 [ Symptoms ] i have elevated cortisol levels how can i keep my weight in check  i am eating 3 meals with snacks but my hunger soars around 9 pm as does my energy its hard to fall asleep i do exercise regularly but that is during the day i have reduced my external stress and am meditating i do not do caffeine or alcohol [ Disease ] does your son have tubes in his ears if not then he has most likely experienced a spontaneous rupture of his eardrum due to a middle ear infection another less likely source would be trauma   he put something in his ear or sustained a scratch resulting in an infection in the ear canal itself 