What Is the Connection Between an Ear Infection and Hearing Loss?
The infection of the middle ear is known as otitis media, which can be caused due to bacteria or viruses. This infection can result in inflammation and fluid build-up in the area behind the eardrum. Thus middle ear infection can lead to temporary hearing loss. Ear infections are more common in children than in adults as their eustachian tubes are smaller, which makes it difficult for the fluid to drain out.
The common types of middle ear infections are:
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Acute Otitis Media- The Eustachian tube, which runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat, gets infected in this condition which will result in fluid getting trapped inside the Eustachian tube. As a result, the tube gets infected, causing pain and swelling. This type of ear infection can cause hearing loss in the patient.
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Otitis Media With Effusion- In this type of infection, there is fluid or mucus build-up in the Eustachian tube, which does not get resolved even after the infection subsides and can result in impaired hearing in the patients.
The other less common type of middle ear infections are:
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Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media- The ongoing complications from acute otitis media can result in this type of ear infection. There is perforation of the eardrum that results in persistent discharge from the middle ear. This condition is often seen in children and causes hearing loss in them.
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Adhesive Otitis Media- There is a collapse of the eardrum which then gets adhered to the structures and the wall of the middle ear. This type of infection usually occurs when the Eustachian does not work properly for a long time.
How Long Does the Hearing Loss From the Ear Infection Last?
The hearing loss from these infections is generally temporary and cleared when the infection resolves. The hearing loss is due to the sound vibrations not getting transmitted because of the infection in the middle ear, so when there is no infection, the sound vibration can pass through.
But in some cases, the fluid drainage may take a longer duration. In such cases, the hearing loss can persist for a long duration. Otherwise, the symptoms of the infection start to resolve within 48 to 72 hours.
What Are the Symptoms of an Ear Infection?
Mostly when someone has an ear infection, the commonly seen symptoms are pain and pressure in the ear, and hence one can suspect an ear infection. But in the case of babies, they cannot convey the symptoms through words, so how can one understand whether the child has an ear infection?
The common signs that would indicate an ear infection in young children are:
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Body Language - The baby may be pulling their ear, which can indicate the possibility of an ear infection.
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Fever - The fever could be due to an ongoing infection in the ear.
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Irritability - The child might be crying for no reason and more than usual.
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Ear Drainage - There could be pus or fluid drainage from the ear, which is a common sign of ear infection. The fluid may be yellowish or bloody, which can indicate the rupture of the eardrum.
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Trouble Hearing - There can be a temporary hearing loss because of the fluid build-up in the ear.
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Unsteadiness - The fluid build-up can also affect the balance of the child leading to unsteadiness.
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Diarrhea - Sometimes, the child can experience vomiting or diarrhea along with an ear infection.
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Unable to Lie Down - The lying down position can cause pressure in the ear, because of which the child may refuse to lie down.
What Are the Other Causes of Hearing Loss?
The most common cause of hearing loss are:
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Aging.
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Exposure to loud noise.
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Congenital.
The other less common causes of hearing loss could be:
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Medications.
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Head injury.
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Acoustic neuroma- It is a benign tumor that grows on the vestibulocochlear nerve from the inner ear to the brain.
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Meniere’s disease - A disorder of the inner ear that causes vertigo and hearing loss.
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Otosclerosis- A rare condition that results in hearing loss due to abnormal bone remodeling in the middle ear.
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Autoimmune inner ear disease.
When to Call a Doctor?
Consult a doctor at the earliest when the child with an ear infection shows the following:
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High fever.
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Pus or fluid drainage from the ear.
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Hearing loss.
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If the symptoms last for more than three days.
If the child has frequent episodes of ear infection, it can even affect the hearing, speaking, or language development in the developing age; in such cases, consult the doctor about these issues.
Also, consult the doctor in case the child develops sudden, unexplained hearing loss.
How Is an Ear Infection Treated?
The treatment, according to the earlier guidelines, was to treat with antibiotics, but the guidelines have changed, and the treatment with antibiotics could result in antibiotic resistance in the patient. The treatment with antibiotics is needed only if the infection does not subside on its own within three days.
Antibiotics can be given in the following cases:
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When the patient is six months or older and has severe to moderate pain for more than 48 hours or a temperature of 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
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If the patient is 24 months or older and both ears are involved.
What Are the Home Remedies for Ear Infection?
When there is an ear infection without severe symptoms, one can try the following:
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Pain killers- Over-the-counter painkillers like Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen can be used to relieve the pain.
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Warm or Cold Compresses- One can use warm, or ice compresses over the ear so as to find relief from the symptoms, or the two can be alternated if it helps.
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A Change in Sleeping Position- Use extra pillows which allow drainage from the ear while sleeping.
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Distraction- If the child is fussy and irritable because of the ear infection, try a distraction technique to ease the pain.
Conclusion
The ear infection can sometimes be the cause of hearing loss which is due to the inflammation and fluid build-up behind the eardrum. This type of hearing loss is temporary and resolves once the infection settles down. But in some cases, the hearing loss can persist for a longer duration than the infection due to the fluid build-up, which is not resolved. If the hearing loss is not getting better even after the infection has gone, then one needs to consult the doctor for further evaluation.
