According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, the human ear consists of outer, inner and middle parts, and people use all three parts to hear. The NIH states that a variety of ear conditions can affect a person's hearing and balance, and that ear conditions can be caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises, ear trauma and certain medical conditions.
Swimmer's Ear
Swimmer's ear is a condition of the outer ear. According to the Mayo Clinic website, swimmer's ear--also known as acute external otitis or otitis externa--is an infection of the ear canal, and in most instances, swimmer's ear is caused by a bacterial invasion of the ear canal's thin outer lining. People whose ears are exposed to excess moisture, such as swimmers, have a greater likelihood of developing swimmer's ear. Common signs and symptoms of swimmer's ear include ear canal itching, red and inflamed ear canal tissue, pain or discomfort ranging from mild to severe, fluid drainage, pus discharge, a sensation of ear fullness, reduced hearing ability, ear and lymph node swelling and flaking skin in the outer ear. The Mayo Clinic website states that, in most cases, swimmer's ear can be easily treated, and that prompt care can reduce the likelihood of complications, such as hearing loss, cellulitis and widespread infection.
Outer Ear Tumors
Outer ear tumors are a condition of the outer ear. The Merck Manuals website states that outer ear tumors may be benign or malignant, and that most outer ear tumors are discovered by a person's physician during otoscopic evaluation to determine the cause of hearing loss or hearing reduction. According to the Merck Manuals website, benign tumors can manifest in the outer ear canal, causing hearing loss and wax accumulation. Common types of benign outer ear canal tumors include sebaceous cysts, osteomas or bone tumors and keloids or growths that develop from excessive scar tissue. The Merck Manuals website notes that surgical excision or removal of the tumor can restore a person's hearing. Other types of cancer that occur in the outer ear canal or on the outer aspect of the ear include basal cell and squamous cell cancers, along with ceruminomas--cancer of the cells that generate earwax.
Outer Ear Trauma
Trauma can cause numerous outer ear conditions. According to the Merck Manuals website, blunt force trauma to the outer ear can cause bruising between the ear's cartilage and the perichondrium--the layer of dense, irregular connective tissue that surrounds the ear's cartilage. As blood accumulates in this space, a person's outer ear swells and takes on a purple hue. The accumulated blood, known as a hematoma, can decrease blood flow to the ear's cartilage, causing part of the cartilage to die and ear deformities to arise. The deformity, known as cauliflower ear, occurs frequently among wrestlers, boxers, rugby players and others who engage in pugilistic endeavors. The Merck Manuals website states that blunt force jaw trauma can also affect the function of the outer ear, distorting and narrowing the outer ear canal's shape, but that surgical intervention can often correct the problem.
