Common Ear Conditions

Information about ear conditions that affect people of all ages in the UK. Articles explain symptoms, causes and treatment options for infections, tinnitus, perforated eardrums and inner ear disorders.

Acoustic Neuroma: Benign Tumour from Auditory Nerve

Acoustic neuromas are benign tumours on the auditory nerve that grow slowly and can cause hearing loss, balance problems, and facial symptoms.

Allergies and Ear Health

Allergic reactions can cause ear pain, infections, and hearing problems, from metal sensitivities to other substances affecting your ears.

Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease

Autoimmune inner ear disease happens when your immune system attacks healthy ear cells, causing hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness.

Barotrauma

Barotrauma is ear discomfort caused by pressure changes in your ears, often during flights or diving, and how to understand what's happening.

Cauliflower Ears

Repeated ear trauma can cause permanent deformity when blood clots prevent healing, here's how it happens and why quick treatment matters.

Cholesteatoma

A cholesteatoma is a benign ear growth that can develop from trapped skin cells or ear infections, causing discharge and hearing loss.

Common Vestibular Disorders

Inner ear balance disorders cause dizziness and vertigo, with BPPV being the most common type affecting older adults.

Cysts and Tumours in the Ear

Ear tumours are rare, but when they occur, they usually affect the skin or middle ear and can cause hearing loss.

Dizziness: Is It Caused by a Virus?

Viral infections like flu can cause dizziness by inflaming the inner ear, triggering vertigo and balance problems.

Ear Canal Blockage

Ear canal blockage usually happens from wax buildup, but can also be caused by objects or infections that need proper treatment.

Ear Infection

Ear infections cause pain and fever and can affect the outer or middle ear, usually from bacteria, viruses or fungi exposure.

Head Trauma and the Ear

Head injuries can damage your ear in several ways, from cuts and bruises to ruptured eardrums and hearing loss.

Labyrinthitis

Labyrinthitis happens when your inner ear becomes inflamed or infected, causing dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems.

Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome

Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome causes ear canal enlargement that can lead to hearing loss, especially after head injury or pressure changes.

Mastoiditis

Mastoiditis is a bone infection behind the ear that develops from untreated middle ear infections, causing pain, swelling and hearing loss.

Meniere's Disease and the Inner Ear

Meniere's disease affects the inner ear with symptoms like vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss that come and go in episodes.

Objects in the Ear

Small objects in the ear are more common than you'd think, whether from curious kids, outdoor activities or hearing aids coming loose.

Otitis Media and Infection of the Middle Ear

Middle ear infections happen when fluid builds up behind the eardrum, causing pain and hearing changes, here's what you need to know.

Perforated Eardrum

A perforated eardrum happens when the membrane splits from infection, injury or inserting objects in your ear, and needs medical attention.

Pressure Sores and the Ears

Ears are often overlooked as a pressure sore risk, but they're extremely vulnerable and need proper attention to prevent serious damage.

Psoriasis and the Ear

Psoriasis commonly affects the ears and skin throughout the body, causing raised pink plaques and flaky patches that result from faster cell division.

Sensorineural Deafness and Noise Damage

Sensorineural deafness happens when inner ear hair cells or nerve pathways get damaged, often from loud noise exposure, infections, or ageing.

Swimmer's Ear

Swimmer's ear is an outer ear infection caused by water exposure, bacteria, or skin conditions that damages the ear canal lining.

The Effects of Over Exposure to Water: Surfer's Ear

Surfer's ear is when cold water exposure causes bony growths in your ear canal that can lead to hearing loss and infections.

Tinnitus and Treatments Available

Tinnitus affects millions of people with ringing or buzzing in the ears, here's what causes it and how to treat it.

Usher's Syndrome: Deterioration of Sight and Hearing

Usher's syndrome causes progressive hearing loss and blindness, with three types that affect children differently from birth or puberty onward.

Vertigo and the Inner Ear

Vertigo happens when your inner ear's balance system goes wrong, usually from infection, and can cause spinning sensations and nausea for weeks.

What Is Glue Ear?

Glue ear is a common childhood condition where sticky fluid builds up in the middle ear and affects hearing, here's what causes it and what to watch for.