While everyone has experienced a runny nose, we don’t usually mention other kinds of cold symptoms because they are less frequent. Occasionally, a cold can go into one or both ears, though you rarely hear about those. While you may generally think of colds as harmless, here’s why this ear-related cold symptom should never be ignored.
What does it feel like when you have a cold in your ear?
It’s not abnormal to feel some congestion in your ears when you have a common cold. After all, your ears and sinuses are linked. Normally, when you take a decongestant for sinus relief, this blockage will also be relieved.
But if you feel pain in the ears, this is something you should never dismiss, even when you have a cold. The eardrum can be infected if the cold moves into the ears. And that will trigger inflammation. The immune system responds to the cold by generating fluid that can collect on the eardrum. Often, a slow leaking fluid comes with this inflammation. This leak is most obvious when you sleep on your side because the leak is so slow.
This is known as conductive hearing loss and affects how well you hear in the short term. Regrettably, it can also cause the eardrum to burst, which brings about long-term hearing loss. In turn, more permanent damage occurs to the hearing nerves from the inflammation, which is known as sensorineural hearing loss.
It could be costly if you wait
Come in and see us if you’re dealing with any pain in your ears. It’s not unusual for a primary care physician to wait until the cold is cleared up because they assume the ear pain will go away with it. A patient might not even remember to mention that they are feeling actual ear pain. But if you’re experiencing pain, the infection has advanced to a point where it is most likely doing damage to the ear. In order to avoid further damage, the ear infection needs to be promptly addressed.
In many cases, ear pain will remain even after the cold clears. This is often when an individual finally decides to see a hearing specialist. But at this point, a lot of damage has already been done. This damage often leads to permanent hearing loss, especially if you are at risk of ear infections.
Over time, hearing clarity is impacted by the small-scale scars and lacerations of the eardrum which are left behind from ear infections. The eardrum is a barrier between the inner and middle ear when it’s healthy and working in a normal capacity. Ear infections that were previously restricted to the middle ear can go into the inner ear if the eardrum is lacerated even once. When the infection goes into the inner ear, it can irreversibly harm the nerve cells needed to hear.
If you waited to have that ear infection addressed, what should you do?
Don’t beat yourself up. Most individuals just think ear pain with a cold is normal when it actually points to a much more significant cold infection. You should schedule an appointment for a hearing exam as soon as you can if you are experiencing hearing loss after a cold.
We can determine whether the hearing loss is temporary (conductive). If this is the situation, you might have a blockage in your ear that needs to be removed by a professional. If the hearing loss is permanent (sensorineural), we can talk about solutions that will help you hear better, including new hearing technology.
Make an appointment right away if you’re having difficulty hearing after a cold.
