An example would be the acoustic neuroma, which is a benign tumor of the auditory nerve that results in a slowly progressive one-sided hearing loss often associated with ringing of the ear. Most causes of sensorineural hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids. Those individuals with a profound hearing loss in whom a hearing aid is not providing adequate help may benefit from a cochlear implant. Basically, two types of otitis media are commonly seen and both types occur mainly in young children and both types are often preceded by a viral upper respiratory infection. Acute otitis media is the term for the middle ear infection that results in an earache often followed a day or two later by pus draining from the ear.
Antibiotics are the main treatment.
If the child develops repeated bouts of acute otitis media over a relatively short period of time, either long-term low dose antibiotics or insertion of ventilating tubes is recommended. Otitis media with effusion is the collection of fluid in the middle ear that results that from eustachian tube malfunction and causes a stuffy sensation in the ear and a mild to moderate hearing loss. Often otitis media with effusion will resolve without specific treatment. If the fluid persists for more than 3 months and is causing a significant hearing loss, surgical removal of the fluid and insertion of ventilating tubes is warranted. The intermittent or persistent hearing loss seen in young children with otitis media may result in delayed acquisition of speech and in learning disabilities.