Find out how good your hearing is in just three minutes. The online hearing test provides valuable information about your hearing.
Buy hearing aid batteries, accessories and other devices online from Connect Hearing
Eear infections are so common that 50 percent of children in Canada had suffered from an ear infection between the ages two to seven. According to Statistics Canada*, 13 percent of children in Canada are at risk of an ear infection.
There are two main types of ear infections. The first is called outer ear infection, also known as otitis externa or swimmer's ear. It affects the ear canal, which goes from the ear opening to the eardrum. An outer ear infection occurs when water enters the ear canal and becomes trapped there by wax build-up. This creates an ideal environment for bacteria to flourish. The body responds to the infection with inflammation, pain, redness, and sometimes a fever. The second type is called a middle-ear infection or otitis media. It occurs when either virus or bacteria cause infection in the middle ear. The condition is a result of the tubes inside the ears becoming clogged with mucus and fluid. Middle ear infections can be excruciating and are often accompanied by high fever, hearing difficulty, nausea, and vomiting. The fluid build-up can lead to hearing loss as all that ear fluid prevents sound from getting through. This type of ear infection is much more common, particularly in very young children and infants. When babies and young children pull or slap at their ears, an ear infection is quite possible. Most middle ear infections are linked to an upper respiratory infection or an allergy. Forty percent of cases are thought to be caused by bacteria, the rest by a virus.
There are two main types of otitis media:
Acute Otitis Media (AOM) - Acute otitis media comes on rapidly and is defined by swelling and redness in the ear behind and around the eardrum. Ear pain, fever, and partial or complete hearing loss often occur as a result of fluid or mucus caught in the middle ear. Recurrent acute otitis media – Repeated episodes of middle ear infections are called recurrent acute otitis media. Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) - OME is the presence of fluid in the middle ear without any signs or symptoms of acute infection. This can happen when the infection clears up, but mucus and fluid continue to build up in the middle ear. This build-up creates a feeling of fullness in the ear, reducing your ability to hear clearly. OMEs typically resolve on their own. Chronic otitis media with effusion – OME is said to be chronic when middle ear effusion has been present for at least three months.