Ear Conditions - A guide to Hearing Loss

There are a wide range of ear conditions some of which are more common than others. You are most likely familiar with ear infections, perforated ear drums and tinnitus but may not have come across cholesteatoma or large vestibular aqueduct syndrome. But what they all have in common is an ability to affect your hearing. Some cause a temporary loss of hearing whereas others are permanent but if you develop symptoms of any of the following ear conditions then visit your GP.

These conditions include:

• Acoustic neuroma
• Autoimmune inner ear disease
• Barotrauma
• Blockage in the ear canal
• Cauliflower ear
• Cholesteatoma
• Ear allergies
• Ear infection
• Ear wax
• Foreign body/object in the ear
• Hyperacusis
• Injury/trauma to the ear
• Labyrinthitis
• Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome
• Mastioditis
• Meniere’s disease
• Otosclerosis
• Otitis externa
• Otitis media
• Perforated/ruptured ear drum
• Pressure sores on the ear
• Sensorineural deafness
• Surfer’s ear
• Tinnitus
• Usher’s syndrome
• Vertigo

Some people consider protruding ears (also known as ‘jug ears’or ‘bat ears’) to be an ‘ear condition’but others view this as an aesthetic issue. In other words it doesn’t cause any physical pain or discomfort.

However, the person with protruding ears experiences a different kind of discomfort, one of embarrassment or self-consciousness. And this can be much worse for children who may be teased about their appearance.

A surgical procedure called ‘pinnaplasty’ (or ‘otoplasty’) can be performed in which the protruding ears are pinned back to the sides of the head.