Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can be a gradual reduction in the ability to hear in one or both ears, and may be related to previous loud-noise exposure or age-related hearing loss. It can also be related to disease within the middle ear (cholesteatoma or ossicular, ear bone, issues such as otosclerosis). Hearing loss can also occur with tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing noise in the ear). It is important to identify the type and degree of hearing loss and consider appropriate investigations and treatment, such as hearing aids or surgery. Hearing loss or tinnitus which occurs only on one side may be investigated with a scan.

Patients can also experience a sudden loss of hearing, which takes two different forms: this can be due to congestion, fluid (glue-ear) or infection trapped behind the ear drum (i.e after a middle ear infection, cold or sinusitis) or blockage in the outer ear canal (such as eczema, swimmers or surfers ear infections). It can also be due to a sudden loss of function of the nerve to hearing (vestibulocochlear nerve) which can be caused by a virus, and may sometimes also be related to sudden onset dizziness (e.g labyrinthitis). It is very important to determine which type of hearing loss has occurred as sudden sensorineural hearing loss requires urgent treatment, usually with high-dose steroid medication/injections, in order to attempt to restore hearing.

If you are experiencing hearing loss your ENT consultant will likely recommend that you have an audiogram performed by a local provider in order to confirm the extent of the loss, and from there will plan your management.