Hearing problems in adults are not uncommon. Our ear is not an isolated organ; it is connected to other human organs and can react negatively to pathological processes occurring in them. Therefore, hearing loss and ear congestion may indicate various diseases. In some cases, the body copes with unpleasant symptoms on its own. If congestion and noise in the ear do not go away for a long time, when this condition accompanies the appearance of pain in the ear (although inflammation without pain can also occur), you should consult a doctor to determine the cause.
Inflammation
Inflammatory causes of ear congestion:
- external otitis of any etiology (fungal, bacterial, viral);
- eustacheitis (tubootitis);
- catarrhal otitis media, bullous otitis (with influenza);
- purulent otitis media (including chronic);
- exudative otitis;
- adhesive otitis media
With inflammation in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses or pharynx, swelling of the nasopharyngeal mouth of the auditory tube occurs, due to which the pressure in the tympanic cavity and the environment ceases to equalize, and the drainage function of the auditory tube is disrupted. The infectious agent, together with the discharged contents from the nasal cavity and paranasal (paranasal) sinuses, enters the auditory tube and tympanic cavity, causing inflammation of the auditory tube - eustacheitis (tubo-otitis) and otitis media.
Due to inflammation, swelling of the mucous membrane of the middle ear and eardrum occurs, sound-conducting mechanisms stop working normally, and ear congestion occurs, and hearing decreases. A common cause of dysfunction of the auditory tube and the development of otitis in children is hypertrophy of the nasopharyngeal tonsil and adenoiditis. In adults, vasomotor and allergic rhinitis and deviated septum are common causes of swelling at the mouth of the auditory tube. The cause may also be a violation of blood circulation and innervation in the inner ear.
With inflammation in the external auditory canal, swelling of its walls appears, fungal or purulent masses clog the ear canal, and the surface layers of the eardrum become inflamed (myrinigitis). Because of this, the mobility of the eardrum, necessary for proper sound transmission, is reduced.
Most of the described forms of otitis often occur as complications of acute respiratory diseases, sinusitis, rhinitis, especially in the case of improper cleansing of the nasal cavity. In addition to the feeling of congestion during otitis media, shooting, sharp or aching pains, hearing problems, bloody, fungal, purulent discharge, itching, a feeling of pulsation or fluid transfusion in the ear can be added.
A feeling of ear fullness also occurs when:
- water getting into the ears (usually when swimming), the water usually evacuates on its own and does not require intervention;
- when a cerumen or epithelial plug forms (can also occur after water gets into the ear due to swelling of the cerumen plug);
- foreign bodies getting into the ears: insects, earbuds, cotton wool from cosmetic sticks, etc.
After eliminating the provoking factor, the discomfort disappears and hearing is restored.
How to relieve an attack of severe noise in the head and ears
Treatment for severe head noise depends on its cause. If it occurs suddenly, is intense, is accompanied by vomiting, severe pain, heaviness in the head, dizziness, significantly worsens the person’s condition, and it is dangerous to fight it on your own - it is important to call an ambulance as quickly as possible.
Shpidonov Gennady Stanislavovich
Neurologist
Rostov State Medical University (neurology)
10 years of experience
If it is a sign of chronic pathology, is already familiar to you, and is not the first time it has appeared, you can try to cope with the noise using the following self-help methods:
- taking a relaxing bath;
- a full eight-hour sleep (on a comfortable mattress with a comfortable pillow, in a dark room, in silence);
- physical activity (such as yoga or jogging in the park);
- listening to calm music.
Some people are helped to eliminate noise by so-called “masking” - listening to a pleasant, soothing sound (such as the splashing of waves, the murmur of a stream, the chirping of birds) directly in nature, using an audio recording or a special device.
Sensorineural hearing loss
The cause of hearing loss and a feeling of fullness in the ears may be sensorineural hearing loss, which occurs as a result of a violation of the blood supply or innervation in the inner ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss can result from:
- changes in blood pressure due to hypertension;
- acute viral diseases;
- barotrauma;
- fracture of the base of the skull;
- ischemia of the central areas of the auditory analyzer;
- neuroma of the vestibulocochlear nerve;
- compression from the outside by neoplasms and vascular aneurysms.
Prevention of pulsating noise in the head
The noise that occurs in the pulse rhythm is characteristic of vascular pathology of the brain. It can be prevented by a person’s attentive attitude to his health throughout his life - quitting smoking, regular exercise, adherence to a work and rest schedule, a nutritious, balanced diet, blood pressure control, timely medical examinations and treatment of vascular diseases that have arisen in the early stages. If these diseases already exist, following the recommendations described above will help reduce the intensity of the hum, alleviate it, which will improve the person’s quality of life.
If pulsating noise appears in the head only in certain situations (under stress, when working at the computer), its prevention will be to minimize exposure to situations that provoke deterioration of the condition.
Symptoms of ear congestion
Associated symptoms for various ear diseases:
| Cause | Symptoms | |||||||
| Pain | Ear discharge | Itching | Hearing loss | Autophony | Noise | Sensation of fluid transfusion | Manifestations of general intoxication | |
| Sulfur plug | No | No | Not really | Yes | Not really | Not really | No | No |
| Otitis externa | Yes | Not really | Yes | Yes | Not really | No | No | Not really |
| Tubootitis | Not really | No | No | Yes | Yes | Not really | No | Not really |
| Otitis media | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Not really | No | Yes |
| Suppurative otitis media | Yes | Yes | Not really | Yes | Not really | Not really | No | Yes |
| Exudative otitis media | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Not really | Yes | No |
| Sensorineural hearing loss | No | No | No | Yes | Not really | Yes | No | No |
Diagnosis of ear congestion
Standard examinations for any ear pathology:
- video endoscopy or microscopy of the ear;
- video endoscopy of the nose and nasopharynx;
- audiometry;
- tympanometry;
If necessary, additional studies are prescribed:
- computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal bones and brain;
- culture of nasal discharge and external auditory canal for flora and sensitivity to antibiotics;
- general blood test, blood glucose (other additional laboratory tests are possible after consulting a doctor);
- Doppler ultrasound of neck vessels;
- consultations with other specialists.
When is it necessary to consult an ENT doctor?
Situations where unpleasant symptoms in the ear cavity go away on their own are rather an exception to the rule. If congestion and noise do not go away for a long time, hearing problems begin, if pain, nausea, dizziness and loss of balance appear - all this is a good reason to contact an otolaryngologist to determine the cause of this condition and prescribe effective treatment.
To determine the correct treatment tactics, a diagnosis is first carried out, which may include examination of the ear cavity, endoscopic, audiometric, and tympanometric studies. If necessary, a computed tomography scan is prescribed. In some cases, consultations with related specialists, for example, a neurologist, are required.
Depending on the diagnosis, a treatment regimen is prescribed.
Treatment
Treatment for ear congestion and otitis media involves treating the underlying cause of the disease:
- in case of an inflammatory process in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, antibacterial therapy is prescribed, in addition, lavage of the nasal cavity is prescribed, which eliminates the discharge of discharge into the auditory tube during self-washing, treatment with a YAMIK catheter, puncture of the maxillary sinuses, physiotherapy;
- if a chronic pathology of the nasal cavity or nasopharynx is detected, leading to the closure of the mouth of the auditory tube, surgical treatment is performed (adenotomy, vasotomy, septoplasty, etc.);
- To remove wax plugs or foreign bodies, the doctor performs lavage (under visual control) or instrumental removal of the foreign body;
- for external otitis, the outer ear is washed and its walls are treated with antifungal and antibacterial drugs;
- in case of dysfunction of the auditory tube or exudate in the tympanic cavity, medical procedures are necessary: pneumomassage of the tympal membrane, blowing of the ears according to Politzer, catheterization of the eustachian tube, paracentesis or shunting of the eardrum;
- for sensorineural (sensorineural) hearing loss, a course of vascular and vitamin therapy is prescribed to improve the nutrition of the inner ear and brain.
Causes
Noises in a person’s head are not always a symptom of pathology. Many sounds arise in our body during its life - during blood flow, joint movement, contraction and relaxation of muscles. They are masked by other sounds present around us and seem invisible to us, and in conditions of complete silence we can pay attention to them.
However, in most situations, extraneous noise, humming and other sounds in the head or ears are a sign of a pathological condition and a reason to contact a specialist.
Vibrator noise is caused by:
- diseases of the temporomandibular joint;
- neuromuscular diseases (gap of the auditory tube, myoclonus of the muscles of the soft palate, middle ear);
- changes in blood vessels (heart valve defects, narrowing of arteries, problems with veins, arteriovenous shunts).
Subjective noise may be based on:
- metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, atherosclerosis);
- brain tumors;
- neuroma of the VIII pair of cranial nerves;
- diseases of the hearing organ (cerumen plug, otitis, sensorineural hearing loss, labyrinthitis, neoplasms, Meniere's disease, trauma);
- damage by toxic substances (medicines that have a toxic effect on the organ of hearing, methyl alcohol and others);
- diseases of the spine (degenerative-dystrophic changes, instability and others);
- neurological diseases (acute and chronic cerebrovascular accidents, multiple sclerosis, neurocirculatory (vegetative-vascular) dystonia);
- hypertonic disease;
- mental disorders (neurasthenia and other neurotic disorders, depression, schizophrenia);
- exposure to noise and vibration in production;
- traumatic brain injuries (bruises, contusions).
Shpidonov Gennady Stanislavovich
Neurologist
Rostov State Medical University (neurology)
10 years of experience
Basic treatment regimens for ear pathology*
| Pathology | Basic treatment methods |
| Sulfur plug | Removal by rinsing or instrumental removal. |
| Otitis externa | Toilet of the external auditory canal, treatment with medications, ear drops, vasoconstrictor nasal sprays, systemic antibacterial or antifungal therapy, FTL**. |
| Tubootitis | Vasoconstrictor nasal sprays, blowing of the eustachian tubes according to Politzer, pneumomassage of the eardrum, FTL**, catheterization of the auditory tubes if necessary. |
| Otitis media | Vasoconstrictor nasal sprays, systemic antibacterial therapy, ear drops, Politzer ear blowing, pneumomassage of the eardrum, FTL**, if necessary, catheterization of the auditory tubes, lavage of the nasal cavity using the moving method. If necessary, surgical treatment - eardrum bypass or paracentesis. Complemented by the treatment of diseases of the ENT organs. |
| Suppurative otitis media | Vasoconstrictor nasal sprays, systemic antibacterial therapy, ear drops, Politzer blowing, if necessary, transtympanic injection of drugs, catheterization of auditory tubes, nasal lavage using the displacement method. If necessary, surgical treatment - eardrum bypass or paracentesis and other operations, FTL**. It is supplemented by treatment of pathologies of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses, if indicated. |
| Exudative otitis media | Vasoconstrictor nasal sprays, mucolytics, Politzer blowing, catheterization of auditory tubes. If necessary, surgical treatment - eardrum bypass or paracentesis, FTL**. It is complemented by the treatment of pathologies of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses. |
| Sensorineural hearing loss | Catheterization of auditory tubes, systemic vascular and vitamin therapy. |
*These treatment regimens are not a recommendation for self-treatment and serve to familiarize patients with basic treatment methods. The final decision on treatment and examination methods is made by the doctor after the examination!
** FTL – physiotherapeutic treatment.
Rumble in my head
It can also be normal if it appears when a person is in a noisy environment (on a street with active traffic, in a crowded place, in a noisy industry) and after returning to a quiet place, it gradually goes away within two hours. Sometimes it appears as a side effect of a number of medications - antidepressants, anticancer drugs, some antibiotics and NSAIDs. It can also occur in the postoperative period during operations on the organ of hearing - in this situation it is a consequence of intervention in the apparatus that conducts sounds, and after a while it goes away on its own.
