Research
Research
Another term for ear pain, which can have many different causes.
Causes
- Ear Infection: An infection of the middle ear (space behind the eardrum) is commonly caused by viruses or bacteria.
- Swimmer’s Ear: An infection or irritation of the skin that lines the ear canal. The main symptom is an itchy ear canal. If the canal is infected, it becomes painful.
- Ear Canal Injury or Abscess: A cotton swab or fingernail can accidentally scrape the ear canal or infection of a hair follicle in the ear canal can appear as a small red bump. Oftentimes the bump turns into a pimple and needs to be drained.
- Earwax: A larger piece of hard earwax can cause mild ear pain, especially if the wax has been pushed in by cotton swabs.
- Foreign Object: If an object is sharp or pushed far into the ear canal, professional removal is needed.
- Airplane Ear: If the Eustachian tube is blocked, sudden increases in air pressure can cause the eardrum to stretch. Often experienced during landing decent or mountain driving.
- Pierced Ear Infections: Common, but often painful if not treated early.
- Referred Pain: Ear pain can also be referred from diseases not located in the ear. For example, tonsil infections, tooth decay in a back molar, and jaw pain (TMJ syndrome).
Hearing Loss
Often gradual due to aging and chronic exposure to loud noises, but can be sudden as well.
Causes
- Damage to the Inner Ear: Aging and exposure to loud noise m