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Will Sinus Infection Cause Hearing Loss

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How Sinus Infection Affects Your Hearing

2 Your Health: Hearing Loss and Sinusitis

Jun 4, 2021 | Hearing

Do you know that your nose and ears are connected? Your nasal sinus cavity connects to your eardrum, which can lead to hearing loss when you have acute or chronic sinusitis.

If you or someone you know is suffering from sinusitis, the best thing you can do is treat it before it causes irreversible damage, particularly in children.

Are There Certain Foods To Eat

Allergies can affect anyone from time to time, but if you have daily sinus pressure it can get in the way of your everyday activities. For people with chronic sinusitis, a symptom flare up can happen anywhere, anytime especially on days that are high pollen count days or very dry. There are lots of medicines that can treat these but often times its great to start with your diet. Eating a diet that is designed to minimize your issue also boost your immune system and improve your skin health, all while fighting inflammation. A well-rounded diet decreases inflammation and fights bacteria often cause sinus infections. There are other foods that help to decongest passages and prevent inflammation.

Omega 3 fatty acids are ideal for reducing swelling and you get this by eating wild salmon, cod, or other Omega-rich fish. Tart cherries are known to reduce inflammation much better than ibuprofen and, aside from being yummy, can also reduce your risk for heart disease. Turmeric spice, found often in Thai and Indian food, has curcumin which actively combats swelling. Avocado, beans, eggs, dark leafy greens and spices like ginger and cayenne pepper, are all on the list of foods to eat to nip sinusitis in the bud. By eating these foods, you are boosting your overall health and improving your quality of life if you are a chronic sufferer.

Some other foods and drinks to consider:

Some foods to avoid and guidelines:

Fried foods;

Get Sinus Infections A Lot What That Means For Your Hearing

The worst part about getting a sinus infection could be that you can feel it coming from a mile away. The pressure around your nose starts to build. Your head gets a little achy and it gets hard to think. Your nose gets a little runny. And you knowas sure as the sun rises in the morningthat tomorrow youre going to miserable.

Sinus infections can have a myriad of causes, though theyre usually related to fluid build up in your sinus cavities. Thats why a short cold can maliciously turn into a lengthy sinus infection. Because your ears, nose, and throat are all connected, a sinus infection can have major implications for your hearingboth in the short term and the long term.

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Sinus Issues: Experiencing Hearing Loss After A Sinus Infection

There is nothing quite as annoying as having to deal with blocked sinuses. Usually, a;sinus infection;or blockage is a result of allergies or a cold and it can be a very painful experience. What many people dont realize is that sinus problems can affect your ears and in turn, your hearing. Thats because sinus congestion, more often than not, results in a swollen Eustachian tube, the inner ears pressure gauge. All of that stuffiness is the cause of the pressure and pain since your ears and sinuses are interconnected. And, at times, with a sinus infection, hearing loss occurs.

The Link Between Sinus Infection And Hearing Loss

Since the ear canal is so close to the sinuses, Eustachian tube blockage can result in sinus congestion. Between your throat and your inner ear, there is a little section that acts as a pressure gauge to maintain optimal ear pressure. However, when that part becomes swollen due to inflammation, fluid collects in that area and that produces painful eardrum pressure. Because of this, you may experience hearing loss after a sinus infection, though it is usually temporary and clears up after fluids leave the Eustachian tube.

What Can Happen If I Dont Seek Help?

If left untreated, an ear infection may cause permanent damage to the middle ear, resulting in rupturing or bleeding in the eardrum. But, if you treat a sinus infection before it spreads to the Eustachian tube and eardrum, you can curb hearing disruptions or sinus-related ear concerns.

Home Remedies For Clogged Ears Due To Sinus Infections

Can a Sinus Infection Cause Hearing Loss?

Here are some additional home remedies that can help alleviate ear problems associated with sinus infections and even wax build-up.

  • Yawning helps redistribute the fluid in your ear.
  • Take a hot, steamy shower.
  • Make a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water and pour it into the ear.
  • Chew gum as it can help move wax out of the ear.
  • Combine rubbing alcohol and vinegar and use the mixture as ear drops.
  • Pinch your nose and blow to pop your ears.
  • Drop warm olive oil into your ear once again this breaks up wax.
  • Combine rubbing alcohol and apple cider vinegar as ear drops to help treat infection.
  • Apply warm compresses to the ears.
  • Gargle with warm water and salt.

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Top Tips To Protect Your Child From Sinus Infection Hearing Loss

Treat sinusitis early to prevent hearing lossReturn for check up to ensure treatment workedConsider ear tubes if situation is chronicGet tested and treated for allergies to head off sinus infectionsEliminate known allergens from your childs home environmentCall Pediatric ENT for more information

Pediatric ENT can assess your child and help ensure that hearing loss isnt permanent. Give us a call today.

Acute And Chronic Sinusitis

The majority of sinus infection symptoms exist in both chronic and acute forms. Acute sinusitis is believed to lasts for a short time, usually less than a month. An acute sinus infection is typically part of a cold or any other respiratory disease.

Acute sinusitis commonly begins with cold-like symptoms like running nose, congested nose, and finally facial pain.

Chronic sinus infections, on the other hand, lasts more than 12 weeks and sometimes tend to recur.;Physicians describe the criteria for sinusitis as facial pain, nasal congestion, and septic nasal discharge.

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Throat Irritation And Cough

As the discharge from your sinuses drains down the back of your throat, it can cause irritation, especially over a long period of time. This can lead to a persistent and annoying cough, which can be worse when lying down to sleep or first thing in the morning after getting up from bed.

It can also make sleeping difficult. Sleeping upright or with your head elevated can help reduce the frequency and intensity of your coughing.

What Can You Do To Prevent This Permanent Hearing Loss

Ear & Sinus Problems : Signs of Sinus Infection

First and foremost, see a doctor if you think you have an ear infection. The sooner you get treatment, the better. Second, dont ignore chronic ear infections. The more serious infections you have, the more damage they cause. Finally, take steps to prevent colds, allergies and sinus infections because that is where ear infections usually start. If you are a smoker, now is the time to stop, too, because smoking increases your risk of having chronic respiratory problems.

If youve had an ear infection and still are having problems hearing, see your doctor. It is possible you have some damage, but that is not the only thing that causes conductive hearing loss. If it turns out it is permanent, hearing aids will help you hear once again.

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Can Allergies Cause Tinnitus And Hearing Loss

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Can allergies cause tinnitus? Can a sinus infection result in hearing loss? What is the treatment for allergy induced Tinnitus? Do allergies cause a Tinnitus spike among people who are already suffering from Tinnitus?; We explore the connection between allergies and tinnitus and also hearing loss, below.

Can Stress Cause You To Lose Your Hearing

Although it might sound strange, stress can negatively affect your hearing health. Stress and anxiety tend to have an impact on your circulation. Since the health of the tiny hairs responsible for translating sound into electrical impulses depends on circulation, excessive and chronic stress can lead to hearing loss. Stress is known to cause sudden hearing loss. ;;

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Connecting Sinus Infections With Hearing Loss

To understand the connection between sinus infections and hearing loss, its important to remember that your ears and nose are connected. As a result, sinus infections can result in a swollen Eustachian tube, which connects your throat to your middle ear and is often dubbed the pressure gauge of your inner ear.

Your Eustachian tube keeps the pressure at the right level and helps drain fluid from your ears. As this tube swells, fluids block your middle ear, causing pressure to build up in your eardrum. This causes pain as well as hearing loss. You may notice pressure in your ears as well as clogged, muffled sounds like youre listening to people talk through a thick wall.

Infection Of The Bone

Hearing Loss Hyperbaric Therapy

Both recurrent acute sinusitis and chronic sinus infections can spread to the bone surrounding the sinuses. This infection can enter blood vessels and send bacteria to the brain or other parts of the body. Infected bone is very difficult to cure. Treatment is generally long-term intravenous antibiotics.

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Will My Hearing Loss Be Permanent After An Ear Infection

by Anderson Audiology | Aug 15, 2018 | Hearing Loss Articles

An ear infection is the well-known name, but its medically referred to as otitis media or AOM. These ear infections can have an affect on children as well as adults, particularly after a cold or sinus infection. If you have a bad tooth, that can also lead to an ear infection.

Hearing loss is one of the primary symptoms of an infection in the middle ear. But is it going to last forever? You might not recognize it but there is no simple answer. Ear infections have a lot going on. There is damage which can be caused that you need to understand and also how that injury can affect your hearing.

Sinus Pressure And Eye Pain

The sinuses are located all throughout our face in the cheeks, near the ear, behind the eye, and in the forehead and nose. Infected sinuses dont drain properly. The mucous and debris that build up can cause a feeling of pressure and pain. If the infection is in the ethmoid sinuses the pressure can cause pain that radiates to the eyes.

Infection in the;frontal sinuses causes a headache;that can feel like it is coming from the eyes. Doctors often recommend decongestants to promote drainage and this reduces the pressure. The reduced pressure eases the pain in the area of the eyes.

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Tips To Prevent Sinus Infections

In order to avoid ear pain and temporary hearing loss due to clogged ears as a result of sinus infections one must prevent sinus infections. Here are some tips to help you prevent sinus infections and avoid the complications associated with it.

  • Control your allergies.
  • Keep hydrated, which keeps mucus thin.
  • Reduce alcohol consumption, which can worsen mucus.
  • Minimize exposure to people with cold or flu.
  • Always wash your hands and avoid germs.
  • Avoid chlorinated swimming pools.
  • Take a nasal spray or decongestant prior to flying.
  • Dont smoke, which can aggravate sinusitis, or quit smoking.

These tips can better help protect you against sinus infections. If you do develop a sinus infection, begin treatment right away to reduce complications.

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Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University . He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine , and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.

Hearing Loss A Sinus Complication Can Be Cured With Sinusitis Treatment

Ear infection in children: Causes of Hearing loss – Dr. Sheelu Srinivas

Indeed, to cure hearing loss, one should get sinusitis cured. Treat up sinusitis before it starts damaging your hearing power and dont let it spread in your ear if you dont want to get hearing loss. To diagnose sinusitis, one can go for X-ray or physical examination. To judge the infection and its extent, sometimes, doctors recommend CT scan. Testing the accumulated fluid in the ear can also help doctors to detect infection type and recommend the best medication for relief.

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Is There A Cure For Hearing Loss After Viral Infection

The hearing loss that occurs after viral infection is likely to be a result of oxygen depletion, explaining why it is not always possible to return normal hearing to a patient through treatment with medication – if the damage done is too severe, there may be no effective treatment.

Possible treatments include steroid medication to reduce damage caused by infection and inflammation, and antiviral agents in cases where infection is still active. Oxygen therapy to improve the supply of oxygen to damaged tissues can also be helpful in some cases.

For some people, hearing will return over time, as the damaged tissue repairs itself, but whether or not hearing returns is largely dependent on how much damage has been done. In cases where damage is severe, hearing loss may be permanent.

How Sinusitis Affects Your Hearing

Sinusitis develops as the Eustachian tube gets obstructed or malfunctions. The Eustachian tube connects your nose to your middle ear and is a narrow canal.

It helps to equalize pressure in the middle ear. If sinusitis is not handled correctly or is left untreated for an extended period, it may cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.

When a sinus infection travels to the ear, particularly the middle ear, hearing loss occurs. Fluid builds up in the sinus cavities due to pressure from the infection overflowing over into the Eustachian tube.

Fluids block the middle ear and build up pressure in the eardrum as the Eustachian tube swells, creating inflammation and hearing loss.

Hearing usually recovers after the fluid leaves the eardrum in acute sinusitis, although some of the fluid can linger in the ear in young children who are growing and developing, triggering long-term hearing loss.

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Stuffiness Ear Discomfort And Sinus Pain

Get moisture. Use a nasal saline spray several times a day, or hold a warm, moist washcloth to your face. This can ease the pressure and pain.

Humidifiers will also help keep your sinuses from drying out. Or you can sit in the bathroom with a hot shower running for 15 minutes to curb pain.

Check the medicine cabinet. Try an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen, to ease an earache or pain from sinus pressure.

Try a . Over-the-counter tablets or nasal sprays can ease sinus blockage which in turn can relieve clogged ears. But don’t use nasal decongestant sprays for more than 3 days, or you will rebound⦠meaning the more you use it the more you need it because youâre congested.

Avoid extreme temperatures. They can make sinus-related ear problems worse. If your ears bother you, it isnât the time to go jogging on a hot day or build a snow fort with the kids.

Keep your head up. If you bend forward with your head down, it can make the pressure worse. Youâll want to skip yoga class until the sinus problem is over.

Blow your nose gently. Block one nostril while you blow through the other.

Drink plenty of fluids. Down lots of water in the evening. When you stay hydrated, it keeps nasal mucus thin. That helps it drain and means less nighttime stuffiness.

How Your Ears Are Affected By Allergies

Sinus Infection Loss Of Hearing

Ringing in your ears is usually caused by allergies when the sinus cavity fluids begins to congest the Eustachian tube. This is a drainage passage that leads to the middle ear. Too much fluid here and the middle ear begins to malfunction.

Depending on how severe the congestion is, you might just experience just a feeling of fullness or pressure, ringing in the ears or in some instances, also hearing loss.

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What Is Otitis Media

Put simply, otitis media is an infection of the middle ear. It could be any kind of microorganism causing the infection but bacteria is the most common.

Ear infections are defined by where they occur in the ear. When the infection is in the pinna, or outer ear, or in front of the eardrum, the condition is otitis externa or swimmers ear. If the bacterial growth is in the cochlea, the term is labyrinthitis or inner ear infection.

The middle ear consists of the space behind the eardrum but in front of the cochlea. This area houses the three ossicles, or tiny bones, that vibrate the membranes of the inner ear. An infection in this area tends to be very painful because it puts pressure on the eardrum, usually until it breaks. That pressure is also why you cant hear very well. The infectious material builds up and blocks the ear canal enough to interfere with the movement of sound waves.

The symptoms of a middle ear infection in an adult include:

  • Drainage from the ear
  • Ear pain
  • Diminished hearing

For most people, hearing returns over time. The pressure dissipates and the ear canal opens up. The infection gets resolved and your hearing comes back. There are exceptions, though.

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