Ear infections are common and can affect both children and adults. If you’ve ever experienced ear pain, muffled hearing, or a blocked feeling in your ear, you may have had an ear infection. But did you know that not all ear infections are the same? Let’s explore the types of ear infections, how they can affect your hearing, and what you can do to manage them.
Outer Ear Infection vs. Middle Ear Infection
There are two main types of ear infections: outer ear infections and middle ear infections.
- Outer ear infections, also known as otitis externa or “swimmer’s ear,” happen in the ear canal—the part of your ear that leads from the outer ear to the eardrum. This type of infection is often caused by trapped water, creating a moist environment where bacteria or fungi can grow. Common symptoms include redness, swelling, pain, and sometimes a discharge.
- Middle ear infections or otitis media occur behind the eardrum, in the middle ear. This area houses the tiny bones that help transmit sound to your inner ear. Middle ear infections often happen after a cold or sinus infection, when fluid gets trapped behind the eardrum because the eustachian tube (which helps drain fluid) becomes blocked.
Fluid Behind the Eardrum: Infection or Not?
Fluid behind the eardrum doesn’t always mean there’s an infection. Fluid can build up in the middle ear without being infected, a condition called otitis media with effusion. This often happens after a cold, allergies, or sinus congestion when the eustachian tube isn’t draining properly.
- Infected fluid usually comes with ear pain, fever, and noticeable hearing loss.
- Non-infected fluid often causes mild discomfort and muffled hearing, but usually isn’t painful.
How Does an Ear Infection Progress?
Middle ear infections usually start with a blocked eustachian tube, causing pressure and leading to fluid buildup behind the ear drum. If bacteria or viruses enter that trapped fluid, it can cause an infection. This infection can lead to pain, swelling, and a feeling of fullness. In severe cases, the eardrum may even rupture, causing fluid or pus to leak out of the ear canal.
Even after the infection clears, fluid can remain in the middle ear for a while, causing ongoing muffled hearing or a blocked feeling. It’s normal for this fluid to take up to three months to fully go away, but if it lasts longer, further intervention may be warranted.
Hearing Changes with Ear Infections
Both outer and middle ear infections can affect your hearing:
- Outer ear infections can block sound from entering the ear properly, leading to mild, conductive hearing loss.
- Middle ear infections usually cause more significant hearing loss. The fluid or infection behind the eardrum stops the small bones from vibrating as they should, leading to conductive hearing loss, where sound struggles to reach the inner ear.
While this type of hearing loss is usually temporary, it’s important to get your hearing checked if you notice a sudden drop in hearing. Although it might seem related to an ear infection, in rare cases, it could be sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which affects the inner ear or auditory nerve and needs immediate attention.
Managing Ear Infections
Most ear infections, especially middle ear infections, resolve on their own within a few days or weeks. However, the fluid can take up to three months to drain. Here are some ways to manage the symptoms at home:
- Warm compress: Applying a warm washcloth to the ear can ease pain.
- Hydration: Drinking plenty of water helps thin mucus and fluid.
- Pain relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or paracetamol can help with pain and fever (always follow dosage instructions).
- Don’t touch: Don’t use cotton swabs or put anything into the ear canal..
If symptoms persist or are severe, your GP may prescribe antibiotics, particularly for bacterial infections or in young children.
When Are Grommets (Ear Tubes) Needed?
Sometimes, grommets (ear tubes) are recommended, especially for children who experience frequent ear infections or when fluid behind the eardrum doesn’t clear up after several months. Grommets are small tubes inserted into the eardrum through a minor procedure, helping to drain fluid and ventilate the middle ear.
Grommets are often suggested for:
- Children who have recurrent ear infections (3 or more in 6 months, or 4 or more in a year).
- Persistent fluid in the middle ear (lasting longer than 3 months) that affects hearing.
- Ear infections that don’t respond to typical treatments.
Grommets help keep the middle ear clear of fluid, which can prevent future infections and improve hearing. Most grommets fall out naturally after 6-12 months, and the eardrum heals on its own.
When to Seek Help
If you or your child experiences:
- Sudden hearing loss, even if it’s related to an ear infection.
- Symptoms that last longer than a few days or worsen.
- Severe pain, fluid leakage from the ear, or significant hearing loss.
It’s important to get a professional hearing evaluation. Even if your GP diagnoses an ear infection, conditions like sudden sensorineural hearing loss can sometimes be misdiagnosed. At Medico Audiology Services, we can provide an accurate hearing assessment to ensure the right treatment.
Who Is More Likely to Get Ear Infections?
- Children under 5 are more prone to ear infections because their ear structures and immune systems are still developing. Children in daycare or who are bottle-fed are at a higher risk.
- People with allergies or frequent colds often experience more ear infections due to congestion in their eustachian tubes.
- Swimmers or those exposed to moisture in their ears are more likely to get outer ear infections.
Book a Hearing Evaluation Today
If you’re experiencing ear pain, hearing loss, or any changes in your hearing, don’t wait—book a hearing evaluation at Medico Audiology Services. We’re here to help you understand what’s happening and provide the best care for your hearing health.
Your hearing matters—contact us today with any questions or concerns!