Ear health and conditions

Ear conditions and ear health

Learn more about ear health and conditions,
and how they can affect the way we hear

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.

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 type of hearing loss is mostly temporary and is caused by problems with outer or middle ear that prevent sound from properly reaching the inner ear, where it can be processed.

Earache

This is a very common symptom, particuarly in children. It can be caused by a number of things, but it’s usually nothing to worry about and will go away after a couple of days.

Ear barotrauma

A common condition associated with air pressure changes – you might have experienced this on a flight. It can feel uncomfortable, but it’s nothing to worry about and usually goes away on its own.

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 infection

Ear infections are quite common, particularly in children, and typically follow a cold. Although it can get better on its own, it’s always best to check with your pharmacist or GP to check the extent of the infection.

Ear popping

Popping ears is the result of pressure being equalised between the outer and middle ear so that your eardrum (tympanic membrane) works most effectively.

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 is 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. It can be common in warm or wet climates but is easily treated with medication. Learn more here.

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 from person to person, but there are options available to help people cope with their symptoms.

Impacted earwax

Earwax is naturally produced by the body to clean the ears. But sometimes it can build-up 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.

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 type of hearing loss 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 and how to help.

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 is 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 of 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

Perilymph Fistula is an ear condition where fluid from the inner ear has entered the middle ear. The symptoms include dizziness, vertigo and nausea.

Presbycusis

This is a very common type of hearing loss that happens as we get older.

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 hearing loss and is typically age-related. Although it is a mostly permanent change, many cases can be treated with hearing aids.

Sudden hearing loss

Also referred as sudden deafness, this condition involves a sudden and often unexplained drop in your hearing, typically in one ear.

Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome

SSCD means there is a hole in, or thinning of, 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 swimmer’s ear.

Swollen ear

A swollen ear usually relates to the earlobe or the ear canal.

Tinnitus

Usually caused by an underlying condition, people often hear a ringing or buzzing sound internally, rather than coming from an outside source.

Unilateral hearing loss

This is a type of hearing loss that only affects one ear. It can happen for a number of reasons, and it can be managed with hearing aids.

Usher syndrome

Usher syndrome is a genetic condition that causes both hearing and sight loss.

Vestibular neuritis

An infection of the vestibular nerve in the inner ear that helps to control balance, causing vertigo and dizziness.