While everybody has dealt with a runny nose, we don’t usually mention other kinds of cold symptoms because they’re less frequent. One type of cold you don’t frequently hear about is the one that moves into one or both ears. This form of cold can be more harmful than a common cold and should never be ignored.
What does it feel like when you have a cold in your ear?
Your sinuses are directly linked to your ears, so it’s normal to feel some congestion in your ears during a cold. Usually, when you take a decongestant for sinus relief, this blockage will also be relieved.
But you should never ignore pain in your ear, even when you have a cold. The eardrum can become infected if the cold moves into the ears. And that will cause inflammation. Inflammation is an immune reaction that causes fluid to build up on the exterior of the eardrum. So somebody with an inflamed eardrum might also experience a slow leaking of fluid from the ear. This leak is most apparent when you sleep on your side because the leak is so slow.
This affects how well you hear over the short term, which is called conductive hearing loss. Unfortunately, it can also cause the eardrum to burst, which brings about long-term hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss, which is injury to the nerves of the ear, can then happen.
Waiting could cost you
Come in and see us if you’re dealing with any pain in your ears. Oftentimes, a primary doctor assumes that the ear symptoms will clear themselves up when the primary cold clears up. Occasionally, a patient won’t even remember to mention any pain they might be feeling in their ear. But if you’re experiencing pain, the infection has advanced to a point where it is most likely doing damage to the ear. In order to prevent further damage, the ear infection needs to be quickly treated.
Many individuals who develop ear pain during a cold, get over their cold only to notice that the ear pain lingers. Most people usually decide to see a hearing specialist at this time. But, a lot of damage is usually done by this time. This damage often results in an irreversible hearing loss, particularly if you’re prone to ear infections.
Every time you have an infection, eardrum perforations and scar tissue can happen which, over time, can affect hearing acuity. In an average, healthy person, the eardrum acts as a boundary between the middle ear and inner ear. If the eardrum gets perforated even once, then the infection that was formerly confined to the middle ear can now go into the inner ear, where it can harm the irreplaceable tiny nerve cells that you need to hear.
What should you do if you waited to address that ear infection?
Don’t beat yourself up. Most people simply think ear pain with a cold is normal when it actually signals a much more significant cold infection. You should schedule an appointment for a hearing test as soon as possible if you are experiencing hearing loss after a cold.
We will determine if you’re coping with conductive, or temporary hearing loss. If this is the case, you might have an obstruction in your ear that needs to be removed by a professional. If the hearing loss is irreversible (sensorineural), we can discuss options that will help you hear better, including new hearing technology.
If you’re struggling to hear after a cold, schedule an appointment asap.