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MY EAR IS BLOCKED, HOW TO OPEN IT?
This question is a question that patients whose ears are blocked in some way often ask each other or the doctors they find on the Internet and social media. And after that, “is it good to drip this drop?”, “shall I use this medicine?” people like that come too. As the cause of ear blockage, since most people think of earwax at first, simple solutions are immediately sought. Although earwax (serum, plug, bun) is often seen, there are other important ear diseases that give signs of congestion in the ear.
We can express ear blockage as a kind of hearing deficiency. This symptom may be accompanied by sounds such as buzzing, rustling or ringing. In order to understand the causes of congestion, it is necessary to slightly focus on how hearing occurs. In healthy people, the surrounding sounds are collected by the ear, which is physically visible from the outside; they are transmitted to the eardrum through the ear canal (external auditory meatus). Sound waves vibrate the eardrum; behind this, the ear bones that we call the hammer, anvil and stirrups located in the middle ear ensure that vibration is transmitted to the inner ear. The inner ear snail (cochlea) converts the mechanical message it receives into neural impulses; nerve fibers originating from regions appropriate to their frequencies come together to form the auditory nerve, and signals are transmitted through the brain stem to the corresponding brain region (temporal lobe). The part of the hearing process up to the inner ear snail is called “transmission type”, and after that, “neural type” (sensorineural) hearing. There may be a hearing loss of the conduction type or inner ear type, which is felt as an ear blockage.
According to this, a person who applies for “my ear is blocked” has dirt, deposits, infections or a foreign body blocking the ear canal, etc. “It could be. Bleeding, puncture, rupture, infection of the eardrum, pressure disorder behind the eardrum (Eustachian problem), collection of fluid or inflammation, calcification of the bones, rupture, melting, etc. “It could be. Or diseases of the ear snail (viral, bacterial, acoustic trauma, drug side effects, effects of systemic diseases, conditions related to increased or leakage of inner ear fluid, aging, etc.) may be. In addition, vascular disorders related to the auditory nerve, brain stem and brain region, strokes or tumors, etc. maybe even. There are other possibilities besides these. Although inflammatory conditions are usually painful, most other diseases are painless, and the first symptom is ear congestion. Although the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is “blocked earwax”, it is absolutely necessary for us doctors to clarify the main problem.
According to hearsay recommendations, for example, if glycerin drops are given to a patient with damaged eardrum, this liquid can mix with dirt and spread from the area with a hole to the middle ear and bones; it can lead to increased congestion or even inflammation. As another example, in a disease that we accept as urgent, called “sudden hearing loss”, it is requested that the diagnosis be determined immediately and treatment be started within three days. Passing the blockage by thinking that it is due to dirt or wasting time with useless drops can lead to permanent hearing loss. Problems with the middle ear may occur in those with nasal congestion or during a cold-flu; middle ear pressure may deteriorate, or fluid collection behind the eardrum (otitis media with effusion) may occur. In these, the applications to the ear canal are meaningless. Countless examples can be given in this way.
Earwax may get wet and swollen with entering the sea and pools in summer, or there may be ear canal infections (swimmer’s ear). It should be borne in mind that the above possibilities can also be found together with them or alone. A person whose ear is blocked should definitely consult a Turkish doctor, if possible, an ENT Specialist in Turkey. Instead of making predictions, the ear canal should be seen by examining it. If there is earwax or inflammation, they can be cleaned with an aspirator (vacuum) under a microscope, and the eardrum behind it can be observed. In this way, the eardrum and Decussation can be evaluated; tests can be performed on middle ear pressure and hearing. In this way, research can be advanced until the cause of ear blockage is found and the correct treatment can be planned in a timely manner.
I wish you healthy days…
ENT, HEAD and Neck Surgery Specialist Antalya MedicalPark Hospital
Assoc. Dr.
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Turkey's world-renowned organ transplant specialist. Dr. Demirbaş has 104 international publications and 102 national publications.
Physician's Resume:
Born on August 7, 1963 in Çorum, Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbaş has been continuing his work as the President of MedicalPark Antalya Hospital Organ Transplantation Center since 2008.
Prof. who performed the first tissue incompatible kidney transplant in Turkey, the first blood type incompatible kidney transplant, the first kidney-pancreas transplant program and the first cadaveric donor and live donor liver transplant in Antalya. Dr. As of August 2016, Alper Demirbaş has performed 4900 kidney transplants, 500 liver transplants and 95 pancreas transplants.
In addition to being the chairman of 6 national congresses, he has also been an invited speaker at 12 international and 65 national scientific congresses. Dr. Alper Demirbaş was married and the father of 1 girl and 1 boy.
Awards:
Eczacibasi Medical Award of 2002, Akdeniz University Service Award of 2005, Izder Medical Man of the Year Award of 2006, BÖHAK Medical Man of the Year Award of 2007, Sabah Mediterranean Newspaper Scientist of the Year Award of 2007, ANTIKAD Scientist of the Year Award of 2009, Social Ethics Association Award of 2010, Işık University Medical Man of the Year Award of 2015, VTV Antalya's Brand Value Award of 2015.
Certificates:
Doctor of Medicine Degree Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, General Surgeon Ministry of Health Turkey EKFMG (0-477-343-8), University of Miami School of Medicine Member of Multiple Organ Transplant, ASTS Multiorgan Transplant Scholarship. Lecturer at Kyoto University. Lecturer at University of Essen, Research assistant at the University of Cambridge .
Professional Members:
American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Transplantation Society Nominated, Middle East and Southern Africa Council Transplantation Society 2007, International Liver Transplantation Association, Turkish Transplantation Association, Turkish Society of Surgery, Turkish Hepatobiliary Surgery Association.
Disclaimer:
Our website contents consist of articles approved by our Web and Medical Editorial Board with the contributions of our physicians. Our contents are prepared only for informational purposes for public benefit. Be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.