18 Key Symptoms of Lichen Planus You Need to Recognize

8. Hearing Loss

Recent studies have shown that lichen planus affects the ears more often than originally thought. Specifically, this condition can affect a part of the external auditory canal known as the epithelium. When patients have lichen planus in this area, one of the major symptoms that they can deal with is conductive hearing loss. This form of hearing loss develops due to a blockage or damage to the ear canal. Sound does not pass well through the ear, which is why it may sound muffled. In some cases, treatment for lichen planus can return most of a patient’s hearing. However, conductive hearing loss can sometimes be permanent to some degree. Thus, patients may need to have hearing aids so that they can hear better.