Hearing loss is a complex health issue with many different causes. You’re probably most familiar with the causes that affect the inner ear and main hearing organ (e.g., aging, loud noise exposure), and while those are the most common causes of hearing loss, there are some common ear problems that occur in the ear canal that can affect hearing just as much.
Sensorineural vs. Conductive Hearing Loss
When you think of hearing loss, you probably think of sensorineural hearing loss, in which there is some dysfunction in the main hearing organ in the inner ear that prevents sound information from being sent accurately to the brain.
But don’t forget: all sounds must travel down the ear canal to get there, so any impediment to this highway is an impediment to hearing. If there is an issue with the ear canal or middle ear (the air pocket behind the eardrum and in front of the main hearing organ) that causes hearing problems, it’s known as conductive hearing loss.
Ear Infections
Bacteria makes its home in any warm, dark place. Fluid buildup in the middle or outer ear provides a perfect environment for bacteria to grow and reproduce, leading to an infection. Ear infections usually occur after a bout of viral illness, such as the flu, common cold or COVID. They’re especially common in children, affecting five out of every six children before their third birthday, but anyone can get an ear infection.
Ear infections can affect hearing in several ways.
- Sound waves struggle to travel through the infected fluid, making sounds appear muffled or distorted or even silencing them completely.
- The infection can spread and cause damage to the internal structures in the ear, causing long-lasting conductive hearing loss.
- The infected fluid may burst through the eardrum, creating a small tear. A torn eardrum cannot amplify sound waves into the inner ear, much like a drum cannot make a loud noise when struck if the batter head is loose or torn.
Blockages
Another condition of the outer ear that can affect hearing is a blockage. If any solid item is in the ear canal, sound waves may be blocked from entering. Again, this is common in children, as inquisitive hands are known to put things in places they don’t belong, but it can happen to anyone.
The most common ear canal blockage is impacted earwax. Earwax, or cerumen, is a naturally occurring substance secreted by glands in the ear canal with the purpose of keeping the ear canal clean and hydrated. Usually, it dries out at the end of its lifespan and falls out of your ear on its own as you walk, chew or shower, but sometimes it can get clumped together to make a large mass that gets stuck deep in the ear canal.
If you’re dealing with impacted earwax or some other foreign object lodged in the ear, do not try to remove it yourself, as you may push it deeper into the ear canal and damage the eardrum. Do not try to remove earwax with a Q-tip either. Instead, seek medical attention to get the obstruction removed safely.
Structural Issues
Sometimes, the structures in our ears form in such a way that the ear canal is impeded, crooked or blocked entirely, making it difficult for sound waves to get inside. Some examples include:
- Acoustic neuroma
- Otosclerosis
- Cholesteatoma
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Tumors
- Head trauma or injury
At San Diego ENT, we specialize in all things hearing, and we know that there are more factors out there that lead to hearing loss than just aging and loud noise exposure. Come see us today for a comprehensive hearing exam to determine what kind of hearing loss you have and what its cause is.