Hearing loss is a significant health issue that affects communication, social interactions, and overall quality of life. It can range from mild to profound and may affect one or both ears. The prevalence of hearing loss is notable, with millions of people worldwide experiencing varying degrees of auditory impairment. This condition can affect individuals of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, and its impact can be profound, influencing not only personal and professional relationships but also mental and emotional well-being.

Ear infections are prevalent in children and most likely come with a viral cold. Your child might feel unwell with a fever, sickness, and loss of appetite. Ear infections usually affect the middle ear, which we call otitis media. The pain comes as a result of infection and inflammation build-up behind the eardrum. They may complain that hearing comes and goes, or they may feel pain on the cheek side of the ear or under it, which might be worse when eating. It’s usually just one ear affected. Sometimes infections affect the outer part of the ear. This may be the case if you have symptoms of wetness with white or yellow discharge, and the ear may feel itchy or sore just inside. This points more towards otitis externa, where the ear canal leading to the eardrum is infected.

It's quite common to get an itchy ear. There can be a number of causes, so if this persists past a few days, it's worth getting checked out. If you suffer from psoriasis, eczema, or dry skin, this can also affect your ear canal, where debris from dead skin cells builds up and irritates. If you've been on holiday, "Mediterranean ear" can develop as a result of sweating and bathing in hot climates. Hard wax can build up and irritate, with some reporting an itch as the primary symptom, and if a good solid blockage of the eardrum, you may also suffer a loss of hearing. Otitis externa describes inflammation in the lining of the ear canal and can be associated with infection - in this case, the ear would be painful (often described as an earache) more than itchy, and you may also have a cough or cold and fever.

Vertigo is the sensation that you are in motion, even when you are standing still, or that everything around you is moving. It feels similar to being on a boat, and can result in the same feeling of losing balance, nausea, and vomiting. The attack typically lasts from a few seconds to minutes but can last days. Effects range from minimal to severe enough to affect your daily life, but it's more than just dizziness. Vertigo has nothing to do with a fear of heights. This is a popular misconception that started from the Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name. Acrophobia means fear of heights, but it may cause a spinning sensation when looking down from a high place that is similar to some aspects of vertigo.