If you suddenly experience ear pain, loss of hearing or any discomfort in your ear, it can be disconcerting and uncomfortable.

Your doctor may examine your ear, ask about your symptoms, and possibly recommend further testing, such as a hearing test or diagnostic imaging, such as an MRI scan.

In this article, we shall explore the common ear problems, causes and symptoms, when to see your doctor, and the role of MRI scans for ear-related concerns.

There are many issues that may occur in or around your ears, with a variety of symptoms.

We have listed the most common ear problems, the usual causes and symptoms below:

Ear Infections

Middle Ear Infections (otitis media) can be caused by bacteria or viruses in the middle of the ear, behind the ear drum.

Outer Ear Infections (otitis externa) are usually caused by an accumulation of moisture, sand, dirt or debris. This causes irritation in the ear canal, leading to inflammation.

Symptoms of ear infections typically include:

• pain in the inner or outer ear
• a high temperature
• nausea or vomiting
• lack of energy
• hearing loss
• discharge or fluid running out of the ear
• itching, swelling or irritation in and around the ear,
• feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear
  

Eustachian Tube dysfunction

The eustachian tubes connect your nose and throat to your middle ear, regulating the air flow and preventing a build-up of pressure and fluid in your ear. However, it can become blocked or inflamed by colds, flu, sinusitis, allergies and even external irritants such as tobacco smoke.

Symptoms include:

• Pressure in the ear
• Feeling of fullness in the ear
  

Tinnitus

Otherwise known as “ringing in the ears”, Tinnitus is defined as the sensation of hearing a sound when there is no external source for that sound.

The cause is unknown, but tinnitus has been connected with noise exposure, hearing loss, some types of medications, ear wax blockages, ear infections and trauma to the head.

The symptoms are hearing sounds such as ringing, buzzing, whooshing, hissing, whistling or other noises.

Meniere's disease

This is a disease that affects the inner ear, affecting hearing and the brain’s perception of balance.

Symptoms include dizziness and hearing loss.

When to see your doctor

If you experience any of the below symptoms, seek medical attention:

• Sudden hearing loss
• Severe or persistent ear pain
• Drainage from the ear
• A ringing sound in your ear (tinnitus) that doesn't go away
• Dizziness or vertigo
• A feeling of fullness in the ear
• A change in your hearing ability, such as muffled hearing or difficulty hearing certain sounds
• A change in your sense of balance
  

These are symptoms that may indicate a serious underlying condition that requires prompt medical attention.

A doctor will physically examine your ears, ask about your symptoms, and possibly recommend further testing, such as MRI, to determine the cause of your symptoms and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Why would a doctor advise to have an Ear MRI scan?

A doctor may request Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to gain a better view of the structures of the ear and sometimes the brain also, to determine if there are structural issues or medical conditions that may be contributing to the symptoms.

MRI can detect small abnormalities, which means that conditions are more likely to be detected early, allowing for timely and effective treatment.

What can an Ear MRI scan detect?

An Ear MRI can provide detailed images of the structures within the ear, including the inner ear (cochlea), middle ear (ossicles), and the inner ear bones and surrounding tissues, allowing for an accurate diagnosis of ear-related problems.

Ear MRI scans can help diagnose and monitor a variety of ear-related conditions such as:

• Inner ear damage
• Cochlear implant problems
• Vestibular disorders (such as Meniere's disease)
• Tumours in the ear or near the ear
• Abnormalities in the bones of the middle ear
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus