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How do you know if your ear infection symptoms are due to an inner ear infection, middle ear infection, or outer ear infection? What are the risks associated with inner ear infection symptoms? Inner ear infections can be quite dangerous to your hearing and it’s important to understand how the inner ear works and symptoms of middle and outer ear infections.
The Ear
There are three parts of the ear: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear is what we see with naked eye. The middle ear is where the eardrum is located and where pressure is equalized with the Eustachian tube. The inner ear is where sound vibrations reach the auditory nerve and travel to the brain.
Inside the inner ear there are tiny “hairs” that change the sound waves into messages the brain can understand. These hairs are very delicate and damage to them can result in permanent hearing loss.
Ear Infections
Outer ear infections include swimmer’s ear, where the infection is limited to the outside of the ear or the ear canal.
Middle ear infections are a commonly referred to type of ear infection that infants and children typically get. These ear infections occur when the Eustachian tube get clogged from mucus due to colds or allergies.
Both of these types of infections happen when bacteria or fungi grow in the ear. If outer and middle ear infections are not treated, they can worsen and spread to the inner ear. This is why it’s very important to understand symptoms of middle ear infections and symptoms of outer ear infections.
Hearing Loss
Damage to the inner ear can cause permanent hearing loss. Although middle ear infections are typically what people are talking about when they refer to “ear infections”, reference to inner ear infections or inner ear problems should be taken very seriously.
Some causes of inner ear damage and/or hearing loss include:
- Age
- Exposure to loud sounds for prolonged periods of time
- Medications
- Illness (such as meningitis)
- Heredity (at birth)
- Trauma to the head
Because of the sensitivity of the inner ear it is very important that any hearing loss be reported to your doctor immediately. Prompt treatment of middle or outer ear infections will also protect the health of your inner ear.
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Inner Ear 
