For young children and babies, it is essential to look for visible symptoms of ear infections, including behaviors such as tugging of the ears, crying, sleeplessness, fever, fluid draining from the ear, balance issues, and problems with hearing.
Issues with ear health and hearing loss are issues that tend to overlap when it comes to prevention and proactive measures for maintaining your hearing. With this, protecting your hearing is a significant part of ensuring the health of your ears. However, issues such as ear infections can also affect your ability to hear over time if left untreated. Although we can’t always control when we develop an ear infection, we can take preventive steps against them, as well as treat them with effective measures when we feel one starting to form. To understand ear infections, consider their many causes, factors, and treatment options to avoid hearing issues in the future.
Causes of Ear Infections
Many ear infections begin with bacteria from as colds, sore throats, or upper respiratory infections that worsen over time. Colds and infections can sometimes lead to inflammation in the middle ear, causing fluid buildup that ultimately leads to the ear infection. While children are much more prone to ear infections, these infections can be painful for adults as well.
Locations and Severity of Ear Infections
Most ear infections begin with pain in the ear. However, ear pain may also be indicative of other hearing problems. Children and adults experiencing ear pain should immediately seek an examination by their audiologist to ensure that the infection is not something more serious. The most common ear infections take place in the middle ear, with swelling and fluid buildup behind the eardrum being the primary symptoms. A fever also accompanies these ear infections. More severe ear infections can result from the fluid that remains trapped in the ear following a less serious infection, and often this fluid can only be detected by an audiologist. As fluid remains trapped and build-up worsens, the infection can become even more severe if left unaddressed.
Treatment and Hearing Loss Prevention
While antibiotics and rest are the most common treatments prescribed for ear infections, any fluid remaining in the ear following an ear infection can lead to hearing loss. With this, ear infections should be treated as soon as possible to ensure that they do not worsen into something more severe. This point can pose a uniquely dangerous problem for young children who may not be able to communicate their pain in their ears. For young children and babies, it is essential to look for visible symptoms of ear infections, including behaviors such as tugging of the ears, crying, sleeplessness, fever, fluid draining from the ear, balance issues, and problems with hearing. Ear infections are dangerous for people of all ages because if left untreated, they can cause hearing loss. Mainly for kids and young adults, an undiagnosed progression of hearing loss can sometimes lead to developmental issues, as well as problems with motor and language skills.
Trust the Experts at Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions
Need help with your hearing? Clarity Hearing can help. Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions is an independently-owned and operated clinic that focuses on quality of care and personalized friendly service. Our Doctors of Audiology are highly trained with advanced degrees and take the time to provide the personalized care and attention that you need and deserve. We provide advanced hearing aid options that personally calibrated with cutting-edge digital technology to fit your hearing loss, your unique ear anatomy, and your individual listening needs.
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