If your child is exhibiting signs of hearing loss, it can be very concerning. They may be tugging or pulling on their earlobes, not hearing you when you call for them, or complaining that things “sound funny.” Kids, especially younger kids, may have a hard time explaining what part of their ear is affected or hurts, so here are some common reasons children might temporarily lose their hearing to help you solve the case.
Outer Ear Infection
An infection of the outer ear canal can cause muffled hearing or temporary hearing loss in children. This type of infection is usually caused by moisture that gets trapped in the ear canal, giving it the nickname “swimmer’s ear.” When water gets stuck in the ear canal, it creates the damp, dark, warm conditions in which bacteria thrive. Swimmer’s ear is very common. If your child has gone swimming recently or out in highly humid conditions, it’s likely swimmer’s ear.
Swimmer’s ear often clears up on its own without the need for medical intervention. Encourage your child to drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. Additionally, applying a warm compress to the ear may help reduce swelling. Try to drain the water from your child’s ear by lying them down on their side with their infected ear on a towel. You can also have them lean over sideways and rub the area around the ear opening to manipulate the ear canal shape.
Middle Ear Infection
An infection deeper in the ear, behind the eardrum, is called a middle ear infection, and it is very common in children and can also cause temporary hearing loss. Middle ear infections are often caused by a cold or other viral infection that spreads to the middle ear.
You can treat a middle ear infection much like swimmer’s ear. Over-the-counter pain medications and ear drops may bring some relief if your child is very uncomfortable. If the infection lasts more than a week, consult a doctor. They may prescribe antibiotics.
Compacted Earwax
Earwax is a naturally occurring substance in our ears that keeps the ear canal clean and hydrated. When earwax gets old, it dries out and falls out of your ear on its own, without needing to use a Q-tip. In fact, inserting a cotton swab into the ear can push old earwax back into the ear canal, where it becomes impacted and blocks the ear canal. If you’ve been cleaning your child’s ears with a cotton swab, compacted earwax is your signal to stop.
In the event of compacted earwax, a doctor or ENT specialist can irrigate the ear to soften and remove the earwax blockage.
Other Obstructions
Kids put things in their mouths, noses and ears all the time. And sometimes, things get stuck. If your child has been “exploring” and got something stuck in their ear, understand that it’s a normal part of child development. That said, if a foreign object remains lodged in the ear for an extended period, it can lead to swelling, infection, and temporary hearing loss, in addition to obstructing the ear canal, making it harder for sound to pass through.
Do not try to remove the offending object yourself. You may end up pushing it further into the ear and damaging the eardrum. Instead, call your doctor or visit an urgent care clinic immediately.
If your child starts displaying signs of hearing loss, call us at Eastern Oklahoma Ear Nose and Throat – Yale Office today to schedule a hearing test and ear exam.