I also should have added as a child I had constant ear aches. This was before the time of tubes being inserted for drainage. But also my Dad smoked so it may have been partly due to that. Once the bars here banned smoking and overall smoking in public was more controlled I noticed a big drop in any sinus and ear issues, finally! I never smoked but it was the 1970s and 1980s I got more than enough just second hand. Many factors I think can cause ear and hearing problems smoke, sinus, jaw clench, stress.