Ear Infection Symptoms, Types, and When to Get Your Hearing Checked

Ear Infections and Hearing Loss:

Causes, symptoms, and when to worry

Overview    |    Types of ear infection    |    When to seek medical help    |    Treatment and prevention    |    Conclusion

Last Hearing Aid UK Update:  23/04/2026 

Overview

Most of us have had an ear infection at some point, even if we didn't know exactly what to call it at the time.

A sharp pain, a feeling of fullness, a muffled sound, or a general sense that something just isn't right, ear infections can show up in a number of different ways, and they're more common in adults than many people realise.

In this article, we'll walk you through the main types of ear infection, what symptoms to look out for, when it's time to see your GP, and what can be done about it.

We'll also look at the link between ear infections and hearing loss, and when it might be worth getting your hearing properly checked out.

Types of ear infection

Did you know there are actually four different types of ear infection? Each one affects a different part of the ear, and they can feel quite different from one another. Here's what to look out for with each.

1. Outer ear infection (otitis externa)

An outer ear infection (sometimes called swimmer's ear) affects the ear canal, which is simply the passage running from your outer ear to your eardrum.

It usually develops when water gets trapped in the canal, creating exactly the kind of warm, damp environment that bacteria and fungi thrive in. Despite the nickname, you don't need to be a swimmer to pick one up.

Using cotton buds, wearing earphones or hearing aids for long stretches, or having a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis in or around the ear can all trigger the same problem.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain inside the ear, which can be quite intense
• Itching in the ear canal
• A feeling of fullness or blockage
• Discharge, which may be clear, yellow, or green
• Muffled hearing
• Tenderness when you touch or pull the outer ear

The hearing loss that comes with an outer ear infection is usually nothing to worry about long-term. It's caused by the ear canal becoming blocked with swelling or discharge, and it typically clears once the infection does.

Hearing aid wearers are worth a special mention here. An infection can affect how your device sits and sounds, so it's worth a conversation with your audiologist sooner rather than later.

2. Middle ear infection (acute otitis media)

A middle ear infection happens in the space just behind your eardrum, and it's one of the most common reasons adults and children alike end up at the GP. It's often thought of as a childhood complaint, but plenty of adults experience it too, usually on the back of a cold, flu, or similar illness.

Here's why that connection exists. When you're unwell, your eustachian tubes (the narrow passages that link your middle ear to the back of your throat) can become blocked or swollen. That allows fluid to build up behind the eardrum, giving bacteria or viruses exactly the conditions they need to multiply.

Symptoms to look out for include:

• Ear pain, which can come on suddenly
• A feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear
• Muffled or reduced hearing
• A high temperature
• Fluid or discharge from the ear if the eardrum perforates
• Dizziness
• Tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing sound in the ear)

Any hearing loss associated with a middle ear infection is usually temporary. Most people find their hearing returns to normal once the infection and any fluid have cleared.

3. Glue ear (otitis media with effusion)

Glue ear is a condition where thick, sticky fluid builds up behind the eardrum. Unlike a standard middle ear infection, it isn't usually painful, which is partly what makes it easy to miss, particularly in adults who might put the symptoms down to something else entirely.

It often develops when a middle ear infection hasn't fully cleared, or when the eustachian tubes simply aren't draining as well as they should over a longer period. Conditions like sinusitis, allergies, or nasal polyps can all play a role by causing the kind of persistent blockage that stops the fluid from clearing naturally.

Symptoms can be subtle, but commonly include:

• Gradual, persistent hearing loss, often described as hearing through cotton wool
• A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear
• Difficulty following conversations, especially in noisy environments
• Tinnitus
• A sense that sounds are muffled or distant

The hearing loss that comes with glue ear can hang around for weeks or even months, and for some people, it becomes more of an ongoing issue rather than something that simply clears up on its own.

If your hearing still doesn't feel quite right after what seemed like a straightforward ear infection, it's genuinely worth going back to your GP rather than waiting it out.

4. Inner ear infection (labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis)

Unlike the other infection types, inner ear problems are usually driven by inflammation rather than bacteria directly. A viral infection is the most common trigger, though in rarer cases, a severe middle ear infection or another illness can lead to a bacterial cause.

What both scenarios have in common is that it's the inflammation itself, affecting the delicate structures deep inside the ear, that produces the symptoms.

Labyrinthitis affects two systems at once: the cochlea, which handles hearing, and the vestibular system, which controls balance. Vestibular neuritis is slightly different, involving inflammation of the vestibular nerve rather than the inner ear itself, and it tends to affect balance without touching hearing at all.

The two are often grouped together because the dizziness they cause can be hard to distinguish, and both tend to arrive suddenly and without much warning.

Symptoms of an inner ear infection can include:

• Sudden dizziness or vertigo, a spinning sensation that can make it hard to stand or walk
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sudden hearing loss, usually in one ear
• Tinnitus
• A feeling of fullness in the affected ear
• Difficulty concentrating or feeling generally unwell

Most people recover fully from labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis over a matter of weeks, though recovery can take time. In rare cases, some degree of hearing loss may persist, which is why it's important to have this type of infection properly assessed by your GP.

When to seek medical help

In many cases, a mild ear infection will clear up on its own within a week or two. But there are times when you should see your GP without delay. Contact your doctor if:

• The pain is severe or getting worse
• You have a high temperature
• Your symptoms haven't improved after a few days
• There is discharge from your ear, particularly if it contains blood or pus
• You experience sudden or significant hearing loss
• You have dizziness or vertigo that comes on suddenly or is severe
• Your hearing doesn't return to normal once the infection has cleared
• You have a condition that affects your immune system

To diagnose an ear infection, your GP will typically look inside your ear using an otoscope (a small handheld torch with a magnifying lens), go through your symptoms and medical history, and may check your eardrum's movement or refer you for further tests if needed.

Treatment

Treatment really does depend on what type of infection you have, so your GP is the right person to advise you. The good news is that there are several straightforward options available, and most people respond well. Common approaches include:

• Antibiotic ear drops for outer ear infections
• Oral antibiotics for more severe middle ear infections
• Pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
• Watchful waiting for mild infections that are likely to resolve on their own
• Antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays if allergies are contributing to the problem
• Grommets (small ventilation tubes inserted into the eardrum) in persistent cases of glue ear
• Vestibular rehabilitation exercises for inner ear infections that affect balance

Prevention

Not all ear infections can be prevented, but a few simple habits can help reduce your risk. Keeping your ears dry is one of the simplest things you can do, especially after swimming or bathing. A gentle tilt of your head to each side after getting out of the water can help drain any moisture from the canal before it has a chance to cause problems.

It's also worth resisting the urge to reach for the cotton buds. Despite being a bathroom cabinet staple, they tend to do more harm than good, pushing wax deeper into the canal and irritating the delicate skin inside. If your ears feel blocked or uncomfortable, your GP or pharmacist is a far better first call.

If you're someone who picks up colds or sinus infections fairly easily, treating them promptly rather than waiting them out can help keep your eustachian tubes clear and reduce the risk of a middle ear infection developing on top.

And the basics matter too: regular handwashing and keeping a little distance from people who are unwell can go a long way, since many ear infections start life as a straightforward respiratory virus.

Conclusion

For most people, an ear infection is an uncomfortable few days rather than anything more serious, and with the right care, it usually clears up without any lasting effects.

The key is knowing which type you might be dealing with, understanding when to get professional help, and not dismissing symptoms, particularly hearing loss, that linger beyond what you'd expect.

If your hearing hasn't returned to normal after an ear infection, or if you're noticing other changes in the way you hear, it's always worth getting it looked into.

A lot of people put off checking their hearing, assuming things will sort themselves out, but a proper assessment can make a real difference in catching anything early.

A quick conversation with your GP is always a sensible first step. And if they suggest a hearing assessment, or if your hearing simply hasn't fully returned after an infection, we can help connect you with a qualified, HCPC-registered audiologist near you.

They can support your hearing health, either at a local clinic or in the comfort of your own home, with no obligation and no hidden costs.  Call us free on 0800 567 7621 or book a free hearing test with a local audiologist you can trust.

Further reading:

• RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People): https://rnid.org.uk/ 
• Tinnitus UK (formerly British Tinnitus Association): https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/
• Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA): https://vestibular.org/
• British Society of Audiology (BSA):  https://thebsa.org.uk/