Conditions of the Ears

Healthy ears are taken for granted until lost.  Hearing loss, imbalance, and ear infections benefit from prompt evaluation to restore quality of life and avoid irreversible damage. Scroll down for your topic of interest.

Ear anatomy:

The human ear is composed of three main parts: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. The outer ear consists of the visible part called the pinna and the ear canal, which channels sound waves towards the eardrum or tympanic membrane. Once the sound waves reach the eardrum in the middle ear, they cause it to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through three tiny bones called the ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) in the middle ear. From there, the vibrations are sent to the cochlea in the inner ear. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped structure filled with fluid and lined with tiny hair cells that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the brain through the auditory nerve. Another component of the inner ear is the vestibular labyrinth, including three semicircular canals used for sensing motion of the head. The Eustachian tube is a passageway from the throat to the space of the middle ear, allowing transmission of air or fluid to or from this space.

hearing loss

Hearing is social. Hearing is fun. Hearing is safe. But did you know that hearing health is also closely tied to brain health? This is true for all ages.

ear infections

Frequent ear infections or a long-standing infection typically require specialist evaluation, especially:

1. Greater than three infections in six months, or greater than five infections in a year

2. An ear infection that does not resolve

3. Adult infection(s) or fluid on only one side

4. An ear that drains fluid continuously

tinnitus (ear ringing, buzzing, humming, etc.)

The perception of sound not present in the environment, often described as ringing, buzzing, or chirping, is called tinnitus. This irritating phenomenon is unfortunately common, and tends to correlate with noise exposure, age, and family history of tinnitus. Some tinnitus, including a pulsating sound (like your heart beat), has potential to be dangerous, and requires prompt evaluation. Most tinnitus is incurable, but it usually can be improved.

Trouble equalizing ear pressure (Eustachian tube dysfunction)

The middle ear space behind the eardrum containing three bones (the ossicles) normally is air-filled. That air, however, is constantly absorbed by the lining of that space and needs to be replaced with air passing from the throat to the middle ear via the Eustachian tube to avoid a pressure difference on the two sides of the eardrum (tympanic membrane). Additionally, if the air pressure in the outside world changes significantly (from altitude changes, usually), air must enter or exit the middle ear space via the Eustachian tube to avoid a pressure difference. Less air pressure in the middle ear than the outside world is much more common than the opposite problem because the Eustachian tube tends to let air out of the middle ear more easily than it lets air in. A pressure difference between the two spaces around the tympanic membrane causes stretch on the eardrum and pain. A persistent pressure difference with higher pressure in the ear canal and less pressure in the middle ear space can cause fluid to weep from the middle ear surfaces into the middle ear, causing a muffling of hearing. When severe, such a pressure difference can cause a blood vessel in the middle ear to rupture, causing blood to spill into the middle ear, also muffling hearing.

• Animated video describing Eustachian tube dysfunction and associated ear infection.

• Animated video detailing how altitude changes affect ear pressure.

• Go to tympanic membrane perforation (hole in the ear drum)

ear pain

Anyone who has had an earache can testify to the severity of pain, but not all ear pain arises from the same cause, and a correct diagnosis is needed for effective pain relief.. Perhaps surprisingly, pain is frequently felt in the ear despite arising somewhere else nearby, such as the jaw joint (TMJ, temporomandibular joint) or the throat (tonsil area in particular). Ear pain arising from the ear itself is often a sign of infection. When the source of pain is the ear itself, infection is the usual cause, but this infection may be the external ear, the ear canal, or the space behind the eardrum, and the infection may be from bacteria, a fungus, or a virus.

• Animated video explaining how TMD can cause ear pain.

Imbalance, Dizziness, and Vertigo

Hole in eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation)