Can An Ear Infection Cause Adult Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can be caused by several factors. Age, genetics and injury are all key contributors to hearing problems, but did you know that an infection could also lead to hearing loss?

Known as ‘conductive hearing loss,’ hearing loss caused by an infection can mean you experience hearing loss temporarily. It could also affect your balance and cause dizziness or nausea.

It may seem difficult to believe that an infection can cause adult hearing loss, but understanding how it happens can help you be prepared should you ever encounter it yourself.

Ear infections and conductive hearing loss

An ear infection can cause inflammation of the middle ear. When your ear becomes infected, it can cause fluid to build up, which can then block the signal from your middle ear to your auditory nerve, causing hearing loss.

Ear infections usually happen as the result of a respiratory infection or virus, such as a cold or flu. While they are more common amongst children, adults can also experience ear infections. If you suspect you have an ear infection, it’s important to seek treatment to stop the infection from getting worse and to restore your hearing.

Signs of an ear infection

Some of the typical signs of an ear infection include:

• A painful ear
• Fever
• Dizziness
• Inflammation
• Nausea
• Feeling unbalanced
• A feeling of fullness inside the ear
• Discharge from the ear
• Itching and irritation

These symptoms, along with hearing loss, could signal an infection and should be checked out by a medical professional.

Treating ear infections

Like a cold or another virus, the best way to treat an ear infection is to treat the symptoms, especially if the infection is causing pain in the ear. Your family doctor should be able to provide you with a treatment to combat the infection. If hearing loss occurs while you have the ear infection, your hearing professional can evaluate if this is a temporary side effect. Consistent ear infections that remain untreated can lead to chronic hearing loss.

Ear infections can be recurring, and if you have persistent ear infections, you risk developing tympanosclerosis, which is the scarring of the membranes inside the middle ear. This can lead to hearing loss, and you may be recommended a hearing aid to help you improve your earring in the affected ear.

What should you do if you think you have hearing loss?

Ear infections are just one of the causes of hearing loss. Some of the others include genetics, injury and age. If you think your hearing loss is due to an infection, visiting a doctor could help you get an accurate diagnosis, where they’ll be able to recommend different treatment options.

If you think you have signs of hearing loss, book an appointment with a hearing instrument specialist (HIS), who will be able to conduct hearing tests to help identify the type and severity of hearing loss. These tests can help you get a clearer measure of your hearing, and allow it to be monitored over time.

A HIS will also be able to fit you for a hearing aid if required, helping you choose from the different types of hearing aids to help you find one that meets your needs. As experts in hearing devices, you’ll feel confident knowing you’re selecting the best hearing aid for you.

Put your hearing first with Armand’s Hearing Center

At Armand’s Hearing Center, we’re here to help you test your hearing and make recommendations for hearing aids that can make a big difference to your life. Our team are hearing aid specialists, and will be able to discuss the benefits of different types of hearing aid to help you find one that not only fits in with your lifestyle, but is comfortable to wear too.

Hearing aids have advanced significantly in recent years, with features that are designed to make wearing one even more beneficial. From Bluetooth connectivity to connected smartphone apps, there are a lot of ways you can get more from your hearing aid to benefit your daily activities. Our team will happily discuss the different features of hearing aids so that you can see the benefits for yourself.

To make an appointment with Armand’s Hearing Center, contact us today. You can call us at the following locations, Bradenton: (941) 357-2054 or Sun City: (813) 990-0335. Let us help you find the best hearing aid for you.