How Your Ears Affect Your Sense of Taste
Whether it is swimming in dirty water or having a cold, the ear infection is a common occurrence in children. Interestingly, an ear infection can affect your taste buds.
Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) published their research in April in the Acta Paediatricia medical journal. They found that 10% of children between the ages of eight and twelve could not identify a taste as being sweet, bitter, salty or sour. In Australian Aboriginal communities, 12% of children could not distinguish tastes.
The World Health Organisation specifies that if more than 4% of the population has a taste disorder then it is considered a major health problem. Thus, taste deficiency is a worry in Australia with indigenous youth at three times more than the acceptable limit.
Professor David Laing of UNSW explained that several diseases and virus could trigger this problem including renal failure, diabetes, oral cavity disorders or ear infections. He felt that a high level of middle ear infections in Aboriginal youth before the age of six could explain the high levels of taste deficiency.
A main nerve that runs at the front of tongue passes through the middle ear. When an ear is infected there is a build-up of bad bacteria in the middle ear. Consequently, pus and fluid can gather causing pressure on that nerve. Once that nerve becomes damaged, it is hard for the tongue to distinguish between sour lemons and sweet mangoes.
Sweetness is tasted at the front of the tongue, which might explain why identifying a sweet taste was the greatest problem. Almost two thirds of those with taste disorders were unable to identity sweetness.
Babies and young children are more likely to tract an ear infection than adults so it is important for parents to be vigilant. Signs of ear infections include: babies crying while pulling at their ears and older children complaining about sore ears.
Ear infections not only may cause loss of taste but it also has other side effects. If not treated efficiently, ear infections can lead to moderate hearing loss particularly conductive hearing loss.
Hearing loss in children can also lead to other problems, such as learning difficulties or troubles interacting with friends, family and classmates. To understand what your child would be hearing, block your ears with your fingers. You would notice that the outside sounds are softer while your own voice sounds much louder. The eardrum becomes dysfunctional.
So it is important to visit your doctor or a hearing clinic if you notice any problems with your child’s ears. The earlier hearing loss is detected in your child, the better the chance of saving their hearing.
Head online to learn more about hearing loss, the causes of hearing loss in children and the various resources and that are available for individuals that are hearing impaired.
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