Ear Health Hub
Explore our growing library of ear health topics. We offer solutions and simple tips to maintain your ear health.
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Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder that means sufferers have many problems understanding what is being said to them, particularly in noisy surroundings. This is the case even though individuals can usually understand speech in quiet surroundings.
Barotrauma refers to any medical problems that arise from the pressure differences between areas of the body and the environment. This can occur as a result of flying, as you ascend the air pressure decreases or as a result of diving, where the opposite happens, as you descend the pressure increases.
Fluid in the ear is a condition in which there is an excessive build-up of fluid in the middle ear. It can occur in one or both ears and can affect people of all ages. Often fluid in the ear is not a severe condition, but it can cause discomfort and reduce hearing ability.
A fungal ear infection, known medically as otomycosis, is an infection of the outer ear canal caused by fungi (most commonly Aspergillus or Candida) rather than bacteria.
We hear when, sound waves travel through the outer ear, the vibration impacts on the eardrum which in turn motions the middle ear bones to transmit the vibration to the inner ear.
Hyperacusis is a medical term used to describe any abnormal discomfort caused by sounds that are tolerable to listeners with ordinary hearing. It’s often viewed as a phenomenon – because it’s a subjective experience, it cannot be measured directly and is, consequently, very difficult to study and to diagnose.
Labyrinthitis occurs when there is inflammation in the inner ear labyrinth, which is responsible for hearing and balance. If the labyrinth becomes inflamed, it causes dizziness, hearing loss, nausea and vertigo.
Ménière's disease is a rare disorder that affects the inner ear. It can cause vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and often a feeling of pressure deep inside the ear. In the UK, it is estimated that around 1 in 1,000 people have Ménière's disease. It can occur at any age, but it most commonly affects people aged 40-60 years and is more common in women than in men.
A middle ear infection (otitis media) is a common, often painful, bacterial or viral infection that causes inflammation and fluid buildup behind the eardrum.
Otosclerosis is a disorder that occurs due to the abnormal growth of bone tissue in the middle ear. This growth leads to the immobilization of the stapes bone, reducing its ability to transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear.
Otitis externa (outer ear infection) is inflammation, irritation, or infection of the ear canal, often called "swimmer's ear," typically caused by bacteria (like Pseudomonas) or fungi trapping water in the ear.
Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is a form of hearing impairment that occurs gradually over time. It is caused by various factors, including genetics, lifestyle, environmental pollutants, and noise exposure.
External Otitis or "swimmer's ear" is an infection of the skin covering the outer ear and/or the ear canal. Acute external otitis is commonly caused by a bacterial infections, the swimmer's ear infection is usually caused by excessive water exposure from swimming or other water sports.