Hearing Center: Common Conditions That Affect the Ears

There are various conditions that require you to get some help from a hearing center. Take a look at some of the most common issues that affect the ears. Then talk to a doctor to get the help you need if you suffer from these or similar issues. Sometimes your ability to hear can be compromised by certain issues that come on gradually. For example, a buildup of earwax can cause this issue, but full ear functionality should be restored once the wax is cleaned out. In addition, just aging can cause the same issue, since the cells and nerves may change enough to cause this permanent problem. Also, if you constantly listen to very loud music, such as at concerts, you may gradually damage your eardrum. Plus, if you are a swimmer, fluid may build up in the ear over time, but once you get it out, you should not have a problem anymore. In some cases, the problem is caused by sudden trauma, and the effect is not reversible. For example, a sudden very loud noise can damage your eardrum. A head injury can do the same. If you have experienced these types of traumatic events and are now totally or partially deaf, you should talk to your doctor to treat the issues not related to your ears. He or she may refer you to a hearing center to get a device that can help you hear again. There are many infections that can make you deaf. For most of them, even when the disease is treated, the damage is not reversible. However, even case is different. For example, syphilis, Lyme disease, and fungal conditions can affect the ears. The same goes for some severe cases of chickenpox, measles, and pneumonia. Herpes, meningitis, and even the flu can have the same results, which may require you to get a device from a hearing center to help you hear. Some issues affect the ear specifically, not other parts of the body. Not surprisingly, some of them can cause you to lose your ability to hear. For example, tinnitus can cause a buzzing or ringing in the ears, and it can eventually cause you to no longer be able to hear very well. However, it will not cause you to go completely deaf. A growth in the ear canal can make it hard to hear, as can any condition that stops the flow of blood from the brain to the ears. This is just a short list of some of the causes of ear issues. If you suspect that you have any of these conditions, you should see a doctor. He or she may send you to a hearing center. There, you can get the treatment you need, which may involve surgery or hearing aids.