to the back of the throat. The tubes help the ears drain fluid. They also keep air pressure in the ears at the right level.

When you swallow or yawn, the tubes open briefly to let air in to make the pressure in the middle ears equal to the pressure outside of the ears. Sometimes fluid or negative pressure gets stuck in the middle ear. The pressure outside the ear gets too high. This causes ear pain and sometimes trouble hearing.

See a picture of the eustachian tube.

What causes blocked eustachian tubes?

Swelling from a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection can keep the eustachian tubes from opening. This leads to pressure changes. Fluid may collect in the middle ear. The pressure and fluid can cause pain. You also can have ear pain from changes in pressure while you are flying in an airplane, driving up or down mountains, or scuba diving. Fluid in the ear can lead to an infection (acute otitis media). Young children have a high risk of ear infections, because their eustachian tubes are shorter and more easily blocked than the tubes in older children and adults.

What are the symptoms?

Blocked eustachian tubes can cause several symptoms, including:

• Ears that hurt and feel full.
• Ringing or popping noises in your ears.
• Hearing problems.
• Feeling a little dizzy.

How are blocked tubes diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms. He or she will look in your ears. The doctor also may check how well you hear.

How are they treated?

Blocked eustachian tubes often get better on their own. You may be able to open the blocked tubes with a simple exercise. Close your mouth, hold your nose, and gently blow as if you are blowing your nose. Yawning and chewing gum also may help. You may hear or feel a “pop” when the tubes open to make the pressure equal between the inside and outside of your ears.

If you can’t open the tubes, your doctor may suggest an over-the-counter pain medicine. If you have allergies, the doctor may prescribe a steroid medicine that you spray into your nose. Decongestants that you take by mouth or spray into your nose may be helpful. You may need antibiotics if you have an ear infection.

A warm washcloth or a heating pad set on low can help with ear pain. Put a cloth between the heating pad and your skin so you don’t burn your skin. Do not use a heating pad with children.

In some cases, people need surgery for a blocked eustachian tube. The doctor makes a small cut in the eardrum to drain fluid and to make the pressure the same inside and outside the ear. Sometimes the doctor will put a small tube in the eardrum. The tube will fall out over time.

How can you keep your eustachian tubes from getting blocked?

If you have allergies, talk to your doctor about how to treat them so your sinuses stay clear and your eustachian tubes stay open.

When you are in an airplane, you can chew gum, yawn, or drink liquids during takeoff and landing. Try the exercise where you gently blow while holding your nose shut.

Causes | American Tinnitus Association

Tinnitus is not a disease in and of itself, but rather a symptom of some other underlying health condition. In most cases, tinnitus is a sensorineural reaction in the brain to damage in the ear and auditory system. While tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, there are roughly 200 different health disorders that can generate tinnitus as a symptom. Below is a list of some of the most commonly reported catalysts for tinnitus.

Please note: Tinnitus, by itself, does not necessarily indicate any one of the items listed below. Patients experiencing tinnitus should see their physician or a hearing health professional for a full examination to diagnose the underlying cause of symptoms. In some cases, resolving the root cause will alleviate the perception of tinnitus.

Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is a commonly accompanied by tinnitus. Some researchers believe that subjective tinnitus cannot exist without some prior damage to the auditory system. The underlying hearing loss can be the result of:

• Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) – Hearing often deteriorates as people get older, typically starting around the age of 60. This form of hearing loss tends to be bilateral (in both ears) and involve the sensory loss of high-frequency sounds. Age-related hearing loss explains, in part, why tinnitus is so prevalent among seniors.
• Noise-induced hearing loss – Exposure to loud noises, either in a single traumatic experience or over time, can damage the auditory system and result in hearing loss and sometimes tinnitus as well. Traumatic noise exposure can happen at work (e.g. loud machinery), at play (e.g. loud sporting events, concerts, recreational activities), and/or by accident (e.g. a backfiring engine.) Noise induced hearing loss is sometimes unilateral (one ear only) and typically causes patients to lose hearing around the frequency of the triggering sound trauma.

It is important to note that existing hearing loss is sometimes not directly observable by the patient, who may not perceive any lost frequencies. But this this does not mean that hearing damage has not been done. A trained audiologist or other hearing health professional can perform sensitive audiometric tests to precisely measure the true extent of hearing loss.

The exact biological process by which hearing loss is associated with tinnitus is still being investigated by researchers. However, we do know that the loss of certain sound frequencies leads to specific changes in how the brain processes sound. In short, as the brain receives less external stimuli around a specific frequency, it begins to adapt and change. Tinnitus may be the brain’s way of filling in the missing sound frequencies it no longer receives from the auditory system.

Obstructions in the Middle Ear

Blockages in the ear canal can cause pressure to build up in the inner ear, affecting the operation of the ear drum. Moreover, objects directly touching the ear drum can irritate the organ and cause the perception of tinnitus symptoms. Common obstructions include:

• Excessive ear wax (ceruminosis)
• Head congestion
• Loose hair from the ear canal
• Dirt or foreign objects

In many cases, the removal of the blockage will alleviate tinnitus symptoms. However, in some situations, the blockage may have caused permanent damage that leads to chronic tinnitus.

Head and Neck Trauma

Severe injury to the head or neck can cause nerve, blood flow, and muscle issues that result in the perception of tinnitus. Patients who ascribe their condition to head and neck trauma often report higher tinnitus volume and perceived burden, as well as greater variability in both sound, frequency, and location of their tinnitus.

Tinnitus related to head, neck, or dental issues is sometimes referred to as somatic tinnitus. (“Somatic” derives from the Greek somatikos, meaning “of the body.”)

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Another example of somatic tinnitus is that caused by temporomandibular joint disorder. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is where the lower jaw connects to the skull, and is located in front of the ears. Damage to the muscles, ligaments, or cartilage in the TMJ can lead to tinnitus symptoms. The TMJ is adjacent to the auditory system and shares some ligaments and nerve connections with structures in the middle ear.

Tinnitus patients with a TMJ disorder will experience pain in the face and/or jaw, limited ability to move the jaw, and regular popping sounds while chewing or talking.  A dentist, craniofacial surgeon, or other oral health professional can appropriately diagnose and often fix TMJ issues. In many scenarios, fixing the TMJ disorder will alleviate tinnitus symptoms.

Sinus Pressure and Barometric Trauma

Nasal congestion from a severe cold, flu, or sinus infection can create abnormal pressure in the middle ear, impacting normal hearing and causing tinnitus symptoms.

Acute barotrauma, caused by extreme or rapid changes in air or water pressure, can also damage the middle and inner ear. Potential sources of barotrauma include:

• Diving / Snorkeling / Scuba
• Flying (only during extreme, abnormal elevation changes; normal commercial air travel is generally safe)
• Concussive explosive blasts

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Traumatic brain injury, caused by concussive shock, can damage the brain’s auditory processing areas and generate tinnitus symptoms. TBI is one of the major catalysts for tinnitus in military and veteran populations. Nearly 60% of all tinnitus cases diagnosed by the U.S. Veterans Administration are attributable to mild-to-severe traumatic brain injuries.

Ototoxic Drugs

Tinnitus is a potential side-effect of many prescription medications. However, in most cases and for most drugs, tinnitus is an acute, short-lived side-effect; if the patient stops taking the medication, the tinnitus symptoms typically receed. However, there are some ototoxic drugs known to cause more permanent tinnitus symptoms. These include:

• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
• Certain antibiotics
• Certain cancer medications
• Water pills and diuretics
• Quinine-based medications

If you are worried about tinnitus as a side effect of your medications, please consult your subscribing physician or pharmacist. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting with your healthcare provider. The risks of stopping a medication may far exceed any potential benefit.

Other Diseases & Medical Conditions

• Tinnitus is a reported symptom of the following medical conditions:
• Metabolic Disorders: Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Anemia
• Autoimmune Disorders: Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia
• Blood Vessel Disorders: High Blood Pressure, Atherosclerosis
• Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Anxiety, Stress
• Vestibular Disorders: Ménière’s Disease,Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Otosclerosis
• Tumor-Related Disorders (very rare): Acoustic Neuroma, Vestibular Schwannoma, other tumorous growths

Again, a person experiencing tinnitus should not assume that he/she has one of the medical conditions listed above. Only a trained healthcare provider can appropriately diagnose the underlying cause of tinnitus.

90,000 Tinnitus. Causes and methods of treatment

The concept of “tinnitus” came to us from the Latin language and in translation means “ringing or tinnitus”. This noise can be extremely different. It ranges from a low hum and heartbeat to high-pitched squeaks and tones. Tinnitus can be perceived in one ear, in both ears, or felt as a noise in the head.

Is tinnitus a social disease?

Tinnitus can rightfully be called a social disease.Although it is actually a symptom (such as a fever or pain) and not a disease in the true sense of the word, tinnitus can develop into a disease in its own right under certain circumstances. In complex decompensated tinnitus, tinnitus is accompanied by other symptoms, such as depressed mood, sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, anxiety symptoms and various somatic complaints.

Signs of tinnitus and causes of the disease

The question about the causes of tinnitus is asked very often, but it is not easy to answer it. It is impossible to say specifically how you can protect yourself from acute hearing loss and / or tinnitus. Except perhaps the noise, which is one of the main reasons. A healthy lifestyle can also help keep us from getting tinnitus.

Often, tinnitus occurs temporarily after intense stress, including noise. If this stress stops and the person has the opportunity to rest in silence, then the tinnitus disappears. But if these situations occur frequently, they can lead to persistent tinnitus.Occasional tinnitus can also be caused by treatment with certain medications.

Unfortunately, tinnitus is an accompanying symptom of many other diseases that have nothing to do with the ear, such as multiple sclerosis, metabolic disorders, heart rhythm disorders, thyroid diseases, allergies, dental and jaw problems, spinal injuries, etc. .d. This list can be continued for a long time. All sorts of combinations of different diseases should be added to it.

An important aspect that I would like to emphasize is progressive hearing loss, which most people simply do not notice. For them, the foreground is tinnitus, which they want to get rid of without fail. Therefore, patients often refuse various measures, such as hearing aids and other therapies that require their active participation. All they want is a tinnitus pill.

The exact cause of tinnitus cannot be determined in many cases.Except when it is a consequence of acute sensorineural hearing loss or other ear diseases (otosclerosis, otitis media, hereditary diseases leading to hearing loss up to complete deafness, swelling, etc.). Noise is one of the main causes of hearing damage and tinnitus today. More than 50% of young people from time to time feel “ringing” after listening to music that is too loud.

Acute and chronic tinnitus

The first step is to establish the difference between acute and chronic tinnitus, and in the case of acute tinnitus, between objective tinnitus, which others can hear, and subjective tinnitus, which we mainly discuss.Objective tinnitus can in most cases be corrected with surgical and other medical procedures. In the acute stage of subjective tinnitus, i.e. immediately after its first manifestation and within the first three months, it makes sense to conduct an accurate diagnosis and therapy. In this case, it is necessary to diagnose not only the hearing organs, but also other important functional areas of the body. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment. In doing so, otolaryngologists rely on the “Guidelines for Acute Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Tinnitus” developed by the Society of Otolaryngology.

Age structure with tinnitus

The age structure can be described from the results of our epidemiological study. Of course, with age, the likelihood of developing any kind of health problem, which includes tinnitus, increases. But there are also young people who suffer from tinnitus, which especially bothers them and limits them at the very beginning of their professional life. All patients experience the same basic fear: “What is behind tinnitus, what a serious disease?” Therefore, the first step is to conduct a conversation with patients, free them from fear and explain the mechanism of the onset of tinnitus, regardless of the cause of its appearance. After all, it is in stressful situations, with stress and physical exertion, that tinnitus is further enhanced.

Young people express the following concerns: “What will happen if I start talking about tinnitus at work? What will become of my career? ” Unfortunately, many of these fears are justified.

Recently, transient tinnitus has been increasingly diagnosed in children. But in many cases, parents who have tinnitus themselves are to blame for their child’s focus on tinnitus.For example, after a middle ear infection or after a rock concert, short-term tinnitus may occur, which usually disappears. Other reasons include poor posture and school stress, as well as acoustic classroom conditions, social relationships, and parental pressure to achieve a successful maturity certificate from a child. In conversation with parents, it is often found that tinnitus is more intimidating to adults than to the child.

Evolution of tinnitus therapy

There is still no cure for tinnitus. But there are effective therapeutic methods such as retraining therapy, distraction therapy, etc. The range of methods requiring active patient participation is quite wide. It includes the use of masking noise, prosthetics with hearing aids, awareness training with yoga, etc., and even psychotherapy. Experience shows that cognitive behavioral therapy is most successful.

There are many studies currently underway that study the effects of drugs, music therapy, sound therapy, magnetic field therapy, direct magnetic stimulation, antiphase noise, etc.But when conducting any research, it is imperative to take into account what the patient is like, what could have caused him tinnitus, how long he suffers from it, what is the state of his hearing, what other diseases can play a role in this process, etc.

Only when all these aspects are taken into account can targeted treatment begin. Because: “You should always treat the person, not tinnitus.” In our experience, the main therapeutic problem is that doctors indiscriminately apply different methods of treatment, like “shooting with a shot”, regardless of the patient’s state of health or his personality. They do not sufficiently distinguish which therapeutic method is appropriate for each patient. But numerous studies suggest that new treatments should emerge in the coming years.

Elke Knor,

President of the German Tinnitus League

Ear congestion – causes of occurrence, for what diseases it occurs, diagnosis and treatment

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication.In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For a diagnosis and correct treatment, you should contact your doctor.

Ear congestion: causes, diagnosis and treatment.

Definition

A congestion of the ear or ears arises both from a violation of sound perception and is characterized by various sensations, including deafness, a feeling of squeezing and heaviness, too strong sounding of one’s own voice. Ear congestion, regardless of the cause of its occurrence, is difficult for the patient and, as a rule, requires the help of a specialist.

Types of ear congestion

A congestion in one or both ears may be accompanied by pain, tingling, noise or ringing in the ears, and dizziness. In some cases, the congestion disappears after the act of swallowing.

A dangerous symptom is considered to be ear congestion with the addition of increased body temperature, headache, discharge from the ear (purulent or bloody), sensation of a foreign body.

Ear congestion is not always indicative of a pathological process. This condition can be caused by water entering the ear , pressure drop during an air flight or diving. Sometimes too strong and incorrect blowing out simultaneously from two nasal passages leads to the ear (ears) being blocked, which is associated with an increase in pressure in the middle ear chamber due to a sharp intake of air from the Eustachian tube. Taking some medications (antibiotics, psychotropic substances) has a toxic effect on the ear, provoking the development of congestion and hearing loss.

Diseases in which ear congestion can develop

Sulfur plug that clogs the ear canal. Attempts to remove earwax on your own using improvised items significantly increase the likelihood of pushing the plug deeper into the ear and adhesion of the earwax to the eardrum (this increases the risk of injury to the eardrum, leading to complete or partial hearing loss).In these cases, the condition of congestion in the ears is accompanied by excruciating pain, noise, dizziness and nausea.

Mycotic, or fungal, lesion of the external auditory canal . Fungus infection can be complicated by narrowing or blockage of the ear canal, which can lead to a feeling of congestion in the ears. Hearing aids, in-ear headphones, and inflammatory ear diseases aggravate the spread of fungi in the ear. The main signs of the disease are itching, ear congestion and the resulting hearing loss, increased sound of one’s own voice in the diseased ear.

Damage to the external auditory canal and structures of the middle ear may be accompanied by hearing impairment and congestion. Bleeding and the formation of a blood clot, which clogs the ear canal, leads to poor sound transmission. In addition, injury to the eardrum is possible during cleaning of the ear canal, a sharp drop in pressure, a strong blow to the outer ear. In this case, a sharp pain occurs, which is replaced by congestion, ringing, noise and hearing impairment.

Acute inflammatory diseases are accompanied by edema, and sometimes the formation of purulent contents. They can lead to ear congestion and hearing loss. In particular, with otitis media (tympanitis) , the tympanic cavity and auditory tube are involved in the inflammatory process. Edema, narrowing the lumen of the auditory tube, and suppuration of soft tissues cause ear congestion and hearing impairment. Typically, the infection enters this sterile cavity from the Eustachian tube, which is directly connected to the nasopharynx.

In children of the first and second year of life, acute otitis media can occur when breast milk or formula enters the nasopharynx during regurgitation.

In older children, otitis media and congestion can be caused by inflammation of the adenoids – the lymphoid tissue responsible for local immunity of the nasopharynx and closing the opening of the auditory tubes in the nasopharynx. The anatomical proximity of the adenoids and the auditory tube ensures the rapid passage of the infection from the nasopharynx to the ears.In addition, enlarged adenoids can block the opening of the auditory tube, which causes a feeling of congestion.

Allergic reactions can also lead to acute inflammation and swelling of the middle ear.

Otitis externa is characterized by inflammation of the external auditory canal. The congestion in the ear in this case occurs due to swelling of the tissues of the ear canal.

If the disease is caused by ingress of a foreign body into the ear canal , then edema and congestion are complemented by a picture of severe irritation.The patient complains of severe itching, pain, bloating, heat in the ear. The pain increases with chewing movements.

With furunculosis of the external auditory canal, the picture of the disease is aggravated by a closed space where the inflammatory process develops. The growing pain in the ear is complemented by its irradiation to the corresponding half of the head. The patient cannot lie on the sick side. Due to the strong edema of the tissues of the external auditory canal, sound conduction into the sore ear is disturbed, a feeling of congestion arises.

The number of anatomical and postoperative defects that cause ear congestion include curvature of the nasal septum, narrowing of the nasal passage due to hypoplasia of the wings of the nose, stenosis of the external valve of the nose.

Violation of nasal breathing leads to the frequent appearance of a runny nose, infection of the sinuses and, as a result, to the transition of the inflammatory process into the auditory tube.

Ear congestion in these cases appears on the side of the narrow nasal passage.The same consequences occur after operations in the area of ​​the nose.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to damage to any part of the auditory nerve. Most often, this is an irreversible phenomenon, the symptoms of which include imbalance, dizziness, nausea, congestion and noise in the ear, poor perception of low sounds. The causes of sensorineural hearing loss can be transferred infectious and vascular diseases, tumor processes, trauma, toxic effects of various substances.

Meniere’s disease is a non-suppurative disease of the inner ear, which is accompanied by its congestion. An increase in the volume of lymph in the labyrinth of the ear leads to increased pressure and attacks of progressive deafness, tinnitus, and sudden dizziness. In most cases, one ear is affected first. The disease begins either with attacks of dizziness, or with hearing impairment, which is fully restored between attacks. However, after a few years, hearing loss becomes irreversible.

Myofascial pain syndrome, diseases of the temporomandibular joint . Patients with myofascial pain syndrome, which is associated with impaired activity of the chewing muscles and limited mobility of the lower jaw, may also complain of ear congestion. In addition, the disease is accompanied by head and facial pains, difficulty opening the mouth, clicking in the temporomandibular joint.

The root cause of the syndrome is a spasm of the masticatory muscles.A similar clinical picture is also given by diseases of the joint itself caused by malocclusion.

Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels, rise in blood pressure . Congestion in the ears with damage or narrowing of blood vessels is explained by a deterioration in the blood supply to all tissues, as well as a violation of blood circulation in the inner and middle ear.

Vasomotor rhinitis, or runny nose during pregnancy occurs under the influence of hormonal changes and is characterized by impaired vascular tone and secretion of mucous secretions.With allergic rhinitis, the clinical picture of the disease is almost the same, but the provoking factor is not hormones, but a specific allergen. Swelling of the mucous membrane and narrowing of the nasal passages lead to a violation of the patency of the auditory tube and cause ear congestion.

Tumors in the area of ​​the ear canal, auditory tube and inner ear are the most serious cause of ear congestion. Among them should be called cholesteatoma – a tumor-like formation, which consists of epidermal cells saturated with cholesterol.Cholesteatoma is characterized by slow but steady growth. Forming in the middle ear, it can spread to the outer and inner ear, causing congestion and heaviness in the ear, purulent discharge, swelling and redness of the auricle.

Which doctor should you contact with ear congestion

If you experience ear congestion, you should consult an otorhinolaryngologist. In the future, you may need a consultation
therapist,
pediatrician,
gynecologist, neurologist, cardiologist, allergist.

Diagnostics and examinations in case of ear congestion

To diagnose the disease that caused the congestion of the ear, a careful examination of the patient, examination of the external ear and auditory canal up to the tympanic membrane, audiometric examination is necessary. The infectious nature of the disease is determined on the basis of the clinical picture, otoscopy data and seeding of the discharge.

Tinnitus treatment: how to get rid of obsessive sounds?

Humming, buzzing and ringing are common manifestations of tinnitus.Tinnitus can be difficult to treat, especially if the cause is not understood. The article highlights approaches to therapy and how hearing aids are the solution in this situation.

Tinnitus greatly affects the quality of life. This condition is characterized by constant hum, hiss, or ringing in the ears. As a rule, these are manifestations of a more serious problem. Although many forms of the disease cannot be completely cured, almost all of them can be mitigated. If you suffer from lack of concentration, insomnia and persistent tinnitus, you need to undergo diagnosis and treatment.

Why are my ears ringing?

Difficult question and for each person the answer will be different. Tinnitus is a general term for any tinnitus. It can vary in pitch, volume, and strength, but it usually includes these persistent sounds:

Your experience of tinnitus may differ from that of others.For example, you hear a loud ringing, and someone is annoyed by a dull roar. While some people can easily ignore these sounds, others struggle to hear anything other than them. Tinnitus may increase, appear and disappear, or change in pitch over time.

Regardless of the manifestation, tinnitus seriously affects daily life.

Symptoms and side effects of tinnitus

• Lack of concentration.With persistent tinnitus, it can be difficult to stay calm and focus on learning or work tasks.

• Insomnia. Most of us need silence to get a good rest during sleep, and tinnitus can greatly interfere with this.

• Irritability. It is promoted by a lack of sleep and, as a result, a deterioration in the ability to concentrate. Nervousness, in turn, can jeopardize relationships with other people.

• Difficulty hearing. If the buzzing or ringing in your ears is particularly loud, you may have trouble hearing and making out anything else in the background.

• Memory problems. It has been proven that tinnitus affects the ability to remember, since the brain needs to allocate resources to stay abreast of the events of the surrounding world and to produce the right sounds; then there is little room for memorizing details.

• Social isolation. It becomes difficult to communicate if there is a noticeable ringing in the ears, ranging from moderate to severe. By not wanting to ask people to speak louder or repeat what you said, you can start avoiding communication altogether.

• Loss of pleasure from sounds. Music and television can become unhealthy due to the presence of constant background noise in the ears.

• Anxiety and stress.When tinnitus starts to affect your life, it can lead to stress at work, in relationships, and in general, an increase in general anxiety.

• Mental fatigue. In situations where your brain is forced to constantly strain to make out some sound through the hum, it gets very tired. Even if you are not consciously trying to hear something in the noise, you may feel very tired at the end of the day.

• Depression. Isolation from society, anxiety, and other possible negative effects of tinnitus can exacerbate the problem and cause depression.In such a situation, it is vital to take the right action to treat tinnitus.

Why is there tinnitus?

Tinnitus does not happen on its own, there are always real reasons for this. More often than not, it is a symptom of a deeper problem. Such as general hearing loss, injury, or blockage of the ear canal.

Whatever the cause of tinnitus, hearing testing and diagnosis is important.This will enable the doctor to determine what type of tinnitus you have:

• Objective tinnitus is very rare. It is characteristic that the sound is also heard by your doctor. When examining the ear, he can find a blood vessel or muscle that is causing the noise.

• Subjective noise is more common. In this case, during the examination, the doctor will not be able to hear anything due to the fact that only you can hear this sound.There are many causes of this type of tinnitus, but most cases involve some type of hearing damage.

Concerning the cause of tinnitus, there are several options. Although some are more likely than others, tinnitus is a symptom of many conditions:

• Sensorineural hearing loss. This is the most common reason. This happens when the fine hairs inside the cochlea begin to degrade, which can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus.

• Abnormal bone growth. If the small bones in the middle ear do not grow well, it can cause tinnitus and conductive hearing loss.

• Circulatory problems. As mentioned, a damaged vein in the ear can cause a constant ringing or buzzing sound.

• Medicines. Certain medications are known to cause tinnitus. In these cases, it is recommended to cancel them or change them to others.

• Head injuries. Some people get tinnitus after car accidents or head bumps. Over time, it often goes away, but sometimes it can stay forever. Many of these cases only appear on one side of the head.

• Temporomandibular joint disorder , which is a problem with the temporomandibular joint, can lead to tinnitus in some people. If you have tinnitus and this is the problem, see your healthcare professional.

• Locks. A blockage in the ear canal, usually caused by earwax , can cause tinnitus and conductive hearing loss. As soon as the block disappears, the problem goes away.

How to remove tinnitus

Treatment methods for this condition are different and their choice depends on the cause. Therefore, before starting therapy, it is important to visit your doctor and undergo a complete hearing diagnosis. This includes a physical exam and a hearing test to help the doctor locate a possible source of the problem.If tinnitus is objective, then you need to look for the muscle or blood vessel that needs treatment. If it is subjective, then it is necessary to check if the reason for hearing loss is.

Tinnitus caused by a blockage in the ear canal or swelling, circulatory problems, muscle spasms, or medication can be treated with obvious methods. That is, to clear the ear canal, to treat circulatory or muscle problems, and also to start taking other medications.However, tinnitus caused by hearing loss awaits other solutions. Which one you choose is up to you. Your experience with hearing loss is completely unique, and how you choose to approach it is up to you.

Your doctor or hearing aid supplier can provide advice on how to deal with this problem. If you have moderate enough tinnitus, it will only show its effects during quiet moments. White noise generators can be bought online and they generate background noise when you sleep, study, or relax.If you need a more consistent coverage, the Tinnitus Maskers can provide the sound you need to muffle noise. If your tinnitus is drowned out by the sound of water pouring out of the tap, you will most likely benefit from creating white noise or noise in your ear mask.

However, those with more severe tinnitus may need other solutions. Tinnitus therapy exists to “retrain” your brain so that you can ignore tinnitus, and some hearing aids have built-in programs for this.If tinnitus is caused by hearing loss, then hearing aids solve more than one problem.

How hearing aids can help with tinnitus

With sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, it is important to remember that tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease in itself. Although tinnitus is a visible factor on the surface, it is only part of a more serious problem. Using a masker or white noise generator will not fix the underlying problem – hearing loss.

Although you may not notice a hearing loss, it actually affects your life much more than it seems. Once your hearing loss is compensated for, you will be able to hear better and the tinnitus will also be felt less. New natural sounds such as human voices, music and birdsong will replace the hum that you mostly heard before. As mentioned, many hearing aids also include tinnitus masking programs, giving you the opportunity to focus directly on the problem.Even if tinnitus is the main issue you want to address, hearing loss treatment can kill two birds with one stone.

If you would like to learn more about hearing loss and ear health, Signia offers in-depth articles on these and other topics, including an overview of hearing aids. Newsletter will keep you informed and information is already available. The more we learn about our ears, the better we can confront problems like tinnitus when they occur.

Coronavirus can cause long-term hearing loss

October 14, 2020

Photo author, Getty Images

A 45-year-old Briton with coronavirus has completely lost his hearing. According to doctors, this is the first such case in their practice.

Unexpected hearing loss is sometimes observed with complications after a viral infection, but in the case of coronavirus, this has not yet been described in medical practice.

At the same time, otorhinolaryngologists argue that hearing loss can be avoided with the timely use of steroids.

Ringing in the ears is an alarm

Photo author, Getty Images

Photo caption,

Doctors are advised to pay special attention to hearing problems in patients with coronavirus

A patient suffering from asthma was admitted to a London hospital with symptoms of Covid-19 and was admitted to intensive care because he had difficulty breathing.

Analyzes confirmed the diagnosis, and the patient was connected to a ventilator. He was prescribed several medications, as well as a blood transfusion, after which he went on the mend and after 30 days was disconnected from the ventilator.

However, a week after leaving intensive care, the patient began to feel ringing in his ears, and then suddenly became deaf in his left ear.

Investigation showed that hearing loss was most likely due to damage to either a nerve or middle ear, or both, but not due to inflammation or blockage of the ear canal.

Doctors call Covid-19 the only possible cause of such injuries.

After a course of steroid pills and injections, hearing partially returned, but never fully recovered.

Experts believe that the virus could penetrate into certain types of lung cells due to the receptors on their surface and infect them.

These same receptors are found on the surface of the cells lining the middle ear.

Therefore, doctors are now advised to pay special attention to hearing problems in patients with coronavirus and, in the event of unexpected hearing loss, immediately refer them to the appropriate specialists who can take measures to avoid long-term hearing loss.

Tinnitus was called a sign of serious health problems

https://ria.ru/20210115/vitamin-1593115563.html

Tinnitus was called a sign of serious health problems

Tinnitus was called a sign of serious health problems – RIA Novosti, 15.01.2021

Tinnitus was called a sign of serious health problems

Regular tinnitus may indicate serious health problems. Express writes about this with reference to the data of American researchers.RIA Novosti, 15.01.2021

2021-01-15T00: 57

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MOSCOW, January 15 – RIA Novosti. Regular tinnitus can indicate serious health problems.Express writes about this, citing data from American researchers. Scientists have found that ringing in the ears – tinnitus – indicates a lack of vitamin B12 in the body. It is a water-soluble vitamin also called cobalamin. It is not only responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, but is involved in the production of red blood cells and DNA. According to experts, B12 is also required for the production of myelin, the protective and insulating sheath that surrounds nerves. Lack of vitamin A leads to poor communication between nerves, which can contribute to tinnitus.B12 deficiency can also cause tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, muscle weakness, and loss of reflexes. Tinnitus – ringing or tinnitus without external acoustic stimulus. This sensation can be characterized by patients as hum, hiss, whistle, ringing, noise of falling water, chirping of grasshoppers. There is still no cure for tinnitus. However, in practice, conservative methods of treatment are used: drug therapy, physiotherapy, reflexology and hearing aids. Earlier it became known that a thick and reddened tongue can be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency, the lack of which increases the risk of pernicious anemia.

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MOSCOW, January 15 – RIA Novosti. Regular tinnitus may indicate a serious health problem.Express writes about this, citing data from American researchers. Scientists have found that ringing in the ears – tinnitus – indicates a lack of vitamin B in the body ₁₂ . It is a water-soluble vitamin also called cobalamin. He is not only responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, but is involved in the production of red blood cells and DNA.

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According to experts, B ₁₂ is also necessary for the production of myelin, a protective and insulating sheath that surrounds nerves.Lack of vitamin A leads to poor communication between nerves, which can contribute to tinnitus.

B deficiency ₁₂ can also cause tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, muscle weakness and loss of reflexes.

Tinnitus – ringing or tinnitus without external acoustic stimulus. This sensation can be characterized by patients as hum, hiss, whistle, ringing, noise of falling water, chirping of grasshoppers.

There is still no cure for tinnitus.However, in practice, conservative methods of treatment are used: drug therapy, physiotherapy, reflexology and hearing aids.

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Earlier it became known that a thickened and reddened tongue may be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency, the lack of which increases the risk of pernicious anemia.

Why does ringing in the ears occur in cold weather?

The onset of a cold winter can be stressful for people who are concerned about the effects of cold on hearing.Below is some useful information about the causes of tinnitus in cold weather and the available remedies to reduce these symptoms.

The onset of a cold winter can be stressful for people who are concerned about the effects of cold on hearing. Below is some useful information about the causes of tinnitus in cold weather and the available remedies to reduce these symptoms.

What is tinnitus?

A condition known as tinnitus is a common cause of tinnitus, especially in winter.Sounds such as buzzing, hissing, clicking, or roaring may also be heard. This condition can worsen with age in people with hearing loss, hearing injuries, or circulatory problems.

The severity of tinnitus or tinnitus varies from patient to patient and can cause significant inconvenience or discomfort. Fortunately, no one else hears these sounds except you, except in the extremely rare cases of objective tinnitus, where the doctor hears the same sounds as you do during a hearing test.

What causes ringing in the ears?

Tinnitus can occur for a number of reasons, including the following:

• Hearing Loss
• Stress
• Long-term exposure to noise
• Damage to the inner ear
• Exposure to ear hair
• Increased pressure in the ear due to cold, flu or sinusitis
• Water ingress into the middle ear
• Sulfur plug
• Certain disorders, such as abnormal growth of bone in the middle ear (otosclerosis)
• Injury or trauma to the ear

Prevention and treatment of tinnitus in winter

The tips below can help you reduce discomfort or prevent tinnitus in cold weather:

• Use protective equipment: Prolonged exposure to cold in winter can cause serious damage to skin and hearing.Exposure to cold and humidity encourages water to enter the ear, leading to surfer’s ear syndrome or may affect your hearing aids. There is also an increased risk of abnormal bone growth in the ear (exostosis). Warm hats or ear muffs also provide ear protection during the cold season.
• Removing excess earwax: Earwax hardens in winter, which can easily lead to wax plugging. You can use simple home cleaning procedures, such as rinsing your ear with water.However, this comes with a certain risk. To avoid ear damage or hearing loss, it is best to have a doctor or hearing care professional remove excess earwax.
• Using Hearing Aids: Sounds from external sources reduce the brain’s ability to generate sound, so the best treatment for hearing loss is to use hearing aids that are selected by a specialist.
• Cleaning the hearing aid: When a foreign object is in the ear for a long time, more wax is generated.People who use hearing aids are at a higher risk of tinnitus. To avoid this, clean your ears as needed (preferably with your healthcare professional). Also, clean your hearing aid regularly to ensure it performs at its best.
• Hearing Test: It makes sense to get a hearing test if you don’t know what exactly is causing your tinnitus. A hearing care professional can determine the cause of the tinnitus, if your hearing is impaired, or if your hearing aid needs to be updated.
• Treating an underlying medical condition: Sometimes treating an underlying medical condition, such as the common cold, flu, sinus congestion, ear infection, or otosclerosis, can help relieve tinnitus.
• Sound Therapy: Some hearing aids can also be used to mask tinnitus. These products use technology to turn on BGM or white noise. Signia also offers unparalleled hearing aids with built-in Notch Therapy.

When to see a doctor

To ensure that your hearing is functioning properly, you can make an appointment with your healthcare professional and have a hearing test.Your doctor may also check for sulfur plugs and remove them as needed. For severe tinnitus, canaloplasty may be required, a surgical procedure in which the external auditory canal is opened and any abnormal growths or bony growths are removed.

In some cases, hearing aids, such as those with built-in Notch Therapy, can help reduce or eliminate symptoms of tinnitus. Contact your doctor using our center finder (Signia Tinnitus Centers section) so you don’t have tinnitus or discomfort this winter.

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90,000 why is formed, symptoms and treatment of sulfur plug

A plug in the ear is formed when there is excessive accumulation of wax filling the ear canal. Gradually, the formation becomes denser, blocking the ear canal.

A patient without an objective reason in the form of trauma, any infectious disease or neoplasm significantly decreases hearing acuity and other unpleasant symptoms appear.

Functions of earwax

Earwax contains the following components: secretions secreted by the skin glands in the ear, small amounts of sweat, fat, cholesterol, antibacterial substances, fatty acids and desquamated epithelial cells.

Earwax performs the following functions:

• protects the ear canal from dirt and pathogenic microflora;
• prevents fungal and infectious diseases, preventing microorganisms from multiplying;
• provides removal of dead epithelium from the ear;
• protects the skin of the ear from irritating effects of water;
• prevents dehydration of the skin in the ear canal;
• provides maintenance of a normal acid-base balance.

In a healthy body, excess earwax is removed due to the physiological characteristics of the ear canal.

Why does sulfur plug form?

What causes the plug in the ear? Quite often, ear plugs occur if personal hygiene is not observed, but there are many other reasons for the increased production of sulfur in the ears, namely:

• Excessive amount of sulfur is formed with increased secretory activity of the glands.
• Skin diseases (inflammation of the skin, fungal infections and other diseases).
• Injuries from inaccurate ear cleaning.
• Foreign body or thick hair in the ear canal.
• Unfavorable working conditions (dust, dirt at the workplace).
• Anomalies in the development of the organ of hearing.
• Regular use of devices such as headphones or hearing aids.
• Presence of neoplasms in the ear.

In addition, wax plugging in the ear can form during swimming due to swelling of the wax.

Symptoms of a sulfur plug in the ears

In some cases, the appearance of a sulfur plug in the ear causes pain due to a constant increase in its size and mass.However, most patients do not complain of pain until the moment when there is already a complete blockage of the auditory canal. Pathology manifests itself unexpectedly – water enters the ear, provoking a very rapid growth in the volume of the plug.

When the ear canal is blocked, the following symptoms are observed.

• the patient hears a ringing in the ears;
• hearing loss;
• dizziness and headaches appear;
• the patient feels that the ear canal is blocked;
• the patient suffers from localized pain.

A fairly common symptom – when talking, the patient feels the reflection of his voice in the ear, which is affected. In addition, in some cases, the eardrum is under strong pressure, which provokes nausea, cough, and migraine. Prolonged pressure on the membrane can cause myringitis and otitis media.

When the first symptomatology of a wax plug in the ear appears, you should immediately contact a qualified specialist who will conduct a comprehensive examination and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Diagnosis of pathology

How to understand that there is a sulfur plug in the ear? Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis. An otolaryngologist diagnoses the pathology by examining the ear using otoscopy. The consistency of the plug is determined with a special probe, after which the doctor chooses a method for removing earwax. Also, the otolaryngologist identifies possible causes of tinnitus by examining the hearing organs for the presence of a foreign body or neoplasm.

Treatment of sulfur plug

It is forbidden to remove the plug at home – this can stimulate the development of the inflammatory process or damage the hearing organ. If the plug has a soft consistency, the doctor uses rinsing.This technique is contraindicated in cases where the tympanic membrane is damaged. Before removing ear plugs, soften them using hydrogen peroxide for several days.

Dry earwax removal is performed with a special instrument – an ear hook, forceps and a spoon. After the procedure, the specialist inserts a turunda with an aseptic agent into the ear.

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