One called sensori-neural hearing impairment results from interference to the inner ear in a condition called cochlear otosclerosis. The other impairment can cause episodes of unsteadiness as it affects the balance canals. Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears is reported as a buzzing, whistling, hissing, or roaring sound. These symptoms can be associated with disease of the eighth nerve, inner ear, or ossicles, and severe and prolonged tinnitus in the presence of normal hearing is very rare. If tinnitus is localized to one ear and is described as having a tonal character, such as ringing or a bell-like tone, it is probably cochlear in origin.
Nervous individuals are less tolerant of tinnitus than are more stable persons.
Otitis is the temporary conduction impairmnet often resulting from ear infection. The structure of the auditory tube makes the middle ear prone to bacterial or viral otitis media. Otitis media often produces swelling and pus formation that blocks the conduction of sound through the middle ear. Permanent damage to structures of the middle ear occasionally occurs in severe cases. Untreated otitis media can lead to mastoiditis.