Got those seasonal sniffles? You probably know exactly how they can affect more than your nose. Read on to learn how allergies can lead to hearing loss.

A: This is a great question! Let’s start with some allergy basics.

Allergies

An allergy is when your body’s defenses overreact to something that is not typically harmful. These are called allergens, and common ones include latex, pet dander, and peanuts.

When you come across an allergen, your immune system goes into defensive mode. Chemicals called histamines flood your body and where you encountered the allergen.

The Allergic Response

Histamines are like security guards — once released, they do what’s needed to remove the allergen. Reactions such as inflammation, itchiness, and excess mucus production result. But how does this cause hearing loss?

Seasonal Allergies and Hearing Loss

Because the allergic reactions leading to hearing loss so often involve seasonal allergies, that’s where we’ll focus. Other allergies, such as those triggered by mold or pets, would also work as examples.

The outer ear

Let’s use pollen as our allergen example. We’ll begin with the effects on the outer ear:

Pollen lands in or near your ear canal
Histamines kick into high gear and try to remove the allergen
Inflammation, itching, and possibly swelling begin
A strong enough reaction blocks sound trying to get to your eardrum
Hearing loss is the result

The middle ear

Continuing with pollen as our allergen example, let’s look at the effects on the middle ear:

Pollen lands in your nostril or nasal passage
Histamines kick into high gear and try to remove the allergen
Inflammation and excessive mucus production begin
Mucus builds up in your middle ear
Your Eustachian tube, which drains excess mucus from your middle ear, becomes blocked (from inflammation or mucus)
Discomfort, hearing loss, or an infection result

The inner ear

Finally, continuing with pollen, the effects of allergies on the inner ear are:

Pollen lands in your nostril or nasal passage
Histamines kick into high gear and try to remove the allergen
Inflammation and excessive mucus production begin
These have been known to worsen symptoms of other ear-related problems, such as Ménière’s disease, which includes symptoms such as hearing loss, balance issues, and tinnitus

As you can see, it’s simple cause and effect — and the cause is usually inflammation, mucus, or a combination of both in the tiny passageways in your ears.

Contact us today if you think your hearing issue could be more than the temporary effects of seasonal allergies!