Did you know that not ALL middle ear fluid has to be treated with antibiotics? Check out our latest blog that breaks down 3 common myths associated with ear infections!
April 6, 2022
3 Myths Your Parents Told You About Middle Ear Infections
As audiologists, we are trained to find and identify problems in the middle ear and counsel patients on treating their specific hearing problems. During this time of the year, we often encounter patients with misconceptions about ear function and infection treatments. Believing these myths, some patients blame the wrong culprit for their ear trouble or turn to the wrong remedies. Today’s article seeks to examine and debunk these all-too-common myths!
Ear Anatomy
Before we debunk the most common myths about ear function, we’ll briefly explain the anatomy of the middle ear and ear drum. Most people do not understand that the ear canal is shaped like a cylinder with one end closed and one end open. A normal eustachian tube (the passageway connecting your throat to your middle ear) is a two way valve. It opens to equalize pressure and then closes when resting. When someone is experiencing fluid trapped in their middle ear, the flow inside the eustachian tube has malfunctioned or become obstructed, yikes!
3 Myths About Middle Ear Infections
- Myth 1: Fluid in the middle ear must always be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are prescribed only when there is an active infection in the portion of the middle ear behind the eardrum. Most often, the fluid will drain out and into the back of your throat within 6 weeks without intervention. Sometimes, however, your eustachian tube will not open properly, trapping fluid inside. Even in this case, the middle ear does not always become infected. Some children and adults have consistent middle ear fluid that never results in pain. Their only complaint is that their ear feels "full" with a slight reduction in hearing.
- Myth 2: Swimming can cause a middle ear infection. External liquids cannot enter the middle ear space. Whenever you have an infection of the ear after swimming, your infection is usually bacterial and is in the outer ear. Only fluid already inside the body can enter the middle ears. For instance, when a baby drinks a bottle while laying on his/her back, the liquid can wash bacteria from the throat right into the eustachian tube and middle ear space.
- Myth 3: If you lay on the side of an infected or "full" ear at night, the fluid will drain onto your pillow. Absolutely not! Lying on the side of your infected ear will actually worsen your pain! Even middle ear fluid that is not infected can cause mild pain when slept on because sleeping on that side puts pressure on the ear drum. If one middle ear contains fluid, we suggest lying on the good ear. This way, the fluid does not put pressure on the eardrum and has a higher likelihood of draining down the eustachian tube and into your throat.
Uninfected fluid in the middle ear typically causes only mild hearing loss with slight pain, if any. However, if your hearing is noticeably decreased don’t hesitate to call us. We will evaluate your middle ear and, if needed, make the proper referrals.
Sources:
https://www.osmosis.org/notes/Ear_pathology
https://www.nightlitepediatrics.com/truth-ear-infections-6-common-myths-every parent-know
https://familydoctor.org/condition/otitis-media-with-effusion/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17929-airplane-ear
https://familydoctor.org/condition/eustachian-tube-dysfunction/
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
Wondering why tinnitus treatment isn't covered by insurance? Learn what most policies exclude, why it happens, and how you can still get effective care in Arizona.
Learn the key differences between misophonia, phonophobia, and hyperacusis. Discover how these auditory conditions relate to tinnitus and what treatments are available.
We’re still surprised how many people have outdated ideas about what hearing aids are like. It’s common for patients to come in expecting large, uncomfortable devices that distort sounds or make everything seem tinny or artificial. In fact, one of the first things many of our patients say is, “I can’t believe how natural everything sounds!” Or they might remark on how comfortable they are to wear. We love pleasantly surprising people!
Curious about misophonia? Explore the causes, common triggers, symptoms, and treatment options for sound-triggered emotional responses from our Arizona audiologists.
Discover how Phonak hearing aids improve hearing, relieve tinnitus, and enhance communication. Learn how Phonak’s technology supports better hearing and quality of life.
Hearing aids can improve your quality of life tremendously, but that's if they've been properly fitted -- and if you've received a model that works well with your specific type of hearing loss and your lifestyle. When you choose your hearing aids, you'll encounter a few companies that all offer good products. These four in particular are recommended by our audiologists. ReSound First up is ReSound, which has been helping people with hearing loss since 1943. About the manufacturer ReSound focuses on making sound more natural (the company calls this "organic hearing") while using the latest broadcast technology to bring you clearer sound and more efficient controls. The company also offers accessories that work with TVs to stream sound directly to the hearing aids. Benefits of ReSound ReSound's research and development focuses on making hearing aids as easy to control and as seamlessly integrated into your life as possible. Control the hearing aids via a smartphone app, and get ready to stream TV and radio right to your hearing aids when Auracast technology becomes available. Why We Recommend ReSound ReSound is adding Auracast to its Bluetooth-enabled Nexia hearing aids, which will enable you to receive TV and radio broadcasts directly to your hearing aids. The Nexia is suitable for mild to profound hearing loss. ReSound hearing aids also use Bluetooth Low Energy Audio, which preserves battery life and provides better sound. Oticon Next is Oticon, which has been around in one form or another since 1904. The company first used the Oticon name in 1946. About the manufacturer Oticon's roots lie in one Danish man's contract with an English hearing aid company to distribute hearing aids in Denmark. Over the decades, that contract grew into a full-fledged, family-owned hearing aid manufacturer with worldwide distribution. Benefits of Oticon Oticon's focus over the past several years has been on technology that allows for better connectivity along with sound technology that works to fill in gaps, rather than just amplify. Why We Recommend Oticon Oticon's hearing aid models have had internet and mobile phone connectivity for almost a decade. One of its latest models, the Intent, has AI-driven sensors that predict your hearing assistance needs in real time, adjusting to the situation you're in instead of giving you fixed amplification levels that may not work in every situation. The Intent is suitable for mild to severe hearing loss and also works with Auracast and Bluetooth LE technology. Phonak The third company on the list is Phonak, which has been around since 1947. About the manufacturer Phonak is a Swiss company that has consistently worked to improve its hearing aids in ways you never knew you needed, such as having the first water-resistant hearing aid housing for aids for severe hearing losses. Phonak is owned by Sonova, which also makes the Sennheiser brand of audio and recording accessories. Benefits of Phonak Phonak offers a very broad range of hearing aids and also produces the Roger wireless microphone. This helps hearing aid users overcome ambient noise -- no matter what their level of hearing loss -- so that speech is clearer even in very noisy situations. Why We Recommend Phonak Phonak's Naida Lumity is not only Bluetooth-enabled, but it also uses Phonak's SmartSpeech technology to zero in on speech as ambient noise levels change. Sensors locate the dominant speech in a room and direct microphones toward the sound, and the technology enhances speech cues to provide more information about what's being said. Starkey Last, but not least, is Starkey, an established U.S. company that's been in business since 1967. About the manufacturer Starkey started off as a hearing aid repair company in Minnesota. Over the years, the company has launched innovative programs for hearing education, battery recycling, and hearing aid testing. Benefits of Starkey The company has long been a leader in customer service, starting with fixed charges for repairs and adding trial periods and warranties, which were not typical at the time Starkey started offering them. The company was the first to design in-the-canal aids with its Tympanette model. It's also designed with advanced digital and programmable lines of hearing aids. Why We Recommend Starkey Starkey recently released the Edge AI hearing aid series that offers speech enhancement, rechargeable batteries, and Bluetooth LE technology. The Edge AI series works with all levels of hearing loss. Find the Right Hearing Aid for You The sheer number of hearing aid companies, let alone the sheer number of hearing aids, can be intimidating for anyone. Dr. Allen Rohe and Amy Rohe at the Tinnitus & Hearing Center of Arizona in the Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan region can help you find hearing aids that work best for you. Contact us to arrange for a consultation to discuss testing and fitting for your needs. Image Souce: Janeberry /Shutterstock
In addition to all of the other ways AI is revolutionizing the world these days, it is also greatly helping people with hearing loss. It can help to make conversations clearer, reduce background noise, and even learn your unique listening preferences.
Discover Oticon Custom Own, Own SI, and Intent hearing solutions in Tempe, AZ. Personalized fit, natural sound, and built-in Tinnitus SoundSupport for superior relief and clarity.
If you’ve been researching hearing aids, you may have come across the term “real ear measurements” or REM. But what does this actually mean, and why is it important for your hearing aid fitting? And is it even a necessary step in the hearing aid process?
Discover the benefits of Starkey hearing aids in Arizona — from enhanced speech clarity and noise reduction to rechargeable options. See how our experts fit and support your hearing needs.
