This Is An Excellent Question! Let's Begin With Some Allergy Fundamentals.
Allergies occur when your body's defences overreact to something that is normally harmless. Allergens are common examples, and they include latex, pet dander, and peanuts. When you come into contact with an allergen, your immune system goes into protective mode. Histamines flood your body and the area where you were exposed to the allergen.
The Allergic Reaction
Histamines function similarly to security guards in that once unleashed, they do whatever is necessary to eradicate the allergen. As a result, irritation, itching, and excessive mucus production occur. But, how does this result in hearing loss?
Seasonal Allergies and Hearing Impairment
We'll concentrate on seasonal allergies because they're so common in allergic reactions that cause hearing loss. Other allergies include
The External Ear
Let's take pollen as an example of an allergy. We'll start with the effects on the outside of the ear:
- Pollen enters or nears your ear canal.
- Histamines go into overdrive in an attempt to eliminate the allergen.
- The onset of inflammation, itching, and potentially swelling
- A powerful enough reaction prevents sound from reaching your eardrum.
- The end effect is hearing loss.
The Middle Ear
Using pollen as an example of an allergy, consider the consequences on the middle ear:
- Pollen enters your nostrils or nasal passages.
- Histamines go into overdrive in an attempt to eliminate the allergen.
- Inflammation and mucous production begin.
- Mucus accumulates in your middle ear.
- When your Eustachian tube, which drains excess mucus from your middle ear, becomes clogged, you have a blockage (from inflammation or mucus)
- As a result, you may experience discomfort, hearing loss, or an infection.
The Inner Ear
Finally, returning to pollen, the consequences of allergens on the inner ear are as follows:
- Pollen enters your nostrils or nasal passages.
- Histamines go into overdrive in an attempt to eliminate the allergen.
- Inflammation and mucous production begin.
- These have been shown to aggravate symptoms of other ear-related diseases, such as Ménière's disease, which causes hearing loss, balance problems, and tinnitus.
As you can see, it's a straightforward case of cause and effect - and the cause is usually inflammation, mucus, or a combination of the two in your ears' microscopic canals.
It's ideal to keep yourself as educated with your hearing aids and a new breakthrough in the technology. Ask your query via Book an Appointment today. For more information visit https://hearing.careinc.ca or you can call us today at (403)605-6300