Everyone wants to have an excellent hearing! We could assume this because of what we can imagine the world would be like if everyone were deaf. Who could hear when danger approached? Could the mother hear her baby crying or the policeman the victim screaming for help?
We list here a few of the things that good hearing allows us to do daily in our lives. We could think of thousands of examples like the ones above, but for this article, these three examples will suffice to give proof of how important is healthy hearing. Contrary to this, when a person gets an infection in their outer, middle, or inner ear, they cannot respond as an average person does, and their hearing becomes muffled, unclear, and possibly unusable to themselves or for helping others.
Statistics of Hearing Loss Worldwide
The numbers below indicate the prevalence of loss of hearing worldwide. This chart takes into effect all the different causes of loss of hearing from infection, injury, and a multitude of others. It is essential to observe is the prevalence of loss of hearing, which is, according to the World Health Organization, at least every 1 in 10 persons suffer some loss of hearing, either partial, temporary, or permanent. Loss of hearing does not discriminate, and it doesn’t select by age. As shown below in 2018, more than 34 million children suffered some loss of hearing.
Statistics of World Health Organization
- Loss of hearing world over-5%
- 466 million Suffered Disabling Loss of hearing in 2018
- An estimated 900 Million by 2050
- 34 million Children Suffered some kind of loss of hearing in 2018
- Every 1 in 10 people in the world suffer some type of hearing loss
Ear Infection Overview
Three significant areas of the ear are susceptible, in increasing and more vulnerable ways, to ear infections. First, the outer ear; secondly, the middle ear, followed by the inner sense of hearing located in the inner ear. The close the infection is suffered to the inner ear, the more dangerous it becomes to resulting in permanent damage to the ear. Physiologists and doctors have observed in practice that most permanent damage to the ear occurs in the inner ear through infection caused by bacteria. On the other hand, the outer and middle ear can become as vulnerable as the inner ear under specific circumstances when regular infections become aggravated or unchecked or medicated.
External Ear Infections
The outer ear infection is known as “swimmer’s ear,” which is a common infection which is experienced by swimmers who spend much time in the water. This infection usually clear of itself and, if treated correctly, will not cause any severe injury to the ear. Because the sound is unable to get to the inner ear for processing hearing may become cloudy and unclear.
Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear
- Ear Itching
- Ear swelling
- Pain in the ear
- Pus in the ear
- Redness of the ear
Watch for these signs of inner ear infections:
- Sharp or sudden pain in the ear
- Continuous annoyance in the ear
- Uneasiness or Queasiness
- Muffled or “Cloudy” Hearing
- Any type of drainage of fluid in the ear
- Pain in the ear-real and acute
Understand the Severity of Your Infection
The concern will be given to signs of drainage, swelling, pus, or consistent pain coming from the outer, middle, or inner ear, especially. In the case of the inner ear, any damage to the inner ear can result in irreversible loss of hearing.
Diseases or Injury Leading to Hearing Loss
- Otosclerosis-middle ear disease
- Meniere’s disease-inner ear disease
- Autoimmune inner ear disease
- Loud noises
- Physical head injury
No matter what part of the ear has become aggravated, when a hearing loss is present, it is recommended that you visit a hearing health professional for a hearing test. With ear infections, it is important to seek medical care from your primary care provider. There is a risk for ear infections to affect your hearing abilities.
Comprehensive Ear and Hearing
If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing and are struggling with communication, contact us today. We provide comprehensive hearing health services and we’re here to help!