What complications can arise from chronic otitis media?

Chronic otitis media is characterized by persistent inflammation of the middle ear, which can lead to several significant complications. Hearing loss is a common outcome due to the long-term effect of fluid accumulation, perforation of the tympanic membrane, or damage to the ossicular chain, thereby impairing sound transmission.

Mastoiditis can occur as an extension of the infection from the middle ear to the mastoid air cells, leading to inflammation and potential destruction of this bony structure. This condition often requires more aggressive treatment, including surgical intervention.

Cholesteatoma, which is an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear, can also develop as a complication. It arises from repeated ear infections and can expand, eroding surrounding structures, leading to further complications such as additional hearing loss or spread of infection.

The other options, while related to the ear and sinus function, do not directly stem from chronic otitis media complications in the same way that hearing loss, mastoiditis, and cholesteatoma do. Nasal polyps are generally associated with conditions like allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis. Eustachian tube dysfunction can be a contributing factor to chronic otitis media rather than a complication resulting from it, and vestib