It’s easy to take the amazing things our ears do for granted. In fact, you’ve probably not given much thought to them. But when something isn’t right with your ears, it can have quite an impact on day-to-day life.
Ear conditions and ear health
Learn more about ear health and conditions,
and how they can affect the way we hear
Acoustic neuroma
An acoustic neuroma, also known as vestibular schwannoma, is a slow-growing non-cancerous brain tumour. However, it can affect your balance and hearing.
Auditory processing disorder (APD)
Auditory processing disorder (APD) isn’t a hearing problem in the traditional sense. Instead, it refers to the brain’s inability to interpret sound correctly as it’s carried through from the ear to be processed.
Autoimmune inner ear disease
A rare disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy cells in the inner ear causing hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness.
Blocked and clogged ears
Your ears might feel blocked or clogged for many reasons, but it’s never a nice feeling. Find out about why your ears feel blocked, and what to do about it.
Cholesteatoma
An abnormal, but uncancerous, growth of skin cells in the middle ear behind your eardrum that typically develops if the eardrum has been damaged from infection or injury, and if there is also negative pressure in the middle ear.
Conductive hearing loss
This change in hearing is mostly temporary and is caused by problems with the outer or middle ear that prevent sound from properly reaching the inner ear, where it can be processed.
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Earache
Ear barotrauma
Also known as aeroplane ear, ear barotrauma is an ear health condition which causes discomfort due to pressure changes in the ear.
Ear cleaning
Get tips and advice on the best way to clean your ears, as well as what you should avoid.
Ear discharge
Also known as otorrhea, this describes any type of fluid that comes from the ear. It’s not particularly pleasant, but it’s usually nothing to worry about.
Ear infections
Ear infections are common and are caused by bacteria entering the ear. Find out more about the causes, symptoms and how to treat them.
Ear popping
Ear popping is quite a common experience. Read about why ear popping happens, how to pop your ears and if it’s safe.
Eardrum repair
Learn about the type of procedures typically carried out in order to fix holes or tears in the eardrum.
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD)
Eustachian tubes are small and sometimes can get blocked, restricted or inflamed.
Fluid in the ear
Fluid can accumulate inside the ear for a number of reasons, but mainly happens when it’s unable to drain from the ear as it normally would. You won’t feel it, but it can lead to other conditions if it builds up.
Fungal ear infection
A fungal infection of the outer ear can be common in warm or wet climates but is easily treated with medication.
Glue ear
More common in children, glue ear can affect hearing by causing fluid to build up in the middle ear.
Hyperacusis
This condition can cause people to feel discomfort when exposed to normal, everyday sounds. The severity can vary, but there are options available to help with the symptoms.
Impacted earwax
Earwax is naturally produced by the body to clean the ears. But sometimes it can buildup and become impacted, which can cause problems.
Itchy ears
A common symptom that can happen to anyone at any time. It can be bothersome, but it’s not serious.
Labyrinthitis
An inner ear infection that affects the parts of the ear responsible for our hearing and balance.
Mastoiditis
A rare but potentially serious infection of the bone behind the ear known as the mastoid. It typically follows from untreated ear infections and is more common in children.
Ménière’s disease
A chronic condition that affects the inner ear. An ‘attack’ can include sudden symptoms of vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss.
Microtia
A congenital condition that results in a child’s ear or ears being deformed or absent.
Misophonia
Misophonia is a disorder that causes extreme emotional reaction to certain sounds.
Mixed hearing loss
A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss resulting from a number of causes and, therefore, treated in a variety of ways.
Muffled hearing
Like the name suggests, this change in hearing sounds like things are a bit muffled. It can happen for a number of reasons, so it's best to see your GP or audiologist to find out what's causing it.
Otitis externa
This is the medical term for an ear canal infection, where the tube linking the outer ear to the eardrum becomes inflamed and swollen.
Otosclerosis
An abnormal bone growth around one of the tiny bones in the ear that affects how sound is passed to the inner ear. People start to notice a change in hearing in their 20s and 30s.
Pendred syndrome
A rare genetic disorder that causes hearing loss in children. Both ears are normally affected, and it’s often linked to an enlarged thyroid (a goitre).
Perforated eardrum
Also known as a ruptured or burst eardrum, this happens when there’s a hole or tear in the eardrum. Most cases will resolve on their own, but they can lead to further issues, like infections.
Perichondritis
An infection of the skin that covers the ear, caused by ear injury or trauma. In advanced cases, the infection can spread to the cartilage, which can affect the shape of the ear. You might know it as ‘cauliflower ear’.
Perilymph fistula
An ear condition where fluid from the inner ear has entered the middle ear. The symptoms include dizziness, vertigo and nausea.
Presbycusis
As we get older, it’s common for our hearing to change, which often affects how we hear conversations.
Pulsatile tinnitus
A rarer type of tinnitus where you hear rhythmic sounds in time with your heartbeat. This is often due to a change in the blood flow around your head or neck.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome
Caused by the shingles virus, Ramsay Hunt syndrome is characterised by facial nerve paralysis and hearing loss.
Red ears
Your ears may go red for many reasons: blushing, sunburn, infection or something more serious.
Sensorineural hearing loss
This is one of the most common types of change in hearing and is typically age-related. Although it’s a mostly permanent change, hearing aids can help to restore the missing sounds.
Sudden hearing loss
This condition involves a sudden and often unexplained drop in your hearing, typically in one ear.
Superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SSCD)
This means there’s a hole in, or a thinning, of the bones in your ear, which affects hearing and balance.
Swimmer's ear
This is a type of ear infection that affects the outer ear and ear canal. It can be caused by water getting trapped in the ear, hence the name.
Swollen ear
A swollen ear usually relates to the earlobe or the ear canal.
Tinnitus
Usually caused by an underlying condition, people with tinnitus often hear a ringing or buzzing sound internally, rather than it coming from an outside source.
Unilateral hearing loss
This is a type of change in hearing that only affects one ear, and can happen for a number of reasons. Hearing aids can help to restore the missing sounds.
Usher syndrome
Usher syndrome is a genetic condition that causes both hearing and sight loss.
Vertigo
Vertigo is the sensation of dizziness and the feeling that everything around you is spinning, which can cause you to lose your balance.
Vestibular neuritis
An infection of the vestibular nerve in the inner ear that helps to control balance, causing vertigo and dizziness.
If you’re worried about your ear health, or you recognise any of these conditions and symptoms, see your GP or call your nearest store to speak to one of our audiologists.