Is this an ear infection??

Question

My mom is complaining about not being able to hear for several days now. This is in both ears and she feels pressure in her ears at times. She is very stubborn when it comes to going to the doctors. Keep in mind that my mom is in her 60's and she hates going to the doctor's. I worry about her a lot and I get extremly frustrated by her suffering and taking no action. She cried tonight because she couldn't hear. I keep telling her to go to the doctors and she gets mad at me and tells me maybe it will go away. She told me the other day a dark (almost black) ear wax came out of her ear. If she is experiencing hearing loss in both ears, what do you think this could be? An infection? Ear wax build up? Is there anything I can do to help her?

Answer 1

Sounds like she needs to have her ears cleaned out by a doctor.  He will clean them by irrigating them it is quick and easy and I have never heard a patient complain of any pain with it.  Most people are suprised by how well they can hear afterwards.

Answer 2

Definately earwax. I was ptrified when we thought my son was going deaf. He went to the ENT Doctor and it was a lot of earwax. A cleaning and he could hear again.

Answer 3

I know all about stubborn parents.  My grandmother is the same way.  If she had dark ear wax, she really should see a doctor for a cleaning since it could be very compacted and could turn into an infection.  However, if she has no pain, then it's not an infection yet.

If she absolutely refuses to go to the doctor, have her lay down, and put 5-10 drop of peroxide into her ear, and let it sit for about 3 minutes.  She should hear a lot of cracking and fizzing, and it might be a bit uncomfortable.  She may also get dizzy, that is caused by the peroxide being a colder temp than the inside of her ear.  The peroxide dries up the wax. After 3 minutes have her turn over and do the other ear while the first one is draining. do this every night for about a week, he hearing should improve.  If this is not producing any wax drainage, then go to the pharmacy and ask for some ear candles, not all pharmacies carrying them, they are often hard to find.  (Check health food stores too) follow the directions on the package, these never fail to work for my grandma.

Answer 4

it would be best to have your mom seen by a specialist  (an otorhinolaryngologist). Your mother needs to have full examination of your moms ear... through the otoscope and through conduction tests (using the tuning fork) --- to determine the source of the hearing loss. whether it is because of an "obstruction" (i.e. ear wax) or because of damage to the hearing/auditory nerve. this can be determined through said test. encourage your mother, that early and correct diagnosis of the cause of the hearing loss, can help avoid further deterioration of the problem and can even help salvage or improve her hearing capabilities. or if it is because of just an earwax, then the specialist can definitely remove with his specialized instruments meants for removing the earwax. and if ear infection is also noted, then you can be prescribed with the right antibiotics.  

Answer 5

It could definitely be an ear infection, but ask her if she's had some pain in her ears...when i had mine, i couldn't sleep at night because it hurt so bad. But other symptoms do include discharge and hearing loss. Try to convince her to go to the doctor asap..it can develop into something worse and lead to permanent hearing damage...ear infections are treated with antibiotics, so no needles or anything if that's what she's afraid of...the sooner, the better...and all theyre going to do is look in her ear and prescribe something. I hate going to the doctor as well :S But it won't go away on its own.

Answer 6

probably not an ear infection,

my doctor said that adults dont get ear infections they get sinus infections, there you go

and if ur that worried go to the doctor and get some "candy" (if you catch my drift...)