What should my next steps be? i have acute otitis media that was accompanied with hearing loss in my right ear that came from a cold i had last week, i went to th er and given meds and started the regemine and still have somee pain along with the prolonge

You : You need to see an ENT soon. Prolonged infection can result in permanent hearing loss. Go to www.Entnet.Org to find an ENT near you.

You : You should consult with an ENT in your area. Many times, an episode of acute otitis media will result in a middle ear effusion (fluid behind the eardrum) that may take much more time to resolve than the actual acute infection. I would make sure you have been given the appropriate medications from the er (you did not state what was given) usually an antibiotic aimed at appropriate/common bacteria that cause middle ear infections, and sometimes steroids are prescribed. Unless you had a perforation, ear drops are not effective. It sounds as if your pain has improved, so you are probably resolving the acute infection. The decreased hearing may persist in some cases for weeks after the initial infection, however, a good exam, as well as an audiogram will be helpful in determining where you are in the course of the disease, as well as any potential complications and time course until resolution. In some instances (for example, after a period of observation (3-6 weeks) without any improvement) a small incision in the eardrum may be necessary to alleviate pressure and inflammation and drain the fluid from the middle ear. But that course is, thankfully, usually unnecessary. For now, see your local otolaryngologist, and make sure that you are on the right medicaitons.