Many children will have temporary and minor hearing loss during
or right after an ear infection. Permanent hearing loss is rare,
but the risk increases with the number of infections. The
eustachian tube runs from the middle part of each ear to the
back of the throat. This tube drains fluid that is normally made
in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid
can build up. This may lead to pressure behind the eardrum or an
ear infection. Ear pain in adults is less likely to be from an
ear infection. What you think is ear pain may actually be coming
from another location, such as your temporomandibular joint,
teeth, throat, or other location. This is called "referred"
pain. Pain, tenderness, or redness of the mastoid bone behind
the ear on the skull is often a sign of a serious infection. The
following steps can help prevent earaches: Avoid smoking near
children. Smoking has been shown to cause millions of ear
infections each year in children. Prevent outer ear infections
by not putting objects