Submitted by the Audiologists at Midwest Hearing Center
Knowing how your ear and all the hearing systems work together is the first step in understanding hearing loss. Understanding effective ways to overcome breakdowns that can occur within each system is the final step. The ear is made of many complex structures that are divided into three main sections. Many factors including illness, medications, genetics, and environmental influences can affect these different areas of the ear, and play a role in varying degrees and types of hearing loss.
The first part of the ear is called the outer ear. This includes the part you can see on the outside of the head, called the pinna, as well as the ear canal leading to the ear drum. Issues that can arise from this portion are wax buildup, a foreign object becoming stuck in the ear, or a fungal infection (commonly known as swimmers’ ear). These problems can cause temporary hearing loss until the infection is treated, or the earwax or foreign object is removed. The pinna can also develop skin cancer if not protected from UV rays.
The second part of the ear is called the middle ear. This air-filled space is located directly behind the eardrum. Three tiny bones are the main structures in this section of the ear. Problems within the middle ear are usually treatable. The majority of hearing loss associated with the middle ear affect children the most. Ear infections caused by fluid accumulating behind the eardrum is the most common. The fluid impedes the eardrum from moving properly and obstructs the flow of sound. One common misconception regarding ear infections is that the fluid is from an external water source, such as swimming or bathing. While external water sources can cause fungal infections in the outer ear canal, the more common type of infection is related to fluid in the middle ear. Fluid inside the middle ear originates from changes in middle ear pressure. These changes cause tissue in the middle ear to excrete fluid, which creates a breeding ground for bacteria and infection.
Patients can also experience complications with the middle ear bone structure, such as otosclerosis or ossicular discontinuity. Otosclerosis occurs when one of the bones becomes fixated and cannot vibrate the way it should. Surgery or hearing aids are treatment options for this problem. Another possible problem, ossicular discontinuity, occurs when bones in the middle ear become separated from one another. Patients typically know when this happens, as it is often caused by severe head trauma, such as a car accident or a bad fall.
The inner ear is the final section of the ear and can be viewed only through a CT scan or MRI. This section can never be seen when a doctor or audiologist looks into one’s ear with an otoscope. The inner ear is where the nerve is located, which is housed in the main hearing organ of hearing, the cochlea. When damage to the cochlea or nerve occurs, it is typically from aging, noise exposure, certain use of ototoxic drugs, or genetic abnormalities. Damage to the nerve is irreversible and cannot be “medically” treated. Hearing aids are the number one way to help aid the person in hearing again once damage to the cochlea or nerve has developed. Another anatomical system inside the inner ear is the vestibular organs and nerve. This system controls an individual’s balance, which can cause dizziness when the organs are damaged.
The ear is made of various complex systems that all need to work together for adequate hearing to occur. Knowing the various hearing systems is half of the battle in understanding the ear and hearing loss. The other half is understanding ways to fix, treat, or help overcome possible breakdowns within these systems. Anyone with concerns about his/her ears or hearing should consult his/her primary care physician for a referral to a qualified audiologist or ear, nose, and throat physician.
To learn more about our Midwest Hearing Center audiologists and the hearing healthcare services they provide, please call (309) 691-6616 in Peoria, or (309) 284-0164 in Morton.
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