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An ear infection is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually caused by bacteria, that occurs when fluid builds up behind the eardrum. Anyone can get an ear infection, but children get them more often than adults. Five out of six children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. In fact, ear infections are the most common reason parents bring their child to a doctor. The scientific name for an ear infection is otitis media (OM).

Today marks a significant milestone in advancing hearing health care, as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) release the consensus study report, Hearing Health Care for Adults: Priorities for Improving Access and Affordability (link is external).

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month infographic

Did you know? An estimated 17.9 million adults in the U.S. report problems with their voice. Many people use their voices for their work. Singers, teachers, telemarketers, lawyers, broadcast journalists, sales people, and public speakers are those at greatest risk for voice injury.

Protect Your Kids' Hearing This Holiday Season

Noisy Planet’s Teacher Toolkit will help you teach preteens about the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. It provides easy-to-use resources and step-by-step instructions for fun activities.

Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière’s disease usually affects only one ear.

La enfermedad de Ménière es una anomalía en el oído interno que causa mareos fuertes (vértigo), timbre o silbido en el oído (tinnitus), pérdida de audición y una sensación de que el oído está lleno o congestionado. Por lo general, la enfermedad de Ménière afecta un solo oído.

Your sense of smell helps you enjoy life. You may delight in the aromas of your favorite foods or the fragrance of flowers. Your sense of smell is also a warning system, alerting you to danger signals such as a gas leak, spoiled food, or a fire. Any loss in your sense of smell can have a negative effect on your quality of life. It can also be a sign of more serious health problems.

Quick Statistics About Hearing