Chronic Ear Problems

The ear is a miraculous organ that has a complex step-by-step process to convert external sounds into messages for the brain. Your outer ear receives sound waves, which are amplified, vibrated and then transmitted to your brain. Because of its complexity, the parts of the ear are very sensitive and can be injured easily. Many people have chronic ear problems that must be treated on a long-term basis.

Hearing Loss

• Since the ear is so delicate, hearing loss can occur when it is injured in any way, for example, from a major infection or receiving very loud sounds. When people lose their hearing, they are not able to hear until the intensity of the sounds is increased much farther than the norm. Hearing loss is often temporary and short term. However, sometimes the injury to middle or inner ear is great enough that the hearing loss is permanent. This loss may range from minor to severe.

Middle Ear Diseases

• One of the most common diseases of the ear is called "otosclerosis," which causes the three small bones, malleus, incus and stapes, to fuse to one another or the wall of the middle ear. The ear is then kept from functioning properly. In most cases, surgery will correct the problem.

Tinnitus

• Sometimes people hear sounds in their head, such as whistling, buzzing or ringing, which do not come from external noise. This is called "tinnitus." This can be a short-term condition. Or, it may last indefinitely. It normally occurs because of a problem in the inner ear. Very intense noise is a common cause of tinnitus. The sounds heard may be very minor and easy to ignore or problematic enough to cause lack of sleep and even major depression. There are different forms of treatment and varying degrees of improvement.

Chronic Middle Ear Infection

• The middle ear area is connected to the back of the nose by the Eustachian tube. The tube remains closed until a person swallows. When it opens, fresh air rushes in and brings oxygen to the middle ear. This makes the ear pressure in the middle ear the same as outside of the body. When you hear a "pop," the pressure is equalizing. If the nose and throat are seriously congested, the Eustachian tube may be obstructed. Then air pressure cannot be equalized. If this continues to happen, such as with allergies, a cold or flu, tissues in the middle ear begin to change and cause the painful condition called "acute otitis media," or chronic ear infection. This infection can be treated in the early stages by antibiotics or a tube replacement. Over prolonged time, it can cause hearing loss.

Colesteatoma

• The ear drum in the middle ear may be perforated or get a hole from a trauma or infection. Normally, the perforations will close up again when the infection is treated. In some cases, the holes are too large to close on their own. Over time, a mass of skin called cholesteatoma will grow and disturb the malleus, incus or stapes. This can cause balance problems and even hearing loss. It is important to stop the infection at an early stage.

Chronic Outer Ear Infection

• Sometimes a person has an allergy to mold or fungus, which causes a great deal of itching and pain. The ear canal can become dry and scaly. Because antibiotics do not work, someone may have this problem for years. A treatment that can be helpful is filling the ear canal with anti-fungal medicine.