We may take for granted the ability to hear a child’s laugh, a bird singing, or our favorite song. But when you have an ear or hearing condition and those joys are at risk, you realize how important your hearing can be to your quality of life. Many ear conditions can impact hearing or cause pain or other disruptive symptoms.
At WMCHealth’s Advanced ENT Services, our ENT specialists have expertise in advanced care for hearing and ear conditions, including tinnitus, chronic ear infections, and hearing loss with the latest treatments and technologies.
Symptoms of Ear and Hearing Conditions
Some common symptoms of ear conditions include:
- Pain in the ear
- Fluid leaking from the ear
- Hearing loss
- Balance issues or dizziness
- Hearing a ringing, buzzing, or roaring sound
Ear infections are common in children and can be treated routinely by a pediatrician. In addition to the symptoms listed above, your child may also experience:
- Fever
- Irritability
- Itchy and scaly skin around the ear
- Feeling fullness or pressure within the ear
You may notice that your child is pulling at their ears, not reacting to sounds, or not eating normally. Persistent or chronic ear infections may be cause for your child to see an ENT specialist.
Types of Ear and Hearing Conditions
Your ear is a complex and delicate structure that is made up of the outer, middle, and inner ear. The outer and middle ear transmit sound vibration down to your inner ear. This snail-shaped organ then translates these vibrations into nerve impulses that are sent to your brain. Your inner ear also regulates your balance.
Many conditions affect the ear, some common and some serious. At WMCHealth, our ENT specialists are experienced in treating all ear and hearing condition, including:
- Tinnitus
- CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) leak
- Ear cysts
- Microtia
- Otorrhea
- Bell’s Palsy
- Ototoxicity
- Ear tumors
- Otosclerosis
- Hearing loss
- Aural atresia
- Fluid buildup
- Swimmer’s ear
- Cholesteatoma
- Ear canal stenosis
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
Diagnosing Ear and Hearing Conditions
To diagnose an ear or hearing condition, your doctor will begin with a medical history and evaluate your current symptoms. Depending on your symptoms you may need one or more of the following:
- MRI
- Endoscopy
- Hearing tests
- Balance tests
These tests will allow your care team to determine if you have lost hearing, understand the cause of your dizziness if it is a symptom, and examine your brain and ear structures to see if any abnormalities may be the cause of your symptoms.
Causes of Ear and Hearing Conditions
While some ear conditions have no apparent cause, potential causes for many conditions include:
- Infections
- Medicines
- Exposure to loud noises
- Structural abnormalities
- Underlying health conditions