The dangerous cause of ear infections that no one knows about.

Cholesteatoma is a common cause of discharge from the ear. It is a slowly growing mass that slowly damages the structures of the ear. I try and explain this difficult subject in this video. I use diagrams to aid your understanding. Learn about this disease so you can pick up this disease before it causes damage to hearing, nerves, balance and even the brain.
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** Disclaimer - The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional. **
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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:36 How a cholesteatoma is formed
1:40 Why are cholesteatoma dangerous?
2:10 The ossicles (malleus Incus stapes)
3:01 The nerves (facial nerve and corda tympani)
4:01 The balance / vestibular system (semi-circular canals)
4:22 Fistula Test
4:58 The brain, mastoid, jugular/sigmoid sinus & Eustachian tube
5:42 How do I know if I have cholesteatoma?
6:55 How do you treat a cholesteatoma?
7:52 How long can I leave a cholesteatoma?
8:32 Beware of wax in the attic
8:51 Conclusion

[@horacehearing7119]

As an Audiologist who specialises in earwax removal this is very informative! Thank you

[@Diane_B_41]

After watching a video from Durham Health, I came to your channel as Connor mentioned you had a really good video explaining cholesteatoma. My son was found to have this when he was 3. From about 6 months old he had a severe runny nose 95% of the time. When he was 18 months old it was discovered he had severe sleep apnoea. His oxygen levels went as low as 36% and regularly went as low as 40%. When he was 3 he went in to get gromits, but only got it in his left ear as his right eardrum had completely blown out (essentially only the edge remained. It was during this surgery the consultant found he had cholesteatomas. His explanation was basically saying they were benign tumours, which scared me. He mentioned all the complications that this could cause. Apparently, because my son had so many ear infections it was quite bad. I'm glad I watched your video because I have a better understanding of the issue. Even though my son is 17 now, he still has so many problems with his right ear.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

glad I could be of some help

[@billhiboy]

I came to your channel from the tinnitus videos but your videos are genuinely entertaining! I love them and they help with my tinnitus. Thank You!

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Glad you like them!

[@jessicatanxianhui8011]

Such a simplified version of explanation! Two thumbs up! Thanks

[@suezannehoward7945]

Very intresting and informative video ,thank you .

[@asFUTx]

I have recently been diagnosed with cholesteatoma and am awaiting surgery options but this video has been very informative!!

[@2weedogs]

Very interesting, thank you. I came to your channel through the conversations you have with Connor from Durham Hearing, and stayed because your videos are so interesting and informative. You have a wonderful way of explaining things so clearly to interested lay people. Thanks again

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Thanks for listening

[@serge9259]

I looooooooooove your videos. You are a really great teacher and an excellent drawer

[@locien182]

Got a follow up with the head doctor in local hospital about this operation. Has issues with my ear for 30+ years been leaking on and off for 12months now getting them weird tastes you mentioned and random balance issues too. Hopefully my doctor can sort it. Worried about the operation and pain after and sleeping as I sleep on my bad ear so not sure wth I'm going to be able to do. Ty for the videos informative and helpful

[@lvnlife75]

Thank you for this video. As you say, if it can help at least one person then job well done!!

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

it makes it all worthwhile, thanks for commenting!

[@MVBNov]

Thank you very much for your clear, professional and helpful explanation. My child is deaf in his left ear while has a perfecting eating of his right ear. Unfortunately he has been having some recurrent ear infections, as you might imagine I get more worried than I would be if he could hear normally with his both ears. I like to keep informed and updated as sometimes doctors cannot always notice or help if there is not a very strong symptom or they just ignore those facts. I thank you for this video.

[@fionachitty3904]

Thankyou so much for this c!early explained information!!

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

My pleasure !

[@sianp5227]

Thank you for this video, I am currently waiting for my ENT appointment and I'm quite scared of having an operation

[@ochtamama2972]

I have seen 4 ENT specialist and been to a&E multiple times and can't be diagnosed. You are my last hope. I am looking forward to see you but even privately long time waiting...but hopefully see you middle of February 🤞

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

I hope so too!

[@metatechnologist]

Thank you truly for your channel. It has helped me. I was thinking that you'd talk about Naegleria Fowleri. A bug that you might get while you visit hot springs. Another thing people don't think about too much....

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Thanks for the tip! I'll have a think about that for another video.

[@Yellow-Rose]

Oh this is very interesting I've never heard of this. So it's natural hot springs in the outdoors? not hot tubs right?

[@petermurphy9968]

Thankyou so much for sharing this vital information.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Glad it was helpful!

[@raineyd4842]

Thank you Dr Veer. I always learn from each of your videos. Happy holidays & Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Merry Christmas and a Happy new year to you too.

[@quantumalight28]

I always learn so much from your videos. Question for you Doctor if I may, does low blood pressure have anything to do with tinnitus or the twerpy bird noises in one's ear?

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

we know that high blood pressure does this. it might be related to an aortic or carotid issue, particularly regurgitation which can give a low blood pressure reading. sorry it's such a big topic I can't give a sensible answer. please get checked out.

[@tudor888]

Thanks!

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

very kind of you, thanks so much!

[@EmsThaBreaks441]

Inserting a Camembert advert for a video on Cholesteatomas - clearly a man of taste

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Haha, I have one ready for the oven, but actually the ads are linked to you. All I get are ads about crypto... Google thinks you have good taste.

[@DurhamHearingSpecialists]

Great video, are cholesteatomas born out of attic retraction always dirty/brownish/crusty and ones born out of small perfs or congenital always white?

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

no, they can be either. doesn't matter where they come from. most are brown on the outside and white on the inside.

[@ja1kob3]

I just had my second operation(mastoidectomy) on my left side, and I hope this is the last one, i've been dealing with this for 5+ years. They aren't able to reconstruct my hearing, which is fine, I still got my right ear working as it should. I just want the operations and constant checkups to stop, it is starting to become disruptive and tiring. Why can't my ear just be normal?

[@kaylaball8894]

Sounds like we're both going through similar procedures and diagnosis, same ear and all! Living with the chronic pain of it all is incredibly debilitating. I had my 3rd surgery this month which was over 4 hours long, hearing loss for me is reaching profound, will get a check in for that soon at pre op on the 30th :) I wish you the best in this health battle, and remember there is a community out there who knows the disruption this brings on. I hope that this was your last surgery but if it isn't, you can always refer back to this comment moving forward and we can chat about it. I relate to how hard it is to keep going with this, it's painful, can swell, headaches and migranes, cause infection constantly, damage your balance, cause de-equalibrium, vertigo, tennitus and auditory disruptions, hearing loss and a list of other things. Hang in there regardless, you deserve to get healthy with that ear, it does suck and it is shitty to live with, but keep going and good luck!

[@screamtoasigh9984]

If I wasn't paranoid enough. 😔 was severely dizzy, sore throat with sinus pressure and diagnosed with a sinus infection - bizarre as I hadn't had one since getting my turbinades cut over a decade ago. I have no fever and everything is clear. I heard mumbling about too much fluid in my ears and whatnot (I have confirmed MCAS so I think half the time they aren't sure what's going on - not enough research or doctors.. ). They sent me home with antibiotics, steroids, cough suppressant and 2 nasal sprays Dr. you sir you are going to make me paranoid. 🙈

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

sorry! trying to be useful rather than messing with you. it's very fixable if that helps?

[@carolinemiller-iy2hj]

Has a Cholesteatomas growing in my ear for thirty years, but was medical negligence , did manage to get it removed , I lived with terrible pain , smelling pus , I still get pain , and live with the consequences of this , my hearing is bad and can't wear hearing aids, because of pain, no one has help about this, but this is the same old story for me, the nhs medical negligence.

[@husseinawjama6034]

Hi Dr. Veer, I hope you are doing well. I wanted to now more Cholesteotoma and I found out his video. I had history of ear infection and middle ear rupture. I had a middle ear reconstruction about 9 years ago where they cut a piece of my skin and put in my middle ear. For that reason, I lost 90% of my hearing of my right ear causing a distress and deprssion as a young man. Long story short, I had another surgery last week to remove the Cholesteotoma because my ear is stuffed and had thick wall that voice/hearing cannot get throught. My question is does Cholesteotoma surgery improve hearing? Thank you very much.

[@ralsharp6013]

Is it possible for a person to have mastoiditis and Cholesteatoma at the same time? A lovely little Earth Angel I know has been having terrible trouble with a weeping ear and had two lots of intravenous antibiotics, but to no avail.. Prednisone not really helping either. I notice you mention the mastoid bone around the 5 minute mark. Would really love to hear more about it, if you feel compelled to educate us more please. 🙏

[@davidnorden1972]

When you say discharge - is that from the outer ear or from the mouth?

[@susibul5320]

Two doctors looked in my ear, one saw a very small black area deep inside, the other could not see it. My symptoms were dizziness, earache, high temperature, headache and sinus discharge, they gave me Levofloxacin. I still have mild earache. Thank you Vic, your videos are very clear and easy to understand. I am in UK.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

hopefully it's nothing too serious. I hope you are sorted soon.

[@Riya-ds6pd]

Oparetion Please tell if doing this can cause major injury to the face and bend the face Facial narve injury

[@hughlaverton8748]

Dear Sir, as an ear specialist you may be able to help me. Fifteen years ago I had an ear infection that took several years to get over. I was left with significant tinnitus in my right ear. As I understand it the possible causes could be the infection itself or the use of Otex or, in my ignorance, cleaning the inside with a small piece of kitchen roll. As no doctor has really taken me seriously I have resigned myself to this constant very loud ringing for the rest of my life (I am now 73). Can you offer me any hope? Kind regards, Hugh.

[@shanairoundtree3602]

I’ve recently had surgery because of me having this I have completed hearing loss in my left ear and it messed up a lot of my nerves I’m just starting to be able to walk better and I had serve vertigo

[@sonnyjay1347]

Did the surgery help? I have had severe vertigo and already lost my hearing. I have MRI scheduled to see if I have Cholesteatoma. Hope you feel better.

[@N.Sardone]

This! I'm 37 yo and have had 4(ish) surgeries on my right ear to remove cholesteatomas. I've had to have my inner ear reconstructed 2x -the 3 little bones being titanium and I basically have zero hearing in that ear. The second surgery to remove it my Dr said that he had to shave down my mastoid bone (?) Balance is a huge issue now as is hearing 😕 If I happen to have a "good" hearing day the only thing I do hear is my heart beat.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

I'm sorry you are having a hard time with this. once the cholesteatoma has been removed your surgeon will probably offer you a mastoid obliteration to stop you feeling dizzy. once the cholesteatoma is out for good the chances of fixing your hearing become better. good luck!

[@joydrummond7703]

Thank you so much for this video! My ear drum burst on a plane and My ENT said I have a retracted eardrum from ETD. I had the balloon procedure for the eustacian tube in July, but I don’t think it worked so good. My ear still stops up with any elevation. Could he have missed a cholesteoma? Are they easy to see? I don’t get out hardly any ear wax from that ear, but he said I don’t have wax buildup.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

I would just see him again and get it checked. I doubt an ENT surgeon would miss this.

[@sarahbreiing8288]

Thank you so much for this video! My daughter has congenital cholesteatoma and it wasn‘t discovered until four years old during an explorative surgery due to mild hearing loss. No other symptoms and her eardrum looked absolutely fine but nevertheless her ossicles were already completely destroyed, the footplate was badly thinned and her taste nerve needed to be cut. In your experience, what causes a congenital cholesteatoma and how can it be picked up in time? My daughter will have her second look in february with reconstruction attemp and I am so scared it might be back or will be in the future.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

It sounds like you are already in good hands. The chance of recurrence in children is much higher, but second / third looks etc are a good idea to catch these regrowths before they become so big that they cause trouble. She may need a few operations, but normally the first operation is massive, the rest tend to be only very short and not as scary as the first. Kids are wonderfully resilient and it's normally the parents who suffer the most. Have faith she'll be okay, you sound like you are in good hands.

[@sarahbreiing8288]

@@VikVeerENTSurgeon Thank you for your answer and for being honest with me. We are fortunate that my daughters surgeon and ENT clinic has a brilliant reputation. However nobody in that hospital wants to talk to me about the possibility of recurrence and complications. So I am all alone with the scary google informations. Thank you for your encouragement and merry christmas!

[@finnankeith4044]

Thanks for these videos ..I've been suffering with my ears most of my life ....I was given grommets over a year ago to try cure ear infections I constantly suffered with ..sadly I keep getting these infections and the discharge stinks terribly ..doctors keep throwing anti biotics at me ..they work for a spell but sure enough the infection comes back ...I'm finally seeing the ENT at guys ...and I'm wondering if what you are discussing on this video could be my problem ???

[@tudor888]

Thank you for this video! I developed an ear infection a couple months back. My family doc prescribed an antibiotic ear drop. After 10 days my ear was completely clogged, couldn't hear anything, so I went back, he flushed out this huge blob of wax and I could hear again, but within 2 days the ear was clogged again. After a few weeks he prescribed a second round of antibiotics. The ear discharge slowed down for a while but it accelerated again. Now it takes about 2 days for the ear to fill up with wax, and there's this clear discharge especially at night. Is it possible that I have a cholesteatoma?

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

hard to tell, but it sounds possible. definitely see an ENT for a check up.

[@savvynyx7156]

Is the pinna still being numb after a mastoidectomy normal? Along with a worse feeling of fullness in the ear? It's been a month after my surgery and I have almost no hearing.

[@taneaforrester4912]

How important is it to have corrective surgery after having the cholesteatoma removed. In this case it had already eaten three two of the middle bones. And a bit of the third.

[@monaliza9640]

Is it possible to send an email to you to ask about ear problems?

[@rosemendoza6300]

Hi new subscriber here, my hubby have a cholesteatoma in left ear,way back 2019 we go clinic to take him check up,doctor said need to operation but my husband dont want😢 now 2023 he feel aches and have fever sometimes 😢 i feel afraid for him its cholesteatoma dangerous? Doctor said if not treated my husband become paralyzed lose memory?😢

[@flamecsm4679]

Does it cause itchiness inside your ear ?

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

it does but it isn't the first sign normally.

[@kimwalker1110]

Thank you for your video. I have had now cholesteatoma surgery 3 times in the past 8 years. Surgery ranging from 15 minutes to almost 3 hours. My question is cholesteatomas are they common? Frequency of recurrence? I had surgery last year and at 3 month checkup my dr found a new one forming in a new spot. Is there anything I can do to stop them forming? Lifestyle changes?

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

no sorry, nothing you can do. on average 20% reform. the rate is higher the younger you are.

[@onosjesus8378]

Hello Dr my question is kind of different how much does it cost to remove tonsil please?

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Its free on the NHS, just ask your GP for a referral. I would not go private as it's so expensive since the COVID outbreak. the private hospitals have tripled their prices and it's very difficult to get a slot for an operation. perhaps wait for the prices to drop again, or just see someone on the NHS and do it for free?

[@Richyplayz999]

Before covid i paid £200 via BUPA but it was via work. So normally it would be more expensive.

[@ChewieCycle]

Doc. Has your smell returned yet? Just curious

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

it has. I am pretty sure it's almost completely back now. thanks for asking.

[@ChewieCycle]

@@VikVeerENTSurgeon brilliant news! Great to here. Take care

[@carlospino5094]

Good day Dr. Can you please forward me with your contacts? Regards Carlos

[@jessiepepper]

My ear infection kept coming back. My GP referred me to ENT once, unfortunately by the time ENT saw me, I just finished one treatment and the infection was gone, so they dismissed me. Now my GP wouldn't refer me again because they said you wouldn't know how long you need to wait to see the ENT, so when an infection happens, you will have to treat it rather than waiting for ENT, but then if your infection is gone when ENT sees you, they won't keep you on their book. So I am stuck in this recurring ear infection and don't know what to do now...

[@kaylaball8894]

I'm not a medical professional at all, so whatever he suggests eventually which I hope he is able to respond, take that weighed in for sure. I would say if you have the funds/insurance to do so, you could maybe message the ENT doctor you established on mychart or call to leave a note with the nurses (Or go to another ENT in network) to suggest you believe you may have cholesteatoma growing inside your ear and or a deeper unknown cause of reoccurent ear infections, and that you would like to be seen to rule out possible causes with the ENT and get on their books. If they need a referral maybe your primary care provider can refer you. Again this could be useless advice, but I hope you are able to advocate on your own behalf or even if you need help from someone else, like them calling with you or joining you for the visit, you deserve to rule things out and get heIp, I wish you luck with everything moving forward!