While everybody has experienced a runny nose, we don’t commonly talk about other kinds of cold symptoms because they are less common. One type of cold you don’t often hear about is the one that moves into one or both ears. While you might generally think of colds as harmless, here’s why this ear-related cold symptom shouldn’t ever be ignored.
What does it feel like when you have a cold in your ear?
Your sinuses are directly interconnected to your ears, so it’s common to feel some congestion in your ears during a cold. This blockage is usually alleviated when you take a decongestant to relieve sinus symptoms.
But you should never dismiss pain inside of your ear, even when you have a cold. The eardrum can be infected if the cold goes into the ears. When it does, swelling happens. Inflammation is an immune response that causes fluid to accumulate on the exterior of the eardrum. So a person with an inflamed eardrum might also experience a slow leaking of fluid from the ear. Because it’s a slow leak, it’s most noticeable when you sleep on your side.
This is called conductive hearing loss and impacts how well you hear over the short term. But long term hearing loss can also take place if this inflammation causes the eardrum to burst. Sensorineural hearing loss, which is damage to the nerves of the ear, can then happen.
Waiting could be costly
Come in and see us if you have any pain in your ears. Oftentimes, a primary doctor assumes that the ear symptoms will clear themselves up when the initial cold does. Sometimes, a patient won’t even remember to mention any pain they may be feeling in their ear. But the infection has most likely reached the point where it’s causing harm to the ear if you’re experiencing pain. It’s critical that the ear infection be treated quickly to prevent further damage.
In many circumstances, ear pain will persist even after the cold goes away. This is often when an individual finally decides to go to a hearing specialist. But, a great deal of damage is normally done by this time. This damage often results in an irreversible hearing loss, especially if you’re prone to ear infections.
Each time you get an infection, eardrum lacerations and scar tissue can occur which, over time, can affect hearing acuity. The eardrum is a barrier between your inner and middle ear when it’s healthy and functioning in a normal capacity. If the eardrum becomes perforated even once, then the infection that was previously confined to the middle ear can now enter the inner ear, where it can damage the irreplaceable tiny nerve cells that you need to hear.
If you waited to get that ear infection addressed, what should you do?
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Most individuals simply assume ear pain with a cold is normal when it actually signals a much more significant cold infection. If you are experiencing continued hearing loss after a cold, it’s best to make an appointment with us as soon as possible.
We will identify if you’re dealing with conductive, or temporary hearing loss. You may need to have an obstruction professionally removed if this is the situation. If you have sensorineural, or irreversible hearing loss, there are treatment solutions, including new hearing technology, that we can help you with.
If you’re having trouble hearing after a cold, schedule an appointment asap.
