This electronic device gives a person who is deaf or very hard of hearing a sense of sound. It's not the same as a hearing aid, which makes sounds louder for the ear to process. A cochlear implant changes sound into electrical signals and sends these signals directly to the auditory nerve. Let's trace the path of sound through a cochlear implant to see how it works.
If you hear an annoying buzzing or ringing sound in one or both ears, you have tinnitus. It can bother you a lot. Tinnitus is a problem with your auditory system. That's the system that lets you hear. The problem may be in the ear. It may be in the nerve that connects your ear to your brain. Or, it may be in the part of your brain that makes sense of sound signals. Usually, tinnitus is not a sign that you have a serious issue.
Your middle ear may have been injured or infected recently. Over time, certain growths or bone disease can also harm the middle ear. Left untreated, these problems often lead to lifelong hearing loss. Read on to learn more.
Most people age 65 and older have some hearing loss. By age 80, almost everyone does. Hearing loss often occurs slowly over the years. So you may not realize your hearing has gotten worse.
An injury or infection can cause your eardrum to tear (rupture). This creates a hole (perforation) that may affect your hearing.
Tinnitus is the term for a noise in your ear not caused by an outside sound. It is also called ringing in the ears. Learn about some of the treatments that may help this condition.
Impacted earwax is a buildup of the natural wax in the ear. Impacted earwax is very common. It can cause symptoms such as hearing loss.
A middle ear infection occurs behind the eardrum. It is most often caused by a virus or bacteria. Most kids have at least one middle ear infection by the time they are 3 years old. But adults can also get them.
Earaches can happen without an infection. This occurs when air and fluid build up behind the eardrum. This is called otitis media with effusion (OME) or serous otitis media.
A foreign body in the ear can lead to irritation. Sometimes this can cause infection in the outer ear canal.
When the inner ear gets irritated or inflamed it causes a condition known as labyrinthitis. This causes sudden dizziness and balance problems.
Meniere's disease is a chronic recurring condition that is due to a problem with the inner ear. It can cause sudden attacks of vertigo, hearing problems, tinnitus, and a feeling of pressure of fullness in the ear.
A ruptured eardrum will cause pain. There may be some clear or bloody drainage. A buzzing sound may be heard in the ear. Some hearing may be lost the affected ear.
A ruptured eardrum may cause sudden pain. Pus or blood will drain out of the ear canal. Your hearing will also likely be affected.
The infection in your child's eardrum may be treated with antibiotics. The eardrum usually heals completely on its own.
Problems with the inner ear can a false feeling of motion. This is called vertigo. It has a variety of possible causes.
External otitis is an infection in the ear canal. It is often caused by bacteria or fungus. Symptoms can include pain, fever, itching, redness, drainage, or swelling of the ear canal. Temporary hearing loss may also occur.
Your child has an infection of the middle ear. Sometimes the internal passage that drains fluid from the middle ear can become blocked. When the middle ear fills with fluid, bacteria or viruses may grow there, causing an infection.
This surgery puts a soft tube in the eardrum of one or both ears. We do this to help drain fluid that is trapped behind the eardrum. We may recommend ear tubes if your child has a lot of ear infections.
A cochlear implant is a device that helps reverse nerve-related hearing loss. It can treat hearing loss that will not respond to hearing aids. During cochlear implant surgery, the device is implanted into the inner ear (cochlea). A few weeks after surgery, the device is activated and hearing is restored.
Learn how to care for yourself when you have an infection of the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum).
