What are ear infections? What is otitis externa? What causes otitis externa? What are the symptoms of otitis externa? What is the difference between acute otitis externa, recurrent otitis externa and chronic otitis externa? What is the treatment for otitis externa?

Understanding Ear Infections

Ear infections, medically known as otitis, are a common health issue that can affect the external, middle, or inner ear. One type of ear infection is otitis externa, which refers to an inflammation of the skin in the outer ear canal. This condition is often caused by a bacterial or fungal infection and can lead to symptoms such as earache, ringing, and temporary hearing loss.

Causes of Otitis Externa

Otitis externa is typically caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. Certain factors can increase the risk of developing this condition, including:

• Frequent exposure of the ear to water, such as from swimming or showering
• Excessive earwax buildup, which can trap moisture and bacteria
• Skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis that affect the ear canal
• Irritation from chemicals or foreign objects entering the ear
• Middle ear infections that produce discharge that becomes trapped in the ear canal

Symptoms of Otitis Externa

The primary symptoms of otitis externa include:

• Earache or pain
• Ear discharge or drainage
• Temporary hearing loss or a feeling of blockage in the affected ear
• Itching or irritation in the ear canal
• Swelling or redness around the ear

In some cases, the lymph nodes near the affected ear may also become swollen and tender.

Acute, Recurrent, and Chronic Otitis Externa

Otitis externa can be classified into three main types based on the duration and frequency of the infection:

• Acute otitis externa – The infection lasts for less than three months, often just a week or two.
• Recurrent otitis externa – The infection keeps coming back, with periods of improvement followed by new episodes.
• Chronic otitis externa – The infection persists for more than three months, sometimes for years. This is often due to underlying issues that haven’t been fully addressed.

Treating Otitis Externa

The treatment for otitis externa typically involves a combination of the following:

• Prescription ear drops containing antibiotics, antifungals, or steroids to clear the infection and reduce inflammation
• Over-the-counter ear drops containing acetic acid to help dry out the ear canal
• Oral antibiotics or antifungal medications in more severe or persistent cases
• Addressing underlying issues that may be contributing to the infection, such as excess earwax or skin conditions

It’s important to follow the instructions carefully and complete the full course of treatment to ensure the infection is fully resolved and doesn’t recur.

Preventing Otitis Externa

To help prevent otitis externa, it’s important to keep the ear canal dry and avoid irritation. Some tips include:

• Use earplugs or swim caps when swimming to keep water out of the ears
• Avoid inserting cotton swabs, hairpins, or other objects into the ear canal, as this can damage the skin and increase the risk of infection
• Gently clean the outer ear with a damp washcloth, but avoid sticking anything into the ear canal
• Treat any underlying skin conditions that may affect the ear canal
• Seek prompt medical attention if you suspect an ear infection to prevent it from worsening

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you experience persistent or severe symptoms of otitis externa, such as severe pain, fever, or signs of a more serious infection, it’s important to seek medical attention promptly. Your healthcare provider can properly diagnose the condition and prescribe the appropriate treatment to help resolve the infection and prevent complications.

Conclusion

Otitis externa, or an ear infection of the outer ear canal, is a common and often treatable condition. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options can help you effectively manage this type of ear infection and prevent it from recurring. By taking steps to keep the ear canal dry and clean, and seeking prompt medical attention when needed, you can help maintain your ear health and prevent the discomfort and potential complications associated with otitis externa.

Ear Infection (Otitis Externa) | Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

What are ear infections?

Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE

What is otitis externa?

Otitis means inflammation of the ear. The inflammation is usually due to an infection. Otitis externa means that the inflammation is confined to the external part of the ear canal and does not go further than the eardrum. See separate leaflet called Ear Infection (Otitis Media), for an infection of the middle ear.

Anatomy of the ear

Your ears do the remarkable job of allowing you to hear a huge range of sounds, from a whisper t…

What causes otitis externa?

Otitis externa is an infection of the skin of the ear canal and is very common. The ear canal is a narrow, warm, blind-ended tunnel, which makes it a good protected environment for germs to grow in if they are given a chance. Most infections are caused by a germ (bacterium). Occasionally, they can be due to a fungal or yeast infection.

Some things can make you more prone to otitis externa – for example:

Substances entering the ear
If you regularly get water in an ear then this may provide moisture for germs to grow. It may also cause itching. You may then scratch or poke the ear. This can damage the skin in the ear canal and cause inflammation. Inflamed skin can quickly become infected. A vicious circle may then develop. The inflammation and infection cause more itch, you then scratch more, which then can makes things worse.

If you get shampoo, hairspray or other products into your ear this may have the same effect and may be worse, as the chemicals may additionally irritate the sensitive skin of the canal.

Swimming
Otitis externa is much more common in regular swimmers, due to water getting into the ear canal. In fact, otitis externa is sometimes called swimmer’s ear. It is more likely if you are swimming in water which isn’t clean, such as ponds.

Warm weather
Otitis externa is more likely to develop in hot, humid and ‘sweaty’ weather. It is more common in hot countries.

Skin problems
Eczema or psoriasis may affect the ear canal and make the skin inflamed and flaky. If this happens then otitis externa is more likely.

Excessive earwax
This can lead to trapping of water and debris in the ear canal. Bugs (bacteria) can thrive in these conditions and infection then occurs easily.

Ear syringing to clear earwax
This may irritate the delicate lining of the ear canal and cause inflammation. Earwax is protective of the ear canal, and if too little is left it is easier for infection to take hold. 

Middle ear infections
Sometimes middle ear infections (otitis media) can produce persisting discharge which can become stuck in the ear canal and then cause otitis externa.

What are the symptoms of otitis externa?

Common symptoms include itch, ear discharge, temporary dulled hearing and pain. Your ear may feel blocked or full.

Both ears can be affected; however, more often otitis externa affects one ear only. Sometimes the glands in your neck or around your ear can become enlarged and sore.

What is the difference between acute otitis

externa, recurrent otitis externa and chronic otitis externa?

The only difference between these three ‘types’ of otitis externa is the length of time for which you have had the condition.

Acute otitis externa – this term means you have had the condition for less than three months. Usually, in fact, you will only have it for a week or so.

Recurrent otitis externa – this term means the condition keeps coming back. You have episodes that get better (or seem to get better) but then you develop the same symptoms again.

Chronic otitis externa – this term means the condition has lasted (persisted) for more than three months. Sometimes it can last for years. This is often because, even though you have had treatment, the underlying reasons for it are still there.

What is the treatment for otitis externa?

Most people with otitis externa are given treatment without having any tests, as the diagnosis is usually clear from examination of the ear. If you recognise the condition yourself you could try some ear drops for otitis externa. These are available without prescription, such as those containing 2% acetic acid.

Ear drops are usually enough to cure a bout of short-lasting (acute) otitis externa. However, other treatments are sometimes added. This is more likely to be necessary if you notice any of the following:

• Your ears are particularly painful or swollen.
• Your ears are completely blocked (so that the drops can’t penetrate properly).
• Your otitis externa keeps coming back or has become persistent (chronic).

It is also very important that you take steps to help things settle down, as if the conditions that caused the otitis externa in the first place are unchanged, it may well come back.

Ear drops or sprays

A doctor or nurse will usually prescribe a short course of ear drops or an ear spray. These usually contain an antibiotic to clear any infection and a steroid to reduce the inflammation and itch. A combination of flumetasone and clioquinol is often used. It may take a week or so of treatment for symptoms to go completely. If one does not work well then a doctor or nurse may advise changing to another type with different ingredients.

If your otitis externa is thought to have resulted from overuse of antibiotics you may be given drops containing a steroid only.

If your otitis externa is being caused by an inflammatory skin condition (such as eczema or psoriasis), bacteria or fungal germs are not always involved and the ear may be chronically itchy but will not be painful. Again you may be given ear drops containing a steroid only. However, if your ear is painful or swollen it is likely that your doctor or nurse will want you to use drops which contain antibiotics too.

Painkillers

Otitis externa can be very sore, particularly if you touch the outside part of the earlobe close to the ear canal. Paracetamol or ibuprofen will usually ease any pain. Stronger painkillers are occasionally needed. If you hold a hot cloth (flannel) against the ear it may also ease pain.

Ear wick

Sometimes, particularly if the ear canal is very swollen and blocked, you may be treated with a wick. This is a piece of gauze soaked in treatment drops and pushed gently into the ear canal between the swollen walls. This makes sure that the treatment is held in contact with the sore skin for as long as possible. The wick is usually changed every 2-3 days until things have settled.

Ear canal cleaning

It may be helpful for the doctor or nurse to clear away discharge and dust from the ear canal. This is to allow the treatment (drops) to make better contact with the lining of the ear canal, so that they can be more effective. The ear canal may be cleaned by gentle swabbing, by suction or by careful syringing. This cleaning may need to be repeated after a few days.

Oral antibiotics

If the infection is particularly severe or there is infection in the skin around the ear (cellulitis) then you may be given antibiotic tablets to take by mouth, usually in addition to the ear drops. It is important to complete the course.

Referral to a specialist

This may be needed for such measures as cleaning the ear canal of discharge, putting in a wick, or for a more detailed examination of the ear if things don’t settle.

How do I make sure the treatment works?

Let the discharge escape: try not to leave balls of cotton wool in the ear canal. If the discharge is heavy, you may need to place some cotton wool lightly in the outer part of the canal to mop it up. If you do this, replace it frequently with a fresh piece.

Use the ear drops correctly: sometimes otitis externa does not clear because ear drops are not used correctly. You have to put them in as often as prescribed to be fully effective. If the drops come out of the ear quickly, they may not work so well. When using drops:

• Lie with the affected ear upwards.
• Put several drops in the ear and remain lying in this position for 1-2 minutes.
• Press the cartilage at the front of the ear canal a few times to push the drops deep inside the ear canal.

Keep your ears dry (apart from the drops): this will help the current attack to settle down and help to prevent future attacks (see below). It is best to avoid swimming and getting water in the ears whilst you have otitis externa. Getting more water in the ears (particularly if it isn’t clean water, or it it contains detergents or other chemicals) will tend to make things worse.

What if the treatment doesn’t work?

These treatments, together with your prevention measures, will clear up most cases of otitis externa. However, your doctor or nurse may consider a few other measures if it still continues.

Allergy

Some people develop an allergy or sensitivity to the ear drops used for otitis externa. You can be allergic to the antibiotic or to the preservative. The itch and discharge may then become worse when you use the drops, rather than better. If this is suspected then a change to an ear drop low in preservatives may be advised and sometimes a steroid-only ear drop may be tried.

Fungal infections

Most infections of the ear canal are caused by germs (bacteria). These germs usually clear up with antibiotic drops. Occasionally, however, chronic otitis externa is due to a fungal infection. Fungal germs are not killed by antibiotics and may be made worse. If your otitis externa does not clear with the usual treatment, a small sample (a swab) may be taken to see if fungi are present. It may take several weeks of antifungal ear drops to clear a fungal ear infection.

Middle ear infections

If the ear canal is full of discharge it may be difficult for a doctor or nurse to tell whether it is from the outer ear (otitis externa) or from a middle ear infection (otitis media) which has come through a burst eardrum. If infected material from behind the eardrum leaks into the ear canal it will tend to cause otitis externa in addition to the otitis media. This condition may need oral antibiotics.

Necrotising otitis externa

This is a very rare condition, which is unlikely to affect you unless you have impaired immunity. The otitis externa infection spreads to the bone beside the ear and causes swelling, discharge and pain. People with this condition are likely to feel very unwell. It is mainly caused by a germ called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It requires a lengthy course of antibiotic ear drops and tablets.

How can I prevent otitis externa?

There are several things that will help prevent otitis externa from occurring in the first place, from returning after treatment, or from becoming chronic. It’s particularly important to try to do these if you know you are prone to the condition:

Don’t clean your ear canal with cotton buds. You may damage and irritate the inflamed skin and also push wax further into the ear. Wax is designed to come out by itself. Just clean the outside of the ear with a cloth when any discharge appears. Don’t scratch or poke the ear canal with anything, as you may scratch the delicate lining.

Keep your ears dry. If water gets in there, tip it out as soon as possible. You can also help dry your ears with the low heat setting of a hairdryer. When you swim try wearing a tightly fitting cap that covers the ears. Some swimmers use silicone rubber earplugs but you should only use them if they do not irritate the skin in your ear canal. When you come out of the pool do your best to tip the water out of each ear. Jumping up and down before you do so may help free it.

Try not to let soap or shampoo get into your ear canal. If you are prone to otitis externa you can do this when you have a shower, by placing a piece of cotton wool coated in soft white paraffin (eg, Vaseline®) into the outer ear.

Use prevention drops.  Some swimmers use acetic acid drops (obtainable from pharmacies) in their ears before and after swimming. This can help prevent infection. Peroxide drops have also been used for the same reason, although some doctors and nurses worry that these may irritate healthy tissue.

Consider wax dissolving drops. If you tend to have excessive wax and flakiness, proprietary wax drops from pharmacists, or olive oil, can melt out some of the wax. This helps to keep the ear canal clear and to prevent water trapping.

Return to the doctor or nurse if things don’t settle. Very occasionally, the germs (bacteria) which infect the ear canal are resistant to some antibiotic ear drops. A change to a different type of ear drop may be helpful. Sometimes a small sample (a swab) of the discharge is taken and sent to the laboratory to identify which germ is causing the infection. If the infection is severe, antibiotic tablets may be needed in addition to drops.

Barotrauma of the Ear.

Stretched Or Tense Ear

What is barotrauma of the ear?

Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE

Barotrauma means damage to tissues caused by a difference in pressure between an air space inside the body.

Barotrauma of the ear is the most common type of barotrauma. It is where you have ear pain and dulled hearing because of unequal pressure that develops between the air in the middle ear and the air outside the ear.

What causes barotrauma of the ear?

The small space in the middle ear behind the eardrum should normally be filled with air. This air space is connected to the back of the nose by a tiny channel called the Eustachian tube. The air on either side of the eardrum should be at the same pressure for the eardrum to vibrate and function normally.

If the air pressure outside the ear quickly increases then this pushes the eardrum inwards which can be painful. The tensed eardrum also cannot vibrate as well as it should and so you may also have dulled hearing. To relieve the tensed eardrum, the pressure inside the middle ear has to rise quickly too. Air needs to travel up the Eustachian tube into the middle ear to equalise the pressure.

The most common example of barotrauma affects some air travellers. As a plane descends to land, the air pressure becomes higher. This pushes the eardrum inwards. If the pressure inside the middle ear is not equalised quickly then you can get ear pain. Other situations where air pressure may quickly rise outside the ear are during scuba diving, diving to the bottom of a swimming pool, or rapidly descending in a lift (elevator).

Why are some people affected more than

others?

The Eustachian tube is normally closed but opens from time to time when we swallow, yawn or chew. So, in most people, normal swallowing and chewing allow air to flow up or down the Eustachian tube to equalise the air pressure quickly either side of the eardrum.

However, the Eustachian tube in some people does not open as easily and so the pressure may not be equalised so quickly. For example, some people may have a more narrow Eustachian tube than normal. Also, if you have any condition that causes a blockage to the Eustachian tube then the air cannot travel up or down.

The common cause of a blocked Eustachian tube is from mucus and inflammation that occur with colds, throat infections, hay fever, etc. Any condition causing extra mucus in the back of the nose can cause this problem.

How can I prevent ear pain when I fly?

Ideally, anyone with a cold, respiratory infection, ear infection, etc, should not fly. However, not many people will cancel their holiday trips for this reason. The following may help people who develop ear pain when flying:

• Suck sweets when the plane begins to descend. Air is more likely to flow up the Eustachian tube if you swallow, yawn or chew. For babies, it is a good idea to feed them or give them a drink at the time of descent to encourage them to swallow.
• Try doing the following: take a breath in. Then, try to breathe out gently with your mouth closed and pinching your nose (the Valsalva manoeuvre). In this way, no air is blown out but you are gently pushing air into the Eustachian tube. If you do this you may feel your ears go ‘pop’ as air is pushed into the middle ear. This often cures the problem. Repeat this every few minutes until landing – whenever you feel any discomfort in the ear.
• Do not sleep when the plane is descending to land. (Ask the air steward to wake you when the plane starts to descend.) If you are awake you can make sure that you suck and swallow to encourage air to get into the middle ear.

The above usually works for most people. However, if you are particularly prone to develop ‘aeroplane ear’, you may wish to also consider the following in addition to the tips above:

• A decongestant nasal spray can dry up the mucus in the nose. For example, one containing xylometazoline – available at pharmacies. Spray the nose about one hour before the expected time of descent. Spray again five minutes later. Then spray every 20 minutes until landing. Decongestants are not suitable for young children.
• Air pressure-regulating ear plugs. These are cheap, reusable ear plugs that are often sold at airports and in many pharmacies. These ear plugs may help slow the rate of air pressure change on the eardrum. It is not yet known how effective they are but some people find them helpful.

See separate leaflet called Ears and Flying for more options and more details.

What about divers?

Normal practice of divers is to descend and ascend slowly which should give time for the air pressures to equalise either side of the eardrum. Divers can do the Valsalva manoeuvre (described above) too. You should not dive if you have a condition that may cause a blocked Eustachian tube, as this may cause severe barotrauma and severe ear pain.

Are there any complications?

Ear pain can be severe but in most cases no serious damage is done to the ear. Occasionally, the eardrum will tear (perforate). However, if this occurs, the eardrum is likely to heal by itself, without any treatment, within several weeks. See separate leaflet called Perforated Eardrum for more details.

Earache & Tinnitus Treatment – Fort Collins Headache Center

You may be plagued by the presence of earaches in your life. They might even seem to be related to chronic headaches or migraines, if you are also experiencing those. These particular earaches don’t respond to antibiotics and continually reappear. The fact is these types of earaches aren’t related to issues within the ear itself. They are often the result of underlying problems within the oral system. More plainly stated, chronic earaches and chronic headaches are both common problems for individuals with teeth or jaw related issues. Here at Fort Collins Headache Center we are fully aware of this intricate connection between the mouth, ears and jaw.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jaw to the skull. It allows for the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body and has one of the highest activity rates. The TMJ is an engineering marvel but it is prone to dysfunction. It joins the jaw to the skull less than an inch from the inner ear, and when the joint hurts the ear often hurts too. The pain can feel like a simple earache, but it’s not. No amount of antibiotics will ease the discomfort, which can also radiate throughout the head as headaches and migraines and other issues. These complaints are collectively known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

Dysfunction of the TMJ is commonly related to the teeth, specifically an imbalanced bite or grinding of the teeth. When the top and bottom teeth aren’t properly aligned (malocclusion) biting and chewing can create a powerful force that radiates through the jaw and breaks down the TMJ. Teeth grinding (bruxism) and clenching the jaws can cause teeth to wear and break. This creates or worsens a malocclusion, which worsens the damage to the TMJ. TMD is the eventual outcome, which will lead to chronic headaches and migraines, jaw pain, neck pain and sleep apnea in addition to the ear problems.

Another chronic ear issue associated with TMD is tinnitus, a condition marked by constant ringing in the ears. The pain signals carried by the nerves in the jaw can transfer to the auditory nerves around them and lead to a non-stop buzzing that can be extremely difficult to live with. Hearing a loud, distinct clicking and popping of the joint around the ear region is also a common symptom. It’s no surprise that these conditions can interfere with hearing.

Don’t let debilitating ear problems stop you from living your best life. Contact Fort Collins Headache Center about treatment with TruDenta, a revolutionary, FDA approved system that can target the cause of your ear problems and correct them. After a short 20-minute exam we can tell you whether you’re a candidate for our program. If you are, we will create a personalized treatment plan for you that will have you pain free in 12 or fewer weekly visits.

We also diagnose and treat patients with chronic headaches and migraines, TMJ disorder, jaw pain, neck pain, sleep apnea, and all of the symptoms associated with these issues. To get started, book an examination with us at 970-672-8517, or use the online contact form here on the website. We can provide you with care and treatment to rid you of the pain and help you reach a higher quality of life.

What Causes Clogged or Ringing Ears

Clogged or ringing ears can be caused by several factors, such as a buildup of earwax or an ear infection. Sometimes clogged or ringing ears can be temporary, but certain conditions can lead to permanent ringing in the ears, as well as hearing loss.

Impacted Earwax

One of the most common causes of a clogged ear is impacted cerumen, or a buildup of earwax in the ear canal. Earwax may be a sticky and unpleasant substance, but it has an important job to do. Earwax catches dirt, dust, moisture, and other particles that enter the ear, and stops them from reaching the inner ear or causing damage. As the earwax gets dirty, it dries out, and it naturally works its way out of the ear or is washed away in the shower.

Sometimes, earwax can get pushed back into the ear canal, and buildup in front of the eardrum. This could be due to an overproduction of earwax, or aggressively cleaning the ear with a Q-tip and pushing the earwax back down the ear canal. A buildup of earwax can cause:

• A clogged feeling in the ear
• Feeling of fullness in the ear
• Ringing in the ear
• Hearing loss
• Earache or pain in the ear

The best way to remove earwax is by visiting your physician to have your ear flushed with warm water in a process called irrigation. Removing the earwax by yourself can lead to further impaction, or damage to the ear. It’s also important that all the earwax isn’t removed, since the earwax is a natural barrier protecting the ear.

Ear Infection

Another common cause of clogged or ringing ears is ear infections. These can be in the ear canal, commonly known as swimmer’s ear, or in the middle ear, known as otitis media. Ear infections are caused by viral or bacterial infections, as well as by allergens in the environment. Ear infections are most common in children, as well as those with some genetic characteristics or anatomical abnormalities.

Symptoms of an ear infection include:

• Pain in the ear
• Moodiness and irritability
• Headaches or pressure in the ear
• Difficulty sleeping
• Nausea

Treating ear infections with antibiotics that attack the viral or bacterial infection will lift the clogged feeling or ringing in the ears, and a few days of treatment will return hearing to normal.

Sinus Pressure

Another cause of clogged or ringing ears is sinus pressure. A congested nose and nasal passage leased to increased pressure in the nose, back of the throat, and eustachian tubes. Sinus pressure can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, diabetes, smoking, swimming, or allergies. Sinus pressure can lead to:

• Pressure in the nose and ears, or other parts of the face
• A runny nose
• A reduced sense of smell
• A toothache
• Clogged or ringing ears

Sinus pressure will often go away on its own after a few days, but severe cases will need to be treated with antibiotics to relieve the symptoms, and fight the infection. 

Eustachian Tube Problems

Eustachian tube problems can lead to clogged or ringing ears. The eustachian tubes connect the middle ear to the back of the throat, and drain fluid from the middle ear as well as regulate air pressure in the ear. When the eustachian tube isn’t functioning properly, you may notice:

• Muffled hearing
• Clogged feeling in the ears
• Uncomfortable ringing in the ears
• A pain or pressure in the ear
• Difficulty with balance

Normally, problems with the eustachian tubes will clear within a few days, equalizing the pressure in the ear and relieving the clogged hearing. You can yawn, swallow, or chew to help relieve the pressure in the middle ear. Severe symptoms may require surgery to correct the problem.

Hearing Loss

Clogged or ringing ears can also be caused by hearing loss. When the middle ear is affected, and sounds can’t travel normally to the inner ear, you’ll experience conductive hearing loss. Symptoms of conductive hearing loss include ringing in the ears, as well as a clogged or full feeling in the ear. To treat hearing loss, start by visiting a hearing health specialist to determine the cause of the hearing loss. Remove a buildup of earwax, take antibiotics, or learn about the hearing aids that can help you hear clearly.

What Causes Clogged or Ringing Ears

Have you noticed a ringing or buzzing sensation in your ears, or feel as if one or both of your ears are plugged? Clogged or ringing ears can be caused by a number of conditions, and lead to discomfort and pain in the ears, as well as tinnitus and hearing loss. These symptoms may be temporary, but depending on the cause of the clogged or ringing in ears, hearing loss may be permanent.

Ear Infections

One of the most common causes of clogged or ringing ears is an ear infection. Outer ear infections, commonly called swimmer’s ear, are caused by a bacterial or viral infection in the ear canal that leads to a buildup of fluid and pressure in the ear.

Middle ear infections, known as otitis media, are an infection in the middle ear that affects the ear drum, and fills the middle ear with fluid. Ear infections are most common in children and babies, but can occur at any age. Symptoms include ear pain, irritability, nausea, insomnia, or even a fever.

Treatments for ear infections are effective, and will usually clear the infection in just a few days. Antibiotics that attack the bacterial or viral infection can be taken orally or as drops in the ear, relieving the clogged or ringing in the ear.

Cerumen Impaction

Cerumen, commonly called ear wax, is vital for the health of the ear. While you may think this substance is sticky or even gross, it protects your ear from damage by trapping dirt, dust, and moisture in the ear canal, keeping the eardrum and inner ear safe. Cerumen impaction, or a buildup of hard, dry wax in the ear canal, is quite common.

Earwax normally dries out when it traps dirt and dust, and slowly works its way out of the ear canal, to fall out of the ear, or be flushed away during a shower. However, due to improper ear cleaning or even the shape of the ear canal, earwax can buildup in the ear canal, leading to a clogged feeling, ringing in the ears, and the feeling that all the sounds around you are muffled.

Don’t try to remove cerumen impaction by yourself, since this can just force the earwax further into the ear. The best treatment option is to visit your doctor or ENT specialist for an irrigation treatment, where the ear is flushed out with warm water, loosening the ear wax and flushing it out of the ear.

Airplane Ear

Airplane ear describes the clogged or ringing in the ears that some people will experience during airplane take-off and landing. This can also occur when diving underwater or even riding up a very fast elevator. Symptoms may affect one or both ears, and you may feel as though sounds are faint or muffled. You’ll also experience a clogged feeling in the ear, or even vertigo.

Airplane ear is caused by abrupt changes in air pressure in the ear. When air pressure changes slowly, the eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat, can easily regulate the air pressure in the middle ear. When changes occur very quickly, the added pressure in the ear may cause the ear drum to pull inwards or push outwards, leading to a feeling of pain of discomfort in the middle ear.

If you experience airplane ear, it’s important to regulate the pressure in your ear as soon as possible to prevent a ruptured ear drum. You can:
• Yawn
• Chew gum or swallow
• Avoid flying when you have a cold, allergies, or congested sinuses
• Stay awake during take off and landing to manually regulate your ears

Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease is an illness that affects the inner ear, leading to permanent hearing loss. As the cells in the inner ear are damaged, you’ll experience a clogged or ringing feeling in the ears, and struggle to follow conversations or make sense of the sounds around you.

There is no cure for Meniere’s disease, but treatment options do exist. Surgery can drain fluid from the middle ear, and some medications or changes in diet could slow the progress of the illness. Treating hearing loss will help you hearing the sounds around you, and overcome the clogged or ringing feeling in your ears.

Glue ear – NHS – NHS

Glue ear is where the empty middle part of the ear canal fills up with fluid. This can cause temporary hearing loss. It usually clears up within 3 months, but see a GP about any hearing problems.

Check if it’s glue ear

The most common symptom of glue ear is temporary hearing loss. It can affect both ears at the same time.

Other symptoms may include:

Glue ear is much more common in children, but adults with glue ear have the same symptoms.

Other conditions that cause ear pain

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if your child has hearing problems

Your child may be struggling to hear if they often:

• speak loudly
• are difficult to understand
• ask people to repeat what they say
• ask for the TV or music to be turned up loud
• struggle to hear people far away
• become easily distracted when people are talking
• seem tired and irritable because it’s harder to listen

What happens at your appointment

The GP should be able to tell if it’s glue ear by looking for fluid inside the ear.

They’ll use a small scope with a light and magnifying glass. This should not be painful.

If your child has had glue ear for more than 3 months, they may be referred to a specialist for hearing tests.

Hearing tests can help find out how severe any hearing loss is and what’s causing it.

Treatment for glue ear from a GP

Glue ear is not always treated. The GP will usually wait to see if the symptoms get better on their own.

This is because there’s no effective medicine for glue ear, and it often clears up on its own within 3 months.

Your child may be monitored for up to a year in case their symptoms change or get worse.

The GP may suggest trying a treatment called autoinflation while waiting for symptoms to improve. Autoinflation can help fluid in the ear to drain.

It’s done by either:

• blowing up a special balloon using 1 nostril at a time
• swallowing while holding the nostrils closed

As autoinflation has to be done several times a day, it’s not usually recommended for children under 3 years old.

Antibiotics may be prescribed if glue ear causes an ear infection.

Hospital treatment for glue ear

Your child may be referred to a specialist in hospital if:

The 2 main treatments are temporary hearing aids or grommets (small tubes implanted in the ear).

Occasionally, surgery may be recommended to remove some glands at the back of the nose (adenoids). This is known as an adenoidectomy.

The specialist in hospital will help you decide on the best treatment option.

Grommets for treating glue ear

A grommet is a small tube that’s placed in your child’s ear during surgery. It drains fluid away and keeps the eardrum open.

The grommet should fall out naturally within 6 to 12 months as your child’s ear gets better.

If your child needs grommets, you might find these links useful:

Video: what is glue ear?

This animation explains in detail what glue ear is, what causes it and how it’s treated.

Media last reviewed: 1 April 2021
Media review due: 1 April 2024

Page last reviewed: 28 July 2020
Next review due: 28 July 2023

Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears) Causes and Definition

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus (pronounced ti-ni-tus), or ringing in the ears, is the sensation of hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling, or other sounds. The noise can be intermittent or continuous, and can vary in loudness. It is often worse when background noise is low, so you may be most aware of it at night when you’re trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. In rare cases, the sound beats in sync with your heart (pulsatile tinnitus).

Tinnitus is very common, affecting an estimated 50 million adults in the U.S. For most people, the condition is merely an annoyance. In severe cases, however, tinnitus can cause people to have difficulty concentrating and sleeping. It may eventually interfere with work and personal relationships, resulting in psychological distress.

Although tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, it does not cause the loss, nor does a hearing loss cause tinnitus. In fact, some people with tinnitus experience no difficulty hearing, and in a few cases they even become so acutely sensitive to sound (hyperacusis) that they must take steps to muffle or mask external noises.

Some instances of tinnitus are caused by infections or blockages in the ear, and the tinnitus can disappear once the underlying cause is treated. Frequently, however, tinnitus continues after the underlying condition is treated. In such a case, other therapies — both conventional and alternative — may bring significant relief by either decreasing or covering up the unwanted sound.

What Causes Tinnitus?

Prolonged exposure to loud sounds is the most common cause of tinnitus. Up to 90% of people with tinnitus have some level of noise-induced hearing loss. The noise causes permanent damage to the sound-sensitive cells of the cochlea, a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear. Carpenters, pilots, rock musicians, street-repair workers, and landscapers are among those whose jobs put them at risk, as are people who work with chain saws, guns, or other loud devices or who repeatedly listen to loud music. A single exposure to a sudden extremely loud noise can also cause tinnitus.

A variety of other conditions and illnesses can lead to tinnitus, including:

• Blockages of the ear due to a buildup of wax, an ear infection, or rarely, a benign tumor of the nerve that allows us to hear (auditory nerve)
• Certain drugs — most notably aspirin, several types of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, loop diuretics, and antidepressants, as well as quinine medications; tinnitus is cited as a potential side effect for about 200 prescription and nonprescription drugs.
• The natural aging process, which can cause deterioration of the cochlea or other parts of the ear
• Meniere’s disease, which affects the inner part of the ear
• Otosclerosis, a disease that results in stiffening of the small bones in the middle ear
• Other medical conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, circulatory problems, anemia, allergies, an underactive thyroid gland, autoimmune disease, and diabetes
• Neck or jaw problems, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome
• Injuries to the head and neck

Tinnitus can worsen in some people if they drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, drink caffeinated beverages, or eat certain foods. For reasons not yet entirely clear to researchers, stress and fatigue seem to worsen tinnitus.

Could You Have Tinnitus?

How do you know if you have it? Your doctor will make the final call, but you can ask yourself these questions.

Do you hear a noise that people around you don’t hear? When you have tinnitus, you’re the only one who notices the ringing, buzzing, or other noise. Other people don’t.

Do you take medication? More than 200 drugs can cause tinnitus, especially when you start or stop taking them. These include pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen, as well as certain antibiotics, diuretics, aspirin, and chemotherapy medicines.

The form that tinnitus takes can vary, depending on the drug and its dose. Don’t stop taking a medication without talking to your doctor first.

Are you around loud sounds? Lots of blaring noises where you live or work can cause hearing loss that triggers tinnitus. Those sounds could include roaring machines, lawn equipment, concerts, and sporting events.

Tinnitus can build up over the years or stem from a single loud event, like an engine backfire. Stay away from loud noises if you can. If you can’t, wear ear protection. And turn that music down.

Do you have a cold or ear infection? Congestion, along with ear and sinus infections, can cause pressure to build up in your inner ear. The same thing can happen if you have too much ear wax. That pressure can cause tinnitus.

Treating the cause should ease your symptoms. But long-term blockage sometimes leads to having the hearing condition permanently.

Do you get migraines? These headaches come with throbbing pain, nausea, and light sensitivity. But they also can have ear-related symptoms like fullness, muffled hearing, and tinnitus.

Have you ever had a serious head or neck injury? Either can cause problems with your nerves, blood flow, and muscles. That can lead to tinnitus, which often comes with headaches and memory issues when it’s linked to head or neck trauma.

Do you have jaw problems? Sometimes, tinnitus is caused by temporomandibular disorder (TMD), a group of conditions that affect jaw movement. Damage to any of the muscles, ligaments, or cartilage in that area can lead to the hearing problem. Easing TMD symptoms should help.

Do you have high blood pressure? That makes you more likely to have tinnitus. Narrowing of the arteries (your doctor may call it atherosclerosis) is another cause. Treating the condition should ease your symptoms.

Do you drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol? Cut back if you’re a coffee fiend or if you can’t go without a daily cocktail. That might make a difference in what you hear.

Are you under a lot of stress? Tension, anxiety, and depression can trigger tinnitus. Try relaxation therapy, hypnosis, yoga, or whatever works for you. Whether it helps a case of tinnitus or not, it’s good for your overall health.

Do you have another medical condition? Tinnitus has been linked to diabetes, fibromyalgia, allergies, low vitamin levels, hormonal changes, and autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It’s also tied to Meniere’s disease, a condition that causes hearing loss and vertigo, a spinning sensation.

How Is Tinnitus Diagnosed?

Your doctor will discuss your medical history. They’ll ask about any medicines you take, including supplements. They’ll do a hearing test, examine your head and neck, and look inside your ears. They might ask you to clench your jaw, move your eyes, and move your neck, arms, and legs. If the ringing gets worse when you move, that may help find a cause for it. You may also need imaging tests like CT or MRI scans.

Your doctor may not be able to find the cause. If that happens, they’ll work with you to find ways to lessen the sound or help you manage it better.

How Is Tinnitus Treated?

It depends on what’s to blame for the ringing.

If a medication is the trigger, your doctor might suggest that you stop taking it or change to a different drug. Never stop a medicine on your own without talking to your doctor.

If a health issue like high blood pressure is the cause, your doctor can work with you to treat it. Often, the ringing will improve when you get the condition under control.

If the problem is too much earwax, the doctor can remove the buildup gently. Don’t use cotton swabs to try to do it yourself.

Other treatment options may include:

Hearing aids. These devices can help with age-related hearing loss and tinnitus. They make the sounds you need to hear louder and make the ringing harder to notice.

Sound maskers. You wear them in or behind your ear to create constant, low-level white noise. This helps block the ringing. You might also try a white noise machine near your bed at night to help you sleep.

Retraining therapy. You get counseling and wear a gadget that masks the ringing with tonal music.

Relaxation techniques. Tinnitus can get worse when you’re stressed. You might find ways to ease your worries, like exercise, deep breathing, or biofeedback.

Medicines. There are several medications that show some promise in treating tinnitus, including certain hormones, topical anesthetics, and anti-anxiety medication. Ask your doctor if any of them may be right for you.

How to Talk With Your Doctor About Tinnitus

Learning about tinnitus can help you manage it. Ask your doctor these questions so you better understand your condition.

• Can you tell what’s causing my tinnitus?
• Will it go away on its own?
• Can other people hear the noise in my ears?
• Will tinnitus damage my hearing?
• Does having tinnitus mean I have hearing loss?

You may want to ask your doctor these questions to learn about your treatment options:

• What are the treatments for tinnitus?
• Are there any risks or side effects from the treatment?
• What can I do on my own to manage tinnitus?
• How can I stop tinnitus from getting worse?

Disclosed the danger of ringing in the ears

https://ria.ru/20210216/zvon-1597617094.html

Disclosed the danger of ringing in the ears

Disclosed the danger of ringing in the ears – RIA Novosti, 16.02.2021

Disclosed the danger of ringing in ears

Ringing in the ears – tinnitus – may indicate the presence of serious diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and others, about this “Channel Five” … RIA Novosti, 16.02.2021

2021-02-16T02: 32

2021-02-16T02: 32

2021-02-16T10: 51

Society

Health

Alexander Evdokimov

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MOSCOW, Feb 16 – RIA Novosti. Ringing in the ears – tinnitus – may indicate the presence of serious diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus and others, neurologist Alexander Evdokimov told Channel Five. inflammation or dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint.”If plaques form in a vessel, there is some turbulence and vortex of blood, and we can perceive it by ear or hear a pulsating ringing. This is due to changes in local pressure in the modified vessel – it begins to pulsate more,” explained Evdokimov. According to him, Diabetes mellitus can also cause ringing in the ears, as it affects the hearing cells and hairs that form nerve impulses. Another cause of tinnitus can be a problem of the cervical spine.As the doctor explained, due to osteochondrosis, angiospasm or vascular tortuosity can also occur, which leads to an increase in blood turbulence. there can be damage to the centers of hearing in the cerebral cortex by various neoplasms, “the specialist said. At the same time, problems with blood pressure can provoke tinnitus. According to the neurologist, this symptom can be accompanied by an increase or decrease in pressure, and it can also be caused by taking medications.Tinnitus is 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.

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society, health, Alexander Evdokimov

MOSCOW, Feb 16 – RIA Novosti. Tinnitus – ringing in the ears – may indicate the presence of serious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus and others, neurologist Alexander Evdokimov told Channel Five about this.

Thus, cardiovascular diseases of the atherosclerotic nature, as well as inflammation or dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, can provoke tinnitus. “If plaques form in a vessel, there is some turbulence and vortex of blood, and we can perceive it by ear or hear a pulsating ringing.This is due to changes in local pressure in the modified vessel – it begins to pulsate more strongly, “Evdokimov explained.

February 16, 00:49 this disease affects the auditory cells and hairs that form the nerve impulse.

Another cause of tinnitus can be a problem of the cervical spine. …

“A very common cause is, of course, ENT pathology. It can be inflammatory diseases, it can be damage to the auditory nerve, it can be damage to the hearing centers in the cerebral cortex by various neoplasms,” the specialist said.

At the same time, problems with blood pressure can provoke tinnitus. According to the neurologist, this symptom can be accompanied by an increase or decrease in pressure, and it can also be caused by taking medications.

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.

November 4, 2020, 17:51 Spread of coronavirus Rospotrebnadzor named ear congestion as one of the symptoms of COVID-19 90,000 “My ears are ringing, is this normal?” ENT on how to preserve hearing – citydog.by

Under the heading “HLS” we tell you how to change your body and mind.Today we talked with the otorhinolaryngologist Alexei Perminov about how to understand that something is wrong with the hearing, and what to do if there is noise in the ears, ringing and shooting.

Otorhinolaryngologist Alexey Borisovich Perminov.

– I think I’m starting to hear worse . Is this normal?

– More often than not. Only if you are getting old (and you are somewhere over 65 or more years old), hearing has decreased gradually (over several years) and this is confirmed by an ENT doctor using special diagnostic methods.With age, both vision and hearing deteriorate: our cells partially age, partially die. In addition, the work of the brain decreases. Everything falls into disrepair over time. And nothing can be done about it, you cannot return to its previous state. There are prescribed values ​​for the hearing rate for a certain age.

There is a theory why, with age, we at first hear less high sounds worse. Our inner ear (“cochlea”) is designed so that the sound wave first acts on the upper sections, which perceive high sounds, and on the deep ones, which perceive low sounds, respectively, last of all.Therefore, the cells of the former wear out faster.

In other cases, hearing loss, or even more so, hearing loss is a symptom or a consequence of the disease. And the sooner treatment is started, the more likely it is to recover. Among the ENT doctors there are those who specialize in the pathology of the ear and hearing: audiologists, audiologists and hearing aids.

– What diseases can impair hearing?

– This could be due to a huge number of diseases. Otitis media – inflammation of the middle ear – especially chronic, are paired with hearing problems, temporary and permanent.In the case of acute otitis media, hearing is most often restored during treatment. Some diseases are associated with blood vessels, while others, such as Meniere’s disease (a non-suppurative disease of the inner ear), are associated with diseases of the inner ear. Sometimes stomach problems are reflected in the ears: the same reflux, and especially often in children.

But most often, hearing and ears are affected by problems with the nose and throat, which is why one doctor is engaged in the treatment – an otorhinolaryngologist. Even a common cold can cause serious complications.

– That is, if I notice that my hearing is worse, but I still (it seems) not getting old, then I need to run to the doctor?

– Consultation is imperative if hearing loss is combined with dizziness, ear pain and / or other unpleasant symptoms.

Emergency consultation is required when one or both ears stop hearing completely or hearing suddenly decreases (including a feeling of stuffiness in the ear), when unusual discharge from the ear appears (blood, pus, clear fluid), sharp pain and pain accompanied by increased temperature.

Normal ear discharge – wax. She has 4 types that are genetically inherited, that is, in two different people, they can be completely different. Sulfur is needed by our body – as, for example, a tear in the eye – it is protection against bacteria, viruses, fungi. A violation can be considered if there is a lot of sulfur, a smell appears, or the consistency has changed. Sometimes during an illness, even a common cold, sulfur can become more or it becomes more liquid – this is the norm, do not panic.

In general, everything that bothers you, even banal discomfort, is a reason to go to the doctor. ENT diseases differ in that all our problems look about the same. There are only a few complaints about ear diseases: the ear either hurts, or does not hear, or something comes out of there, and, separately, dizziness. At the same time, there are many diseases, and they are treated in different ways.

And it is important to pay attention not only to poor audibility, but also to a feeling of stuffiness, which often leads to a runny nose and the tubo-otitis that develops against its background.True, if a slight congestion (sometimes with crackling) in the ear during a runny nose appears and disappears during the day (symptoms of tubootitis) and these symptoms last up to 7 days, then for an adult it is not necessary to immediately show an ENT doctor. With some reservations: no flight is planned, no chronic ear diseases.

– Why can I suddenly stop hearing?

– If there are no symptoms like pain and discharge, most likely the cause is a sulfur plug.This is the best option, and the miracle of healing will take place in ten minutes at the doctor’s office.

A bad option is sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Roughly speaking, for the ear it is like a heart attack. And here time is already working against a person – the earlier he applied, the better the result. If it comes after a few months, the hearing loss may remain permanently. It is dangerous to walk for more than a day and do nothing if your hearing has dropped to almost zero. Unfortunately, this is far from a rare situation.

– Why do sulfur plugs appear?

– There are many options and reasons, but the most common are the regular presence of a foreign body in the ear (earplugs, swimming plugs, hearing aids, etc.)etc.), skin diseases (dermatitis, psoriasis), work in excessively dusty conditions, for example, in a coal mine.

Poor ear hygiene may also be the cause. The main mistake is the use of cotton swabs. They even sometimes write on them that they are not intended for cleaning the inside of the ears. In addition to a finger, a towel and water, the ear should never be cleaned with anything.

The ear is cleaned with water and a finger during the shower and dried with a towel or, in extreme cases, a hairdryer. Everything. The hole in the ear is as big as the finger is large: you need to brush to the depth to which you reach.Further, it is deliberately narrowed. Healthy ears do not require special care or devices.

You can wash as often as you wash your hair and body – even every day. And even soap: the outer ear is an extension of the skin, with its own characteristics and nuances, but nevertheless.

– Why does it “shoot” in the ear?

– There is no such term “shooting in the ear”, this is just a description of the pain. About 30 causes of ear pain have been described. The reasons are quite varied: problems with the throat, larynx, nose, skin, cervical spine, and so on.

– Why is my ear ringing? Do you need to go to the doctor with this?

– This is one of the most common complaints. In general, ringing is a subjective interpretation of noise in the ear, which can be of different frequencies and nature.

You need to worry about ringing in the ear if it lasts a day or more. This can be a symptom of hearing loss and more serious problems: sensorineural hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, neuroma (tumor) of the VIII pair of cranial nerves, etc.

– What if my ear does not ring all day, but only in the evening, when I go to bed ?

– You notice noise in the evening, because in silence it is simply better heard, that is, during the day you may not notice it because of the sounds around you.This is a common problem. If this happens systematically, you still need to check your hearing, make an audiogram, see what happens there. Blood pressure control is mandatory: with numbers above 139/89 – consultation of a therapist.

Sometimes intermittent ringing may appear due to fatigue, lack of sleep or overexertion, excessive consumption of coffee – more than 6 cups a day.

The same is with the “lumbago”: if they are long, you should pay attention.

It happens that people get used to sounds and stop hearing them.The method of treating noise in the ear is even based on this, when we cannot remove it in another way. The essence of the technique is that a person listens to a sound for a long time, which is most similar to the noise inside the ear. Over time, the brain begins to ignore it, like the beating of its own heart, the noise of the intestines, the work of the joints, etc. This does not irritate us if there is no neurosis.

– What should I do if a bug or other small object gets in my ear?

– If a living creature is hit, and this is a very painful condition, any oil is poured into the ear in order to kill the insect.Then our work is connected – the removal of a foreign body.

If not alive, it is absolutely impossible to try to get the object yourself. It is removed by special washing or tools, which depend on the shape and type of the object. If some kind of vegetable thing, for example, peas, has got into the ear, then it is generally impossible to wash it out with water, because it swells and the process only becomes more complicated.

– What if water flows into your ear?

– It should flow out of there by itself, as it most often happens, but you can jump, and try to blot your ear with a towel, and pull it up and back (in an adult).If the discomfort persists the next morning, this is a sign of a problem and a reason to go to a specialist.

The ear is adapted to the ingress of water. During the first nine months of life, before giving birth, we are in the amniotic fluid and feel great at the same time. In a normal situation, water in the ear does not affect health in any way.

– And if there are no other symptoms or illnesses, but I hear worse?

– This is a social issue. It is important here to understand whether it hinders you or not.It’s like with glasses: if you can’t read normally without them, you go to an ophthalmologist for a prescription. If long-term hearing impairment prevents a person from communicating, getting a job, etc., this is a reason for hearing aids – installing a hearing aid on the recommendation of a doctor. In any case, if you have complaints, a doctor’s examination is mandatory – to establish a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Hearing aids are now high-tech devices, some can be controlled from a smartphone, some can be used to swim.And the size is such that it is not easy to see them. In general, with reduced hearing in both ears, having a good hearing aid (or better than two) is good. If hearing is impaired and a person does not use a hearing aid, then over the years the parts of the brain that perceive sound stop working (“as unnecessary”).

Specially trained doctors are engaged in the selection and adjustment, there are so many subtleties in this matter. Self-purchase for yourself and your family can often be not only of little use, but also harmful.

In recent years, hearing in both children and adults has been restored with the help of a special device implantation. If someone suddenly goes deaf – and this, unfortunately, happens – there is a chance that the operation will help. Provided that the hearing aid does not help.

– What, apart from diseases, most often damages hearing?

– Mainly loud sounds: gunshots, firecrackers, music (especially for a long time), etc. Constant phone calls in one ear can also affect.People who have constant noise at work are also at risk: metro drivers, construction workers, professional musicians, bell ringers and even teachers.

In addition to constant noise, systematic strong vibration also badly affects hearing. Locomotive drivers, conductors, jackhammer workers are also at risk.

By the way, an interesting example from history. The loudest snoring is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. And his wife’s hearing in one ear was sharply reduced.

From what is not obvious to many – chronic lack of sleep and stress, intake of toxic substances: drugs, alcohol, tobacco, if it causes vascular spasms.In general, anything that affects the brain can negatively affect the ears. Hearing is the work of not only the ear, but also the nerves that go to it, and the brain.

An incorrect bite also affects hearing. Pathology of the temporomandibular joint can cause vasospasm, noise and pain in the ear, up to hearing loss. But this is a long-term problem that has been forming over the years. If you notice this, consult an orthodontist, and then he will work on your problem in tandem with an ENT doctor.

– Is it true that “earplugs ” are harmful?

– Any foreign body placed in a cavity that is not intended for this can cause skin irritation – dermatitis, otitis externa. It is a risk factor for external ear diseases.

And how harmful they are – the time you spend in headphones and the volume are important here. But, if you need headphones for constant work, it is better to choose large “professional” devices.And, of course, don’t forget to listen to music at a moderate volume. And if it is possible to work while listening to music using speakers rather than headphones, choose the first option.

And in a noisy place it is better not to listen to music. The noise in the subway is not a reason to make the music louder, but an excuse to do something else. Read, for example.

– How can I avoid hearing loss?

– There is a concept of “hearing hygiene”. In fact, this is a normal sleep, timely treatment of other diseases (the same arterial hypertension, problems of the cervical spine), periodic examinations by a doctor, if your work is associated with certain risks – noise, vibration.

There is also ear protection: individual and group. Examples of a group are soundproof boards along the route, mufflers on car engines, a ban on jet flights near living quarters, etc.

Individual protection can be earplugs, special earmuffs that are used during training shooting, working with a chainsaw and at noisy objects.

– What can I do to prevent my hearing from getting worse ahead of time?

– It’s simple.Prevention includes treatment of blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, control of blood cholesterol, cardiovascular health, timely treatment of diseases of the ear, throat and nose, the absence of frequent harsh sounds, and protection of the ears. If it is temporary work with noises – ear protection with headphones.

– We talked about hearing impairment, and what can it mean? For example, if a person suddenly began to hear a construction site that has been going on outside the window for a year.

– Hearing aggravation cannot be the main symptom, it is accompanied by something else.Most often it is a matter of emotional state. Possible options: the development of neurosis, anxiety or depression. The latter two can be self-tested on the HADS Depression Scale. Scored the indicated number of points – consult with a psychotherapist. It is possible that the person simply fell in love, divorced, or experienced another emotional upheaval. But there is a likelihood of serious illnesses.

It can also be associated with a change in the hormonal state, for example, in a pregnant woman.Some diseases of the nervous system can be manifested by heightened sensitivity – for example, migraine.

– And what is the most frequently addressed?

– I will not say for sure the official statistics for Belarus and Minsk, but in fact the most frequent diseases are acute inflammatory processes, otitis media. They are of different types, depending on which parts of the ear are inflamed.

And untreated otitis media, by the way, is the most dangerous. In children, acute and otitis media can end very badly, up to resuscitation.Chronic otitis media in adults is usually accompanied by discharge from the ear and sometimes hearing loss. There are even types that require compulsory surgical treatment as a prevention of fatal complications, although a person is not particularly worried about anything outside of an exacerbation. Otorhinolaryngology is a surgical specialty. If suddenly something serious happens to you, you will be operated on at any time of the day or night.

In general, before the 1917 revolution, ear diseases were among the five main causes of death in the territory of modern Belarus.Until the beginning of the century of antibiotics, before medical care became more or less accessible, otitis media often led to complications, including fatal ones. Until now, because of them around the world, on average, about 50 thousand people die a year.

– How often should you be examined?

– Active identification of hearing problems is mandatory only in children and when applying for work with harmful conditions. There is a national program for identifying congenital hearing problems, which has been practiced for several years in maternity hospitals: the sooner we find a problem, the better the prognosis – up to three years, most often it is possible to completely correct hearing.And this is very important, because without it a whole part of the brain does not develop.

Children need to be shown in accordance with the official visiting calendar: in the first year of life, in front of kindergarten, in front of school. During training, there are scheduled checks. In adults, such medical examinations are at employment, in front of the army and when there are complaints.

And what and how exactly to examine, the doctor decides. There are a bunch of hardware methods that allow you to find out everything about the condition of the ears, whether a person hears or not, even if he is unconscious or simply does not want to talk about it: simulators who do not want to join the army are very easy to identify (smiles) .

– How can hearing loss affect me?

– First of all, it affects the emotional background, as well as the decrease in the work of any other sense organs. Deaf people are a completely different world, interconnections, brain development, behavior. This is especially true for those with hearing impairment since childhood. You yourself get annoyed and angry if you hear something badly.

Hearing loss, even partial, affects the voice. People start talking louder.

And, after all, there is the concept of danger.We may not hear a car pulling up from behind, someone shouting “Beware!” etc. Before working at height, for example, a hearing test is mandatory.

– Are there any exercises to develop and maintain hearing?

– There are no exercises to help develop or improve hearing. For certain diseases, such as tubo-otitis, exercise is. And this complex is quite large. There are exercises that help stop dizziness, improve blood flow to the ear area – for this, the ear and the area around it can be massaged.But you won’t hear better from this.

There is also an exercise called “self-blowing”, when we close our nose tightly and seem to blow our nose out. But it is done with ear congestion after landing an airplane or diving to a depth.

– Are there sounds that have a positive effect on a person’s condition?

– Yes, there is even sound therapy. In the book “In the world of smells and sounds” by Sergei Ryazantsev, a famous Russian otorhinolaryngologist, who is also a good publicist, there is a lot of interesting information on the topic that is available to a wide range of readers, not only doctors.

Melodious things are always relaxing, noises are the opposite. People living along the roads have trouble sleeping because of the noise, and the pressure rises more often – because of this, by the way, they began to put protective screens.

Rhythmic sounds can make the heart beat in unison. Therefore, it is not always useful for people with arrhythmia to listen to irregular music, especially loud music.

Low-frequency sounds (infrasound) cause anxiety, because they are characteristic of earthquakes and other disasters.Animals feel them better: in the movies, you can see scenes in which animals run in one direction, and after a couple of minutes something terrible appears.

Pleasant music improves mood and general emotional background, this, in turn, gives rest to the brain. And when the brain rests, our senses sharpen. Mood is, by and large, the background component of the brain. There are even special discs with a selection of sounds that should influence the mood. Classics – light instrumental music, sounds of nature.

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90,000 Treatment of otitis media in adults and children in ENT-KMV

“Ay, shoots in the ear!” – children often complain, and adults no, no, and they will face such a problem.The reason for this is most often one – otitis media. The ENT-KMV clinic offers effective and painless treatment of otitis media in adults and children at reasonable prices. Our experienced doctors and modern medical equipment are at your service.

What is otitis media and how to recognize it

Traditional symptoms of otitis media are:

• quite severe ear pain (most often described as shooting), may be accompanied by tinnitus, hearing loss
• increase in body temperature
• on days 1-3 of the disease, purulent discharge from the ear cavity may be observed (after this, the patient’s condition usually improves, the pain passes, and the temperature decreases)

These symptoms indicate an inflammatory process in the patient’s ear.Otitis media is caused by pathogenic microorganisms: pneumococci, streptococci, staphylococci, haemophilus influenzae and others. In a normal state, these bacteria are always found on the skin and mucous membranes of a person, however, due to some factors, they can multiply unnecessarily and become more active, provoking the development of inflammation.

These factors include:

• hypothermia
• weak immunity
• inflammatory processes in other ENT organs and the penetration of infection from there into the ear cavity
• presence of infectious diseases (ARVI, influenza, measles)
• diseases of the nose, sinuses and septa – rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum, adenoids
• hearing trauma
• foreign object in the ear cavity
• allergic reactions

The ear cavity is also connected by one nerve to the abdominal region, therefore, in some cases (especially in children), otitis media may not be accompanied by pain in the ears, but lead to a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract – bloating, diarrhea, vomiting.This makes otitis media difficult to diagnose. If a small child has problems with the stomach or intestines, the examination must necessarily be carried out with the participation of an otolaryngologist.

It has been noticed that preschool children most often suffer from otitis media. According to some reports, about 80% of children under 3 years old suffer from otitis media. However, it also occurs in adults.

Types of otitis media

The human hearing organ consists of three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear.Accordingly, three types of otitis media are distinguished.

1. Otitis externa – can begin due to mechanical trauma to the auricle or external auditory canal, lack of ear hygiene, or, conversely, excessive hygiene (some sulfur should remain in the ears as a natural protective barrier), dirty water entering the ear cavity (which is why swimmers often suffer from this disease). Damage to the skin leads to the entry and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.Symptoms of this type of otitis media include severe ear pain, swelling, redness, congestion and ringing in the ears. In the absence of the necessary treatment, otitis externa can turn into inflammation of the parotid cartilage and bones and an increased temperature.
2. Otitis media – affects the tympanic cavity and the auditory (Eustachian) tube. This type of otitis media is the most common. Its main symptoms are: sharp shooting pains, worse in the evening; the spread of these pains to the temples, forehead, jaw; fever and fever; general weakness; suppuration or discharge of clear fluid from the ear.
3. Otitis media of the inner ear (labyrinthitis) – can begin if the treatment of the inflammation of the middle ear is not timely (too late) or incorrect. The main symptom in this type of otitis media is short or prolonged dizziness.

Otitis media can also be divided into acute and chronic; catarrhal, exudative and purulent. Catarrhal otitis media (the mildest option) is limited to symptoms such as mild fever, ear pain, hearing loss and tinnitus.If a person ignores these signs of the disease, the catarrhal form can flow into exudative (with the formation of fluid in the tympanic cavity) or purulent (with the release of purulent masses).

How is the disease progressing?

1. Catarrhal stage. Active reproduction of pathogens, the onset of the inflammatory process, edema and pain in the ear.
2. Exudative. Inflammation leads to the active formation of fluid (secretion), which serves as a medium for the further multiplication of bacteria.At this stage, it is extremely important to carry out competent treatment in order to avoid further complications.
3. Purulent. Increased formation of purulent masses in the middle ear, accompanied by a feeling of congestion in the ear cavity.
4. Perforated. At this stage, the accumulation of pus provokes a rupture of the tympanic membrane, and the purulent masses get out. This is a positive outcome of the disease – the patient feels better, the temperature drops, and the pain subsides.
5. Reparative.The outflow of pus is completed, the rupture of the tympanic membrane heals. The patient is recovering (with the support of correct treatment).

Possible complications of otitis media

Untreated or untreated otitis media can turn into a chronic stage and other diseases of the organ of hearing – for example, hearing loss up to complete deafness, otoanthritis (overflow of inflammation into the ear region and the development of one large edema). Chronic otitis media is also fraught with hearing loss and significantly complicates life, since it involves constant inflammation of the ear cavity and suppuration.It is quite difficult to cure chronic otitis media – sometimes you even have to resort to surgery.

Other complications include:

• Irradiation of inflammation to other tissues – for example, the jaw or salivary glands (which can lead to disability)
• damage to the vestibular apparatus, which is located in the inner ear – coordination of movements is impaired, constant dizziness, nausea appear
• Intracranial pathologies that threaten with fatal outcome – meningitis, brain abscess, encephalitis, hydrocephalus
• paresis of the facial nerve (decreased mobility of facial expressions)
• Mastoiditis – inflammation of the mastoid process, causing destruction of the auditory ossicles in the middle ear

Diagnosis of otitis media

For the diagnosis of otitis media, a visual examination of the auricle and auditory canal using an otoscope or a head reflector is usually sufficient.The otolaryngologist pays attention to the diameter of the ear canal, the condition of the skin in the ear cavity and outside it, the presence / absence of discharge. Perforation of the tympanic membrane, its redness and swelling are also clear signs of otitis media.

To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may offer you audiometry or tympanometry (examination of hearing and pressure in the ear cavity using special devices). Possible intracranial complications are detected on x-rays or CT. And in order to prescribe competent antibiotics, the otolaryngologist can take a bacteriological culture from the patient’s ear to determine the composition of the pathogenic bacteria that caused the disease.

Treatment of otitis media – how is it right?

If you experience discomfort, congestion or pain in your ears, you should see a doctor immediately. If it is impossible to do this immediately, it is recommended to use antihistamines orally to reduce pressure in the ear cavity or pain relievers.

At the same time, it is absolutely contraindicated to instill in the ears any oil, onion or garlic juice, herbal infusion, variations of alcohol, as well as warming the ears in any way or putting herbs / herbal candles in them – this only provides food for bacteria and a beneficial environment for their further reproduction, is fraught with microtraumas of the ear and burns of the mucous membrane! Please do not self-medicate!

For the treatment of otitis media, the doctor may prescribe ear drops or tablets of the following groups:

• antibiotics – to fight inflammation
• antiseptics – for disinfection of the ear cavity
• pain relievers
• antihistamines – decongestants and antiallergenic
• antifungal – if the source of the disease is fungal microorganisms
• antipyretic – for fever and fever

It is important to understand that self-selection of drops and tablets is fraught with dangerous health consequences.At different stages of the disease, the body requires its own drugs, while others can, on the contrary, harm. Therefore, the guarantee of competent treatment here is the fulfillment of all the doctor’s recommendations and the absence of self-will.

If a spontaneous rupture of the tympanic membrane does not occur (and pus cannot leak out), a qualified surgeon performs paracentesis – its opening and release of purulent masses. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and involves only a tiny puncture of the membrane – so the patient does not experience any painful sensations, and the incision heals very quickly.

If you have reasons for concern about the health of your hearing organ, come to the ENT-KMV clinic. We guarantee you professional and comfortable treatment of otitis media for adults and children at a low price, polite service and understanding doctors. With us you will feel safe and very soon get rid of the symptoms and causes of any diseases of the ENT organs!

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Types of ear plugs. Symptoms of the formation of sulfur plug.

How to understand that there is a sulfur plug in the ear, and how to get rid of it?

Sulfur plug is an excessive accumulation of the secretion of the sulfuric glands, which leads to blockage of the ear canal. The very process of earwax formation is a physiologically normal state. But when the amount of sulfur produced increases significantly, this leads to various unpleasant symptoms.

Most often, this problem occurs in children, people who use hearing aids, and who do not clean their ears properly.It is impossible to get rid of the sulfur plug on your own; in this case, you only need to consult a doctor.

Reasons for the formation of sulfur plug

The ear secretion is necessary for the normal functioning of the hearing organs, it protects against the negative effects of external factors, the ingress of microbes.

The secretory discharge is excreted from the ear area spontaneously, most often this occurs when the temporomandibular articular joints move (during conversation, chewing, coughing and sneezing).It is enough for a person to regularly wash their ears and wipe all wrinkles.

But there are certain factors that contribute to the formation of sulfur plug:

1. Physiological features of the structure of the external auditory canal. For example, in children, sulfur plug appears much faster due to the narrow auditory canal.

2. Genetic predisposition. Some people have a more viscous composition of the secretion of sulfuric glands or increased sulfur production, which is sometimes inherited.

3. The presence of a large amount of hair in the ear canal, which complicates the elimination of earwax.

4. Old age, at which physiological processes in the body change, the secret becomes more viscous.

5. Professional activity. If you work at high or low temperatures, in dusty rooms, the chances of sulfur plug formation are much greater.

6. High humidity.This is especially true for swimmers and divers. Frequent ingress of water into the ears leads to the swelling of the volume of sulfur, in addition, conditions of high humidity are formed between the eardrum and the cork, which is excellent for the reproduction of microbes.

7. Frequent changes in atmospheric pressure. With an increase and decrease in pressure, the tympanic membrane protrudes and retracts, which additionally provokes a secretion thickening.

8. Constant use of hearing aids, headphones, which simply push in sulfur.

9. Improper hygiene. It is not recommended to use cotton swabs, they increase sulfur formation due to irritation of the skin of the auditory canal, push sulfur into the depths. It is necessary to clean your ears about 2 times a week while taking a shower, blotting the ear washed with water with napkins or a towel, without pushing your finger deep inside.

In no case is it recommended to remove the sulfur plug by your own efforts, as this is dangerous to health. Improper treatment of the ear canal can lead to tissue trauma, the development of inflammatory processes.

Types of ear plugs

Sulfur plugs differ in the consistency of sulfur accumulation, they are:

· Soft, which were formed relatively recently;

· Dense and dry, most often they are hard and have a dark shade.

The density of the sulfur plug directly depends on the duration of the accumulation of secretions in the ear canal. Initially, sulfur has a soft consistency, but over a period of time it becomes more dense.

Symptoms of the formation of sulfur plug

Unpleasant sensations appear when a significant accumulation of earwax has already occurred, which has led to the blockage of the ear canal.

Such an unpleasant condition will be manifested by the following symptoms:

1. Feeling of stuffiness, regular ringing, tinnitus.

2. Deterioration of hearing acuity.

3. Painful sensations that can occur when the plug begins to squeeze the eardrum.

4. Headaches, dizziness, lack of coordination.

5. There may even be a violation of cardiac activity, since the work of the heart muscle is reflexively interconnected with the nerve endings approaching the ear.

Various inflammatory processes can additionally join unpleasant symptoms – otitis media, sinusitis, etc.

How is the sulfur plug removed?

Cleansing the ear canal from the sulfur plug is done mechanically:

· The accumulation of earwax is dissolved with special fluids and washed out of the ear canal, washing is carried out with a saline solution, less often with antiseptic agents;

· It is possible to use a special electric pump, which will help to quickly remove the sulfur plug;

· Dry plugs are most often removed with an ear probe.

Even after removing the sulfur plug, each patient will have to adhere to special recommendations that are selected individually, based on the specific condition and the presence of complications.

Most often, treatment is supplemented by regular flushing of the ear canal with antiseptic compounds, taking antimicrobial drugs and other physiotherapy procedures.

It is important not to postpone a visit to the doctor and, if there is pain, congestion of the ear, immediately make an appointment with the ENT.

If you want to receive quality treatment, then come to the Center for Family Medicine “VERA”. The clinic is attended by qualified doctors who will help you quickly cope with such a problem as sulfur plug.

Questions and answers on the topic

Questions:

1. Hello, I lost hearing in my right ear, in the morning after waking up, I hear everything deafly, the night before, water got into my ear in the shower, but it was removed and everything was fine, I heard too well, after sleep I’m gone, peroxide dripped from the sulfuric plug, washed it with furacilin, put candles, nothing helps, is it a sulfuric plug? Or is it already the beginning of hearing loss?
   Answer to question
2. Hello, please help me, my son had an additional tragus removed, a year has passed, but his redness does not go away and began to hurt, as if it was growing again.What to do? Is it dangerous? Do the operation again?
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3. Hello, my right ear constantly accumulates sulfur, it is worth cleaning, water accumulates, then it turns to stone, well, there are bits of sulfur and this is only on the right ear. What to do and what is it?
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4. Hello! A child of 4 months scratches, twitches his ears, and when he sleeps and while awake. Nervous, may cry. But you can touch your ears and press the tragus. No discharge from the ears. Did you get water while swimming? There is no way to see a doctor, we are temporarily in the region.Thanks!
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5. Hello, my mastoid process has increased in size, painful on palpation, without hyperemia and edema, no temperature, no pain in the ear. What medications can you drink to relieve inflammation?
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6. Recently I began to be bothered by a noise in my ear, either in the right, or in the left, or two.
   What could it be?
   Answer to question
7. Hello, can you check your left ear hearing at your clinic and how much will it cost?
   Answer to question
8. Hello.
   My son is 3 years old, ENT prescribed tympanometry.
   How much does this procedure cost you?
   What do we need for this and do we need to get an appointment first, or can we go to this procedure right away?
   Thank you.
   Answer to question
9. Is it possible to apply a compress with Dimexidum in case of acute ear inflammation? or even compresses?
   Answer to question
10. Hello, Alexander Valerievich!
    I already wrote to you. Before coming to you for examination, do you need to undergo tests here and which ones?
    Answer to question
11. Good afternoon!
    Appointed to your clinic for an appointment at the end of the week to A.V., recently we have noticed that the child is constantly asking again after suffering catarrhal otitis media, we suspect the presence of fluid in the ear, adenoids 1-2 tbsp.
    The child is swimming, I would like to clarify whether it is possible for us to visit the pool now or is it better to wait for the doctor’s examination ?!
    Answer to question
12. Hello.
    A aching pain in the left ear developed. What to do?
    Answer to question
13. In what cases are shunts placed in children? And how much does it help? The child has been complaining about ears for a month….
    Answer to question
14. Good afternoon.
    The child is 10 months old and already 4 otitis media, fell ill on 11.09.17. The “Suprax” was treated for 10 days, but the snot still has not gone away, it is pouring like a river. We already drip Desrinit, suck it off, but a couple of days ago, when the child was asleep, he began to be capricious, we arrived at the hospital. We looked at the CT – there is still exudate in the left ear.
    Now we are being offered a paracentesis. Is this the only way out of the situation or something else you can drink or drip? We also went to the salt room for five days, maybe this also somehow affects the snot? And how can you still get rid of a cold, can there be any antibiotics?
    It’s just very scary, the child is small.What are the forecasts in general? Adenoids are also grade 2-3. Apparently you need to delete them too? How can we be, no one really can advise anything.
    Answer to question
15. Good evening!
    The right ear is blocked and a squeak is heard in the ear with loud loud noises.
    No pain in the ear, no runny nose. What could it be?
    Answer to question
16. Dear doctor.
    Hello! Please tell me what could be the problem.
    For a longer time I have been suffering, when swallowing, sometimes when yawning, my ears clog.Previously, it was somehow bearable, but now it has begun to lay down quite often. In order to put the ear back, I close my nose with my fingers and pull it in. I know there is advice that you need to blow your ears if it does, but when I blow it out, they seem to be blocked until I pull it back in. It seems that there is some kind of pocket opening, and until I pull it in, it does not close. When it lays down, I hear what I say very loudly. What could be?
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17. One day the ear was blocked, then after three hours it started to hurt, then I put warm salt in a handkerchief to my ear, and it stopped hurting, and water came out little by little, then the next day a little drop of blood came out and it was like pus (similar) but did not hurt, then the next day the blood stopped coming out.And now there is a ringing in my ear, and I can’t hear a little. What do you advise? First time like this. I’ll go to the hospital one of these days. Thanks for the answer.
    Answer to question
18. Dear Alexander Valerievich!
    I am 58 years old, since 1978 sensorineural hearing loss 2 tbsp. The urologist appointed Tavanik for a course of 28 days, among the side effects of which hearing loss and unpleasant phenomena from the nervous system are indicated.
    Is it permissible to use Tavanic for such a long course in my case?
    Answer to question
19. Good afternoon!
    I was referred to an audiologist for audiometry tympanometry.There were pulsating noises in the right ear after otitis media. Do you have such a survey and how much will it cost?
    Answer to question
20. Tell me please, what is the diagnosis “Psychogenic hearing loss” and write that hearing is within the normal range, if a person really does not hear well and everything is normal, is it treated? The doctors said that they are treated with tranquilizers and antidepressants.
    Answer to question
21. Good day!
    I would like to contact you with such a problem. For a long time, my left ear reacts sharply to loud sounds.There is a crackling sound in my ear, as if scotch tape is coming off. This happens with loud sounds, and also as a reaction to your voice. If you speak quietly, there is no reaction, if a little louder there is a reaction inside the ear.
    The nasal septum is curved, the ears were blocked, and the issue was solved by injecting pressure into the ears. Laura was diagnosed well, they made an audiogram near Dk Soldatov, an ultrasound scan of the neck showed that everything was normal, the neurologist’s diagnosis was healthy.
    I don’t know what to do?
    Answer to question
22. Good afternoon! Tell me how to treat a boil in the ear canal? And can I sign up with you with such a problem?
    Answer to question
23. Do you have ways to detect hidden antritis? And what? And the price?
    Or what can you advise? Best X-ray ?? Thanks!
    Answer to question
24. Good evening!
    Was today at the reception at the ENT, vol.because the throat is sore. It turned out to be pharyngitis, but the ears began to hurt when swallowing.
    What to do? And can the pain come from the throat? Previously, such did not suffer. Thank you in advance!
    Answer to question
25. Today my daughter has an ear ache. Were at the doctor.
    On examination: the right ear is normal, the left is a sulfur plug (removed).
    After the words that the right ear hurts, the doctor said to the nurse: “Give otitis media, what do we feel sorry for.”
    Prescribed Otipax and Suprax. He did not appoint a second attendance.
    Is it worth using an antibiotic, or is it better to wait a bit?
    The temperature after the appointment with the doctor rose to 37.5.The ear hurts, but not much, there is no discharge.
    Answer to question
26. I have had dizziness since 2002, the first with vomiting lasting 4 hours, then over the years the duration and intensity of dizziness decreased, and their frequency increased from 3-4 per year to several dizziness per day.
    In parallel, since 2002, there was a severe nasal congestion (not to breathe), they put on catarrhal rhinosinusitis, then salpingiootitis.
    Since 2006, the temperature periodically began to rise to 37.
    Since 2011, periodic severe pains began in the entire face or, more often, in the jaws, with the localization of the source of pain inside the ear.
    Epideral staphylococcus has now been found in the ear.
    From 13 August, the ears hurt, the noise does not stop, sometimes the whole head makes a noise, the condition worsens in a horizontal position. From the ears gives off to the jaw. There is a lack of coordination when moving the head, the road “jumps” when walking, weakness, fatigue, fear of falling asleep and not waking up. At the same time, MRI, blood vessels, teeth are normal, there are no mental illnesses.
    ENT, neurologist and dentist cannot make a diagnosis, believing that it is not their “symptoms”.
    Antibiotics, cypromed and antibacterial drugs alleviate the condition, and then everything comes back.
    Tell me who should I contact?
    Answer to question
27. Hello, dear Alexander Valerievich! The problem with writing to the lore in Krasnokamsk. Ears are blocked with sulfur plugs. Can I remove them myself, at home? Please advise what should I do?
    Answer to question
28. Hello, can you tell me if it is possible to do tympanometry (without direction)? What is the price?
    Answer to the question
29. Hello, the situation is such a lump in my ear, after which there was a stunning at first, I thought that it was so slightly stunned and would go away by itself.
    For a week now the ear has been weakly hearing. If I plug my nose, then the air seeps through the ear.
    Today I went to the shower and accidentally wet my ear after which there was a severe pain, now the pain has subsided but still does not hurt much what to do? (I bought a medicine that was advised in the Otinum pharmacy to use it or not. I don’t know. Thank you very much
    Answer to question
30. For a week, I can clearly hear a hum in my ear because of this I began to hear poorly, although the ear itself did not hurt.
    Answer to question
31. Hello!
    It hurts in the ear, I think it hurts around the ear from the stick injury, you can’t press it with your finger, everything hurts.I took an ear stick, smeared it with iodine and smeared it on the inside of the ear, I think I hit the eardrum, because it burned strongly and became congestion from this. In the morning I stopped hearing with my ear altogether. As we do not have an ENT doctor, she called the doctor by phone. I was prescribed Amoxiclav tablets 1 tab 3 times and drops in the ear of Candibiotic, then smear around the ear with heparin ointment. 2 days have passed, my ear gradually stops hurting, but I can’t hear anything with this ear. What to do? We do not have an ENT doctor!
    Answer to question
32. Good afternoon.
    In November 2015, on the basis of CT, the child was diagnosed with mastoiditis. They operated on. Five months later, on examination, inflammation in the ear again. The membrane is immovably pink-bluish in color. Diagnosed with exudative otitis media of the middle ear. Tell me, how can you determine the stage of the disease? Can it be cured once and for all while preserving hearing? Thanks.
    Answer to question
33. Good evening!
    The child is 1 year and 5 months old, diagnosed with otitis media, no snot, no stuffy nose.
    Prescribed polydex in the nose, antibiotic flemoxin and furacilin alcohol.
    Is it possible for a child to sprinkle with polydex (contraindications up to 2.5 years old) and why, if there is no snot? Is it possible to do without antibiotics, since a month ago you drank pantseph for sinusitis? Thanks.
    Answer to question
34. Hello!
    Please tell me how and how to treat otitis media?
    Answer to question
35. Hello.
    Recently I went to the ENT clinic at XXXX clinic (Perm) with a complaint of discomfort in the ears and tonsils (itching and tingling). There they told me that it is a fungus, also herpes in the nose.Treatment – fluconazole, candibiotic, miramistin, laser therapy and lavage.
    Worrying about the fact that no analyzes were done, only external examination and “bioresonance diagnostics”. They also impose dietary supplements and bioresonance therapy.
    The question is, is it necessary for such a diagnosis to be tested and whether such a diagnosis should be believed?
    Do I need to see another doctor?
    Answer to question
36. Good afternoon, Alexander Valerievich.
    I have a total otitis media.Aggravation this year is the third time. In 1986, there was an ear injury with perforation of the tympanic membrane. The ear periodically became inflamed, but quickly responded to anti-inflammatory therapy. But this year the aggravation is the third time with. involvement of the medial wall, therefore, dizziness was present with local therapy.
    Upon discharge from the hospital, the attending physician advised an operation. I myself am also a doctor, obstetrician-gynecologist. What is this operation and how urgently needs to be carried out? I would like to hear the opinion of the specialist who performs these operations.Tell me, can you help me?
    Answer to question
37. Hello! My son was born with an obstruction of the ear canal. What is done in such cases? What examinations need to be done?
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38. Hello!
    My child was diagnosed with hearing loss and sent for an MRI of the brain, we did it, but everything is fine there and said to do a computed tomography of the inner ear, but in Saratov, no one is willing to give us 4 years old. I was wondering if there is something else I can do to check the inner ear?
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39. We went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a ruptured ear membrane.The doctor said there was a 50/50 chance that hearing would return. He said that there was nothing to treat and prescribed only pills to hard labor, the pus in the ear would be removed. Tell me, is it really 50/50?
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40. What to do or how to improve hearing or remove the plug in the right ear thanks for your attention with respect Pavel
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41. An ear was blocked against the background of a runny nose. Then there was a noise in my ear, I don’t really notice it during the day, it’s not comfortable at night. Lor from the clinic said that the ear was fine. What to do?
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42. Hello.I ask for your help. My daughter is 4 years old. After suffering a cold in winter, a stuffy nose remains for a very long time, for almost three months. We went through all the drops in the nose (vibrocil, nasivin, naphthyzin), nothing helps. The child sleeps with his mouth open, snores in his sleep. The last two weeks, apparently, I began to hear poorly, because she constantly asks again. Became moody. Our local pediatrician no longer knows what to do with us. What could it be and advise treatment. Thanks in advance, mom Alice)
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43. Hello.Please tell me why my ears are ringing? Or it rings or makes noise, for a long time, it stops a little and again. Whom to contact, which doctor?
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44. Constant noise in the right ear. I contacted a medical institution, but they did not say anything specifically. Found only polyps in the nose and curvature of the septum (sent for surgery). Could this affect noise, noise only in the right ear?
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45. Hello! My hearing deteriorated and my doctor diagnosed me with sensorineural hearing loss.Tell me, is it possible to improve hearing with this diagnosis?
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46. Hello. I have a polyp in my ear, I need to remove it. It hurts? Is there any kind of anesthesia being used? Answer to question
47. My left ear is swollen and it hurts to touch it. What should I do, be treated with medications or is it better to go to an ear-nose-throat doctor?
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48. Hello! I am interested in the restoration of the eardrum. Do you practice such operations, if not, where should you go.Good luck!
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49. Good afternoon! Hearing problems, lately, ear congestion, as if you hear sounds not so loud, there is not much noise. I can discern what they are talking about, even in the next room.