You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Others may benefit from implants that deliver sound to the eardrum. People may also experience a gradual muffling or dulling of sounds.įor some, it is possible to remove the cause of the obstruction and restore hearing. Signs of hearing loss include difficulty understanding spoken words, especially in a crowd or with a lot of background noise. Any type of obstruction in the ear canal, including stenosis, growths, and infections, can be a potential cause of the condition. Conductive hearing lossĬonductive hearing loss is a form of hearing impairment that involves the outer ear. That is why doctors usually opt to remove them through a small surgical procedure. While people can have cholesteatomas from birth, they usually develop over time, typically following repeated infections.Ĭholesteatomas can expand and block the ear canal, erode the bone of the ear canal, as well as cause chronic infections.Ĭholesteatomas can lead to various problems and complications. CholesteatomaĪ cholesteatoma is a noncancerous growth that can develop in the ear canal, although this is uncommon. Treatment can include surgery to repair and widen the ear canal. Among potential causes are surgery, radiotherapy, malformation, and chronic infections. People can have this condition from birth or acquire it later in life. Doctors call this stenosis of the external auditory canal. ![]() In some people, the ear canal can narrow. A person will then need antibiotic drops. To treat an abscess, a doctor creates a small incision on the abscess to drain it. a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear.Symptoms of an abscess in the ear canal include: Abscesses can develop spontaneously or as a result of an infection. Many other conditions can develop in the ear canal, such as: AbscessesĪn abscess is a lump that contains pus. People can help prevent the condition by wearing special earplugs while in the water. The only way to treat surfer’s ear is to remove the growths via surgery. Doctors believe the condition develops when people frequently experience exposure to wet, cold conditions, such as when surfing, diving, or doing other water sports. Surfer’s ear causes bony growths to appear in the ear canal. The symptoms include:ĭoctors usually treat this condition with antibiotic eardrops. However, people who spend a lot of time outdoors can contract the infection as well.īacteria, and occasionally fungi, can cause swimmer’s ear. This is the common name for an ear canal infection that a person can acquire while swimming. Swimmer’s earĮar canal swelling can be due to swimmer’s ear. Sometimes, however, treatment from a doctor is necessary to remove the accumulated wax. People can often treat earwax blockages using olive oil drops, or medicated drops from a pharmacy. ![]() Pushing cotton swabs into the ear can compact earwax and push it farther inside the ear, causing a blockage. Sometimes, this results from cotton swab use. If too much earwax collects in the ear canal, it can cause an obstruction. The ear canal can become blocked by swelling, pus, earwax, and foreign objects. Ear eczema may cause flaky, dry skin around the ear canal, as well as swelling.Ĭommon causes of a swollen or blocked ear canal Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition that causes raised plaques on the skin that can sting, itch, or burn.Įczema is a group of conditions that cause patches of inflamed, itchy skin. Some skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, can affect the ear. A person can also take over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines. If an allergen is causing itching inside the ears, identifying and avoiding it can reduce symptoms. By contrast, allergic rhinitis can be due to pollen or dust mite allergies. For example, food allergies, allergic rhinitis, and allergies to substances such as hair spray could cause the ears to itch.įood allergies occur when the body’s immune system reacts to specific foods as if they were harmful pathogens, such as parasites or bacteria. In some cases, allergies can cause itchy ears. Various conditions can contribute to itchy ears, including: Allergies Although they may find it bothersome, this symptom does not typically indicate a serious problem. ![]() Many people experience itchy ears at some point.
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