Can Hearing Loss From Ear Infection Be Malpractice Colorado

What Is Otitis Media?

Otitis media means inflammation of the middle ear. The inflammation occurs as a result of a middle ear infection. It can occur in one or both ears. Otitis media is the most frequent diagnosis recorded for children who visit physicians for illness. It is also the most common cause of hearing loss in children. Although otitis media is most common in young children, it also affects adults occasionally. It occurs most commonly in the winter and early spring months.

Is Otitis Media Serious?

Yes, it is serious because it can create a severe earache and hearing loss. Hearing loss, especially in children, may impair learning capacity and even delay speech development. However, if it is treated promptly and effectively, hearing can almost always be restored to normal.

Otitis media is also serious because the infection can spread to nearby structures in the head, especially the mastoid, the bone of the skull immediately behind the ear canal and middle ear. Thus, it is very important to recognize the symptoms of otitis media and to get immediate attention from your doctor.

How Does The Ear Work?

The outer ear collects sounds. The middle ear is a pea sized, air-filled cavity separated from the outer ear by the paper-thin eardrum. Attached to the eardrum are three tiny ear bones. When sound waves strike the eardrum, it vibrates and sets the bones in motion that transmit to the inner ear. The inner ear converts vibrations to electrical signals and sends these signals to the brain. The inner ear also helps to maintain balance and helps an individual to understand their orientation and to stabilize his or her vision during movement.

A healthy middle ear contains air at the same atmospheric pressure as outside of the ear, allowing free vibration. Air enters the middle ear through the narrow Eustachian Tube that connects the back of the nose to the ear. When you yawn and hear a pop, your Eustachian Tube has just sent a tiny air bubble to your middle ear to equalize the air pressure.

What Causes Otitis Media?

Blockage of the Eustachian Tube during a cold, allergy, or upper respiratory infection and the presence of bacteria or viruses lead to the accumulation of fluid (a build-up of pus and mucus) behind the eardrum. This is the infection called acute otitis media. The build up of pressurized pus in the middle ear causes an earache, swelling, and redness. Since the eardrum cannot vibrate properly, you or your child may have hearing problems.

Sometimes the eardrum ruptures, and pus drains out of the ear. But more commonly, the pus and mucus remain in the middle ear due to the swollen and inflamed Eustachian Tube. This is called middle ear effusion or serous otitis media. Often after the acute infection has passed, the effusion remains and becomes chronic, lasting for weeks, months, or even years. This condition makes one subject to frequent recurrences of the acute infection and may cause difficulty in hearing. Chronic otitis is more likely to indicate swelling in the nose or throat that should be carefully evaluated through an ear, nose, and throat specialist examination.

What Are The Symptoms Of Otitis Media?

In infants and toddlers, look for pulling or scratching at the ear, especially if accompanied by the following:

• hearing problems
• crying, irritability
• fever
• vomiting
• ear drainage

In young children, adolescents, and adults look for:

• earache
• the feeling of fullness or pressure
• hearing problems
• dizziness, loss of balance
• nausea, vomiting
• ear drainage
• fever

Remember, without proper treatment, damage from an ear infection can cause chronic or permanent hearing loss.

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Associates of Otolaryngology is a practice that has been serving the Denver area for over 40 years. This group of board-certified physicians has exceptional experience treating multi-generational families and meeting their needs in ENT services, sleep health, sinus and allergy treatment, hearing treatment, and facial plastic surgery. Our team includes ENT physicians, specialty-trained nurses, audiologists, and plastic surgeons. In addition to outstanding routine care, our team is available 24/7 for emergencies

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What Will Happen At The Doctor's Office?

During an examination, the doctor will use an instrument called an otoscope to assess the ear's condition. With it, the doctor will perform an examination to check for redness in the ear and/or fluid behind the eardrum. If the eardrum doesn't move and/or is red, an ear infection is probably present.

Two other tests may be performed for more information. An audiogram tests if hearing loss has occurred by presenting tones at various pitches. A tympanogram measures the air pressure in the middle ear to see how well the Eustachian Tube is working and how well the eardrum can move. A nasal endoscopy will often be performed in addition to these tests to allow the doctor to view the important structures inside the nose and throat that may interfere with normal middle ear function.

The Importance Of Medication

The doctor may prescribe one or more medications. It is important that all the medication(s) be taken as directed and that any follow-up visits be kept. Often, antibiotics to fight the infection will make an earache go away rapidly, but the infection may need more time to clear up. Often, sterile fluid will persist in the middle ear after the infection has resolved, which may require the use of further treatments or medications after the initial early recovery period.

Sometimes the doctor may recommend a medication to reduce fever and/or pain. Analgesic ear drops can ease the pain of an earache. Call your doctor if you have any questions about your or your child's medication or if symptoms do not clear.

Additional Earache & Ear Infection Treatments

Most of the time, otitis media clears up with proper medication and home treatment. In many cases, however, further treatment may be recommended by your physician. An operation called a myringotomy may be recommended. This involves a small surgical incision (opening) into the eardrum to promote drainage of fluid and to relieve pain. The incision heals within a few days with practically no scarring or injury to the eardrum. In fact, the surgical opening can heal so fast that it often closes before the infection and the fluid are gone. A ventilation tube can be placed in the incision, preventing fluid accumulation and thus improving hearing.

The surgeon selects a ventilation tube for your child that will remain in place for as long as required for the middle ear infection to improve and for the Eustachian Tube to return to normal. This may require several weeks or months. During this time, you must keep water out of the ears because it could start an infection. Otherwise, the tube causes no trouble, and you will probably notice a remarkable improvement in hearing and a decrease in the frequency of ear infections.

Otitis media may recur as a result of chronically infected adenoids and tonsils. If this becomes a problem, your doctor may recommend removal of one or both. This can be done at the same time as ventilation tubes are inserted.

So, Remember . . .
Otitis media is generally not serious if it is promptly and properly treated. With the help of your physician, you and/or your child can feel and hear better very soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an ear infection feel like in adults?

Symptoms of an ear infection can depend on the type of infection, but most patients generally have pain (stabbing, throbbing, or continuous) accompanied by things like pressure or even hearing loss. Some types of infection can also cause dizziness or visible redness and warmth in the ear.

How can I treat an ear infection at home?

Although you should see an ENT specialist to rule out a more serious ear infection, you can generally find relief from ear infection pain with over-the-counter pain relievers. Some ear infections will go away on their own while others will require antibiotic treatment.

How do adults get ear infections?

Ear infections happen when bacteria or viruses enter the inner workings of the ear and begin to thrive in the warm and moist environment. This usually causes symptoms like swelling (causing blockage) and pain. Ear infections can also be caused by a cold or flu when the illness spreads to the ears.

Can Hearing Loss From Ear Infection Be Malpractice Colorado

Source: https://www.denvercoloradoearnosethroatallergysinusdoctors.com/ent/ear/infections-aches/

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