We all know what happens when you don’t take care of your teeth – they rot and fall out. The same thing can happen to your ears, only you may not even notice the change happening until it’s too late. And if you think that it’s only something that happens to older people, think again – ear diseases affect all ages and both genders, so there’s no reason to put off prevention in favor of future problems. Learn about how you can take care of your ears to prevent complications in the future by reading this article on ear diseases now!

Acute Otitis Externa

Most commonly known as swimmer’s ear, acute otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear that occurs when water from swimming pools or lakes enters your outer ear canal. Bacteria in these water sources cause inflammation and swelling within your ear, which can lead to intense pain and temporary hearing loss. To avoid acute otitis externa: Keep your head above water whenever possible; use a nose clip if necessary.

Age-related Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a natural part of aging, affecting more than three-quarters of adults over 60. However, some age-related hearing loss isn’t simply caused by deterioration of hair cells in our ears; rather, it can be caused by medication side effects. If you notice a sudden change in your hearing and take blood pressure medication or statins, you may want to get your hearing checked out. It could be just age-related hearing loss—but it could also be something else. Most of the time you need a hearing aid specialist to figure out what is wrong with your hearing.

Anatomy of a Normal Middle Ear

Usually filled with air, a person’s middle ear may be protected by small bones called ossicles that transmit sound vibrations from outside of one’s head into fluid-filled structures deep within one’s head. This fluid is known as perilymph and it acts as a conveyor belt that delivers tiny hair cells inside one’s inner ear. These hair cells then convert these vibrations into nerve impulses which are then processed by one’s brain.

Tympanoplasty Surgery

In some cases, ear reconstruction surgery is needed. The purpose of ear reconstruction surgery is to correct a defective or absent external ear canal, make an existing external ear canal larger or smaller, create a new external opening for an absent outer ear, and make structural repairs to severely damaged ears.

Surgery at a Glance

If earwax build-up is causing trouble, in many cases removing it can be as simple as gently flushing it out with a soft rubber bulb syringe or irrigation system. For more severe cases, however, surgery might be necessary. One of these surgeries is called a myringotomy, which involves making a small incision into the eardrum and inserting a tiny tube that allows air to enter.