While everybody has dealt with a runny nose, we don’t often mention other kinds of cold symptoms because they are less frequent. One kind of cold you don’t often hear about is the one that moves into one or both ears. While you may 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 get a cold in your ear?
It’s not abnormal to feel some congestion in your ears when you’re experiencing a common cold. After all, your sinuses and ears are linked. Usually, when you use a decongestant for sinus relief, this blockage will also be relieved.
But if you feel pain inside the ears, this is something you should never ignore, even during a cold. The eardrum can be infected if the cold goes into the ears. And that will lead to inflammation. The immune system reacts to the cold by creating fluid that can accumulate on the eardrum. Often, a slow leaking fluid accompanies this inflammation. This leak is most apparent when you sleep on your side because the leak is so gradual.
This impacts how well you hear over the short term, which is known as conductive hearing loss. Regrettably, it can also cause the eardrum to burst, which leads to long-term hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss, which is damage to the nerves of the ear, can then happen.
It could be costly if you wait
Come in and see us if you’re dealing with any pain in your ears. It’s not unusual for a primary care physician to wait until the cold is cleared up because they assume the ear pain will clear up with it. Sometimes, a patient will even forget to mention any pain they might be experiencing in their ear. But the infection has likely gotten to the point where it’s causing harm to the ear if you’re feeling pain. In order to avoid additional damage, the ear infection has to be quickly addressed.
In many circumstances, ear pain will remain even after the cold clears. This is often when an individual finally decides to visit a hearing specialist. But, a great deal of damage is usually done by this time. This damage frequently causes an irreversible hearing loss, especially if you’re prone to ear infections.
Each time you have an infection, eardrum perforations and scar tissue can happen which, over time, can impact hearing clarity. The eardrum is a barrier between your inner and middle ear when it’s healthy and functioning in a normal capacity. Ear infections that were previously restricted to the middle ear can get into the inner ear if the eardrum is perforated even once. When the infection goes into the inner ear, it can permanently damage the nerve cells needed to hear.
What should you do if you waited to deal with that ear infection?
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Most individuals just assume ear pain with a cold is normal when it really points to a much more significant cold infection. You should schedule an appointment for a hearing exam as soon as you can if you are experiencing hearing loss after a cold.
We will determine if you’re dealing with conductive, or short-term hearing loss. If this is the case, you might have a blockage in your ear that needs to be removed by a professional. If you’re dealing with sensorineural, or permanent hearing loss, there are treatment options, including new hearing technology, that we can help you with.
Make an appointment as soon as possible if you’re having difficulty hearing after a cold.