There are many different types of ear-related conditions that can affect children. Some of the more common ailments include:

• Outer ear disorders
  
  
• • Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa). An infection of the outer ear or ear canal. Water that gets into the ear canal can allow bacteria to grow and cause an infection. Swimming is an obvious source for water that enters the ear, but hot and humid weather can also cause otitis externa.
    
    
  • Perichondritis. An infection of the outer-ear cartilage caused by injury, an insect bite or an incised boil on the ear.
    
    
• Middle ear disorders
  
  
• • Ear infection (otitis media). This occurs when the eustachian tube is blocked, preventing air from reaching the middle ear, and fluid from draining out. This creates a breeding ground for bacterial and viral infections. Children frequently suffer from ear infections brought on by colds, allergies and other factors. Ear infections can be acute (short time frame) or chronic (a lasting infection or one that comes and goes).
    
    
  • Ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane).  Injury and pressure on the eardrum (barotrauma) can cause a tear in the eardrum. Dry, crusted material on a child’s pillow often indicates a ruptured eardrum. A single eardrum rupture is not considered serious. However, repeated ruptures can lead to hearing loss.
    
    
  • Mastoiditis. Inflammation of the mastoid bone, located directly behind the ear. It is usually caused by an infection in the middle ear. Symptoms often affect the ear itself and include earache, ear drainage and hearing impairment.
    
    
• Inner ear disorders
  
  
• • Ménière’s disease. This is a disorder of the balance mechanism of the inner ear that causes the patient to feel dizziness, hearing loss, painful ringing in the ears and sometimes nausea and vomiting.
    
    
• Other ear-related problems
  
  
• • Foreign objects in the ear. Examples include cotton swabs, small earrings, toys and even insects. These objects may have to be removed by a pediatrician or otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist). If an insect is in the ear canal, a few drops of mineral oil can be used to suffocate it.
    
    
  • Earwax (cerumen) impaction. Earwax traps dust and small particles to keep the ear clean. Normally, the ears clean themselves of wax. However, several layers of wax can be pushed together and become stuck in the ear. The ears may feel plugged, and partial temporary hearing loss may occur until a pediatrician or otolaryngologist cleans out the ear.
    
    
  • Hearing loss. Many different conditions can cause hearing loss. For example, repeated ear infections can cause damage to the eardrum or bones of the middle ear that can permanently affect hearing. Other conditions that can cause hearing loss include:
    
    
  • • Ototoxic drugs (drugs that damage the auditory system)
      
      
    • Meningitis (inflammation of tissue surrounding brain and spinal cord)
      
      
    • Measles
      
      
    • Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
      
      
    • Chickenpox
      
      
    • Influenza
      
      
    • Mumps
      
      
    • Head injury
      
      
    • Exposure to loud noise
      
      
    Congenital hearing loss is an impairment that is present at birth. Conditions that can cause this form of hearing loss include:
     
    • Complications associated with the Rh factor (presence of a specific blood protein) in the blood
      
      
    • Premature birth
      
      
    • Maternal diabetes
      
      
    • Blood poisoning (toxemia) during pregnancy
      
      
    • Lack of oxygen (anoxia)
      
      
    • Maternal syphilis (a venereal disease)
      
      
    • Malformation of ear structures