Ear infection but no pain in ears?

Effusion vs infectio: I suspect you have a middle ear effusion and not an infection. When you have an infection, there is usually pain, sometimes fever and you feel much worse. If you are just experiencing "noise" in your ear, having difficulty with hearing, then this is more likely a fluid buildup in that middle ear space. Recommend you chew gum, "pop" your ears hundreds of times a day and monitor for other symptoms.