Menu Your guide to ear health and ear conditions It’s easy to take the amazing things our ears do for granted. In fact, you’ve probably not given much thought to them. But when something isn’t right with your ears, it can have quite an impact on day-to-day life. Ear conditions and ear health Learn more about ear health and conditions, and how they can affect the way we hear Acoustic Neuroma An acoustic neuroma, also known as vestibular schwannoma, is a slow-growing non-cancerous brain tumour. However, it can affect your balance and hearing. Learn more Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) Auditory processing disorder (APD) is not a hearing problem in the traditional sense. Instead, it refers to the brain’s inability to interpret sound correctly as it is carried through from the ear to be processed. Learn more Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease A rare disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy cells in the inner ear causing hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. Learn more Cholesteatoma An abnormal, but uncancerous, growth of skin cells in the middle ear behind your eardrum that typically develops if the eardrum has been damaged from infection or injury, and if there is also negative pressure in the middle ear. Learn more Conductive hearing loss This type of hearing loss is mostly temporary and is caused by problems with outer or middle ear that prevent sound from properly reaching the inner ear, where it can be processed. Learn more Do ear candles really work? Ear candles have recently grown in popularity as a way to clean earwax from your ears. But do you need to do this, and are they safe? Find out in this article. Learn more Earache This is a very common symptom, particuarly in children. It can be caused by a number of things, but it’s usually nothing to worry about and will go away after a couple of days. Learn more Ear barotrauma A common condition associated with air pressure changes – you might have experienced this on a flight. It can feel uncomfortable, but it’s nothing to worry about and usually goes away on its own. Learn more Ear cleaning Get tips and advice on the best way to clean your ears, as well as what you should avoid. Learn more Ear discharge Also known as otorrhea, this describes any type of fluid that comes from the ear. It’s not particularly pleasant, but it’s usually nothing to worry about. Learn more Ear infection Ear infections are quite common, particularly in children, and typically follow a cold. Although it can get better on its own, it’s always best to check with your pharmacist or GP to check the extent of the infection. Learn more Ear popping Popping ears is the result of pressure being equalised between the outer and middle ear so that your eardrum (tympanic membrane) works most effectively. Learn more Eardrum repair Learn about the type of procedures typically carried out in order to fix holes or tears in the eardrum. Learn more Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) Eustachian tubes are small and sometimes can get blocked, restricted or inflamed. Learn more Fluid in the ear Fluid can accumulate inside the ear for a number of reasons, but mainly happens when it is unable to drain from the ear as it normally would. You won’t feel it, but it can lead to other conditions if it builds up. Learn more Fungal Ear Infection A fungal infection of the outer ear. It can be common in warm or wet climates but is easily treated with medication. Learn more here. Learn more Glue ear More common in children, glue ear can affect hearing by causing fluid to build up in the middle ear. Learn more Hyperacusis This condition can cause people to feel discomfort when exposed to normal, everyday sounds. The severity can vary from person to person, but there are options available to help people cope with their symptoms. Learn more Impacted earwax Earwax is naturally produced by the body to clean the ears. But sometimes it can build-up and become impacted which can cause problems. Learn more Itchy ears A common symptom that can happen to anyone at any time. It can be bothersome, but it’s not serious. Learn more Labyrinthitis An inner ear infection that affects the parts of the ear responsible for our hearing and balance. Learn more Mastoiditis A rare but potentially serious infection of the bone behind the ear known as the mastoid. It typically follows from untreated ear infections and is more common in children. Learn more Ménière’s disease A chronic condition that affects the inner ear. An ‘attack’ can include sudden symptoms of vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss. Learn more Microtia A congenital condition that results in a child’s ear or ears being deformed or absent. Learn more Misophonia Misophonia is a disorder that causes those who suffer from it to have an extreme emotional reaction to certain sounds. Learn more Mixed hearing loss A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss resulting from a number of causes and, therefore, treated in a variety of ways. Learn more Muffled hearing Like the name suggests, this type of hearing loss sounds like things are a bit muffled. It can happen for a number of reasons, so it's best to see your GP or audiologist to find out what's causing it and how to help. Learn more Otitis externa This is the medical term for an ear canal infection, where the tube linking the outer ear to the eardrum becomes inflamed and swollen. Learn more Otosclerosis An abnormal bone growth around one of the tiny bones in the ear that affects how sound is passed to the inner ear. People start to notice a change in hearing in their 20s and 30s. Learn more Pendred syndrome A rare genetic disorder that causes hearing loss in children. Both ears are normally affected, and it’s often linked to an enlarged thyroid (a goitre). Learn more Perforated eardrum Also known as a ruptured or burst eardrum, this happens when there is a hole or tear in the eardrum. Most cases will resolve on their own, but they can lead to further issues, like infections. Learn more Perichondritis An infection of the skin that covers the ear caused by ear injury of trauma. In advanced cases, the infection can spread to the cartilage which can affect the shape of the ear. You might know it as ‘cauliflower ear’. Learn more Perilymph fistula Perilymph Fistula is an ear condition where fluid from the inner ear has entered the middle ear. The symptoms include dizziness, vertigo and nausea. Learn more Presbycusis This is a very common type of hearing loss that happens as we get older. Learn more Pulsatile tinnitus A rarer type of tinnitus where you hear rhythmic sounds in time with your heartbeat. This is often due to a change in the blood flow around your head or neck. Learn more Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Caused by the shingles virus, Ramsay Hunt syndrome is characterised by facial nerve paralysis and hearing loss. Learn more Red Ears Your ears may go red for many reasons: blushing, sunburn, infection or something more serious. Learn more Sensorineural hearing loss This is one of the most common types of hearing loss and is typically age-related. Although it is a mostly permanent change, many cases can be treated with hearing aids. Learn more Sudden hearing loss Also referred as sudden deafness, this condition involves a sudden and often unexplained drop in your hearing, typically in one ear. Learn more Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome SSCD means there is a hole in, or thinning of, bones in your ear, which affects hearing and balance. Learn more Swimmer's ear This is a type of ear infection that affects the outer ear and ear canal. It can be caused by water getting trapped in the ear, hence the name swimmer’s ear. Learn more Swollen ear A swollen ear usually relates to the earlobe or the ear canal. Learn more Tinnitus Usually caused by an underlying condition, people often hear a ringing or buzzing sound internally, rather than coming from an outside source. Learn more Unilateral hearing loss This is a type of hearing loss that only affects one ear. It can happen for a number of reasons, and it can be managed with hearing aids. Learn more Usher syndrome Usher syndrome is a genetic condition that causes both hearing and sight loss. Learn more Vertigo Vertigo is the sensation of dizziness and feeling that everything around you is spinning which can even cause you to lose your balance. Learn more Vestibular neuritis An infection of the vestibular nerve in the inner ear that helps to control balance, causing vertigo and dizziness. Learn more If you’re worried about your ear health, or you recognise any of these conditions and symptoms, visit your GP or call your store to speak to one of our audiologists. Find your nearest store Specsavers is proud to work with the NHS to provide hearing services You might even be eligible for free, NHS-funded hearing aids Find out more What happens in a hearing test? Find out more Check your hearing for free now Find out more Check your eligibility for NHS hearing services Find out more Browse Services COVID-19 Information About © Specsavers 2021 Legal policies Privacy policy International sites Modern Slavery Act 21.10.3 To provide you with a better service, we use cookies on our pages. By using this site, you agree to our Cookie Policy. OK