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Due to the fluid imbalance in this area, parts of the cochlea are stretched or under more tension than usual, which can lead to distortions of sound, changes in pitch perception, or hearing loss, all usually in the low frequencies. Common symptoms include: Low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. A feeling of fullness in the ear.
Endolymphatic hydrops is a disorder of the inner ear. It consists of an excessive build-up of the endolymph fluid, which fills the hearing and balance structures of the inner ear. Endolymph fluid, which is partly regulated by the endolymph sac, flows through the inner ear and is critical to the function of all sensory cells in the inner ear.
The ear is built to function like a "conveyor belt" by sloughing off dead skin and earwax that naturally pushes its way out. This system tends to work well without much need for assistance.
Patulous Eustachian tube is a physical disorder. The exact causes may vary depending on the person and are often unknown. [5] Weight loss is a commonly cited cause of the disorder due to the nature of the Eustachian tube itself and is associated with approximately one-third of reported cases. [6]
Labyrinthitis is inflammation of the labyrinth, a maze of fluid-filled channels in the inner ear. Vestibular neuritis is inflammation of the vestibular nerve (the nerve in the ear that sends messages related to motion and position to the brain). [2] [3] [4] Both conditions involve inflammation of the inner ear. [5]
If medical management fails, myringotomy, which is a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the eardrum to drain pus from the middle ear or to relieve pressure caused by a large buildup of fluid, is indicated, and usually accompanied by the insertion of a tympanostomy tube. [10]
The other main type is otitis media with effusion (OME), typically not associated with symptoms, [1] although occasionally a feeling of fullness is described; [4] it is defined as the presence of non-infectious fluid in the middle ear which may persist for weeks or months often after an episode of acute otitis media. [4]
The cochlea is filled with a watery liquid, the endolymph, which moves in response to the vibrations coming from the middle ear via the oval window. As the fluid moves, the cochlear partition (basilar membrane and organ of Corti) moves; thousands of hair cells sense the motion via their stereocilia, and convert that motion to electrical signals ...