Things Your Ears Reveal About Your Health

Have you noticed any problems with your ears? Do they look or feel different than normal? Are you struggling to hear clearly or follow conversations? Do you have a ringing or buzzing in your ears that just won’t go away? Your ears can reveal a lot about your health, and paying attention to your ears could reveal a lot about your body, and point to signs of other health problems.

Itchy Ears

Have you been scratching your ears for a few days? Does the itch persist no matter how much you scratch? Having itchy ears could reveal a fungus or eczema in your ears, and you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. Look for other telltale signs, like a buildup of white gunk in the ear canal, white flakes of skin in or around the ear, or redness. This debris can build up in the ear, causing more discomfort, discharge, or even hearing loss.

Creased Earlobes

Do you have creases on your earlobes? A diagonal crease on your earlobe could be sending you a message that everything’s not quite right. It’s called Frank’s sign, and if you’ve noticed this crease, go visit your doctor. Frank’s sign can indicate a coronary artery disease. This crease could appear due to a breakdown in the elastic tissue around the small blood vessels in your body, and affect both the heart and your ears.

An Earache

If your ear has been aching, it’s likely a sign of an ear infection from a cold, allergies, or impacted ear wax. However, an earache could also signal something else altogether, and this kind of earache is a “referred pain” pointing to a toothache or jaw ache, pain from an infected piercing, or even from a terrible sore throat. Pay close attention to your ears, and take the time to find the source of the pain.

Tinnitus

Have you noticed a ringing or buzzing in your ears that only you can hear? If you feel like you can hear a whistling or buzzing when everything around you is quiet, you have tinnitus. Most commonly, tinnitus is a sign of hearing loss, and nearly 50 million Americans struggle with this aggravating sound. However, tinnitus can also be a sign of an ear infection, the result of certain medications, or another health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or hormonal changes.

Hearing Loss in One Ear

If you’ve noticed a sudden change in your hearing, pay attention! This could reveal an ear infection, illness, buildup of fluid, or injury, and needs to be looked after immediately. It could also be the sign of a tumor or other growth. Hearing loss in one ear could tell you a lot about your health.

Hearing Loss in Both Ears

Are you struggling to hear? Hearing loss affects far more than your ears, and if you have hearing loss, you need to watch for signs that it’s impacting your overall health. Those with hearing loss experience more rapid cognitive decline, and risk an earlier onset of dementia. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University have found that hearing loss is closely linked to memory loss, inability to focus, and trouble getting tasks done. When you’re straining to hear, your brain is working hard just trying to make out the sounds, and you don’t have processing power left over to actually make sense of what’s been said. This strain on the brain could be the reason for more rapid cognitive decline.

Hearing loss is also linked to social isolation, depression, and lower quality of life, so paying attention to your ears could have a real impact on many areas of your life.

Checking Your Ears

If you have noticed any changes in your ears, or in your hearing ability, visit us today at Orange County Physicians Hearing Services. We’ll perform a comprehensive hearing test, including a visual exam, to determine your unique hearing profile, and check for any signs of infection, earwax buildup, or other problems in your outer or middle ear.

Struggling to hear? We have a wide range of hearing aids from the world’s leading hearing aid manufactures that are programmed to match your unique hearing needs, and will help you hear in every listening environment.