Most patients who consult healthcare providers for ear health support complain of issues related to varying degrees of loss of hearing and those manifested as noises in the ear. Some suffer excruciating pain, and others have infections that need ear health support for management or cure. Misdiagnoses and mismanagement compound the problem, which makes this guide relevant in averting such possibilities.
Hearing Right- Managing Ear Health
Poor ear health can affect a person’s quality of life, productivity and wellness. Bacteria and viruses cause ear infections. The infections can occur in the inner ear, in the outer and the middle ear. Some infections can be sporadic, while others can be persistent, affecting only one or both ears. Acute ear infections are more noticeable than chronic ones.
Some of the common signs of ear disease include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Ear pain
- Hearing loss
- Persistent pressure or ear discomfort
- Pus drainage
Children and babies have other symptoms of ear health issues, such as:
- Fussiness
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Fever
- Losing balance
- Not reacting to sounds
- Pulling or rubbing the ear
Those symptoms are an indicator of ear health issues such as:
- Swimmer’s ear or otitis external, which affects the outer ear canal
- Meniere’s disease that is responsible for balance and hearing disorders
- Cerumen, which is hearing obstruction caused by the accumulation of ear wax
- Tinnitus- a ringing or hearing other strange noises in the ears
- Vertigo which is a false perception of feeling movement, tilting or swaying
- Otosclerosis, which is a common cause of hearing loss and affects the middle ear
- Labyrinthitis manifests as an inflammation of the inner ear that manages the ability to balance
- Glue ear or otitis media, where fluid accumulates in the middle ear
Diagnosing Ear Health Problems
Besides causing hearing issues, ear health can also show the overall state of a person’s well-being. Doctors conduct tests depending on the symptoms. They use a pneumatic otoscope to look at the ears to check for fluid in the ear.
The tympanometry test screens the eardrum. An acoustic reflectometry test measures the response of the eardrum to sound. In rare cases, a doctor performs the tympanocentesis test, which involves the collection of fluid from the eardrum to check for bacteria and viruses. It diagnoses recurrent or chronic ear infections.
There are tests to diagnose hearing loss, such as physical exams, which involve looking in the ear and using tuning forks. There are mobile apps that screen for hearing loss. An audiologist conducts audiometer tests to screen each ear for hearing ability.
Addressing Ear Health Issues
Most infections clear up without needing treatment, although they may be painful due to fluid build-up. Some patients get relief with over-the-counter medication. However, some infections escalate and become chronic and recurrent. Such can cause temporary or permanent ear damage.
Other complications of ear infections include:
- Hearing loss
- Ruptured eardrum
- Mastoiditis
- Speech delay
- Meningitis
Doctors will conduct surgery to implant tubes to drain fluids in the ear. They can prescribe hearing aids for hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear. Cochlear implants are another solution that mimics hearing aids, but they are more efficient. There are procedures to remove ear wax by suction or using a looped tool.
The long term management involves engaging friends and family for emotional support. Choosing quiet places and facing the person talking enhances waning hearing ability.
Conclusion
It is important to write down the symptoms that signify ear health issues. Health problems require prompt attention from the relevant specialist. Consult an ENT doctor to identify the cause and extent of the ear health issue. Also, patients should undergo tests even when symptoms go away by themselves to avoid recurrence of the infection and other complications.