How to Get Your Ears Unblocked After Taking Antibotics

The most common cause of ear pain is otitis media. Otitis Media occurs when fluid becomes trapped in the eustachian tube of the middle ear. Bacteria and germs begin to breed, causing an ear infection which needs to be treated by antibiotics. Sometimes the fluid remains in the ear for weeks or even months after the infection has cleared, and the ear remains blocked. This condition is also called "glue ear". Blocked ears can cause hearing loss and, in young children, speech problems. Treatment should not be delayed.

Instructions

• 1

  Visit an ear, nose and throat specialist to see if there is wax blocking the ears. Wax buildup is a common problem which is not connected to the use of antibiotics. However, people often forget to check for this simple cause after antibiotic use because their thoughts are centered on infections and they are not considering other possible causes.

• 2

  Investigate an "ear popper" device which sends air through the eustachian tubes to clear them.

• 3

  Try an Otovent. This is a nasal balloon which the person with the blocked ears must blow into. The person must blow hard through each of the nostrils into this nasal balloon three times each day. This will clear the fluid that is blocking the ears.

• 4

  Consider surgery to unblock the tubes. There are two types of simple surgical procedures which help drain fluids from the ears:

  *Myringotomy is performed when the doctor drains the fluid by inserting small ear tubes called tympanostomy tubes, or grommets, into the eardrum.

  *Tympanostomy is performed when the surgeon enters the eardrum through the external ear canal and removes any fluid. She then inserts a small tube into the hole in the eardrum so that any remaining fluid can drain through the ear canal.