Hallmark Speciality ENT Clinic · Kharadi, Pune
Ear surgery in Kharadi, Pune: eardrum repair, stapedectomy and barotrauma care
Hearing loss, ear discharge and ear pain have many causes. Some, such as a hole in the eardrum or otosclerosis, can often be treated with surgery, while many ear problems settle with medical care.
Ear conditions that may need surgery
Perforated eardrum. A hole in the eardrum can follow an ear infection, an injury or a sudden pressure change. Small perforations often heal on their own. Those that do not may cause hearing loss or repeated discharge. Tympanoplasty repairs the eardrum, usually with a graft of the patient’s own tissue, and can be combined with repair of the tiny hearing bones (ossicles) when needed.
Otosclerosis. Abnormal bone growth stiffens the stapes, one of the hearing bones, so sound is not passed on properly. It causes hearing loss that gradually worsens, often in both ears. Stapedectomy or stapedotomy replaces the function of the stiff bone with a tiny prosthesis. A hearing aid is an alternative for some people.
Chronic middle ear infection. Long-standing infection, sometimes with cholesteatoma (a skin growth in the middle ear), may need mastoid surgery (mastoidectomy) to clear the disease and make the ear safe.
Common symptoms
- Hearing loss in one or both ears
- Ear discharge that keeps coming back
- Ear pain, fullness or a blocked feeling
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Dizziness
Ear pain during flights (barotrauma)
The clinic is close to Pune Airport, and ear pain during flights is a common concern. During take-off and especially landing, cabin pressure changes. If the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose, does not open well, pressure builds behind the eardrum and causes pain, muffled hearing or a blocked feeling. A cold, sinus problem or allergy makes this more likely.
Simple steps often help:
- Swallow, yawn or chew during descent to help the ears equalise
- If your ears feel blocked, pinch your nose and blow gently with your mouth closed
- Stay awake during descent so you can keep equalising
- If you have a cold or blocked nose, ask your doctor before flying
- Give babies a feed during take-off and landing
See an ENT specialist if pain, blocked ears or hearing loss last more than a few days after a flight, or if you notice discharge, bleeding or dizziness. Dr. Halikar explains barotrauma in the video below.
When to see an ENT specialist
See an ENT specialist for hearing loss, ear discharge that lasts more than a few days, or ear pain that does not settle.
Sudden hearing loss in one ear should be treated as urgent and seen within a day or two if possible, because early treatment can make a difference.
How it is diagnosed at the clinic
Dr. Halikar will examine the ear, often using a microscope or endoscope for a magnified view of the ear canal and eardrum. A hearing test (audiometry) measures the type and degree of hearing loss, and tympanometry checks how the eardrum moves. A CT scan is sometimes advised before surgery for chronic ear disease.
Treatment options
Many ear problems are treated without surgery, for example with:
- Ear drops or other medicines to treat infection
- Keeping the ear dry while it heals
- Treating nose and sinus problems that affect the Eustachian tube
- Hearing aids, where appropriate
Surgical options include tympanoplasty (with ossicular reconstruction when needed), stapedectomy or stapedotomy, mastoidectomy, and myringotomy with grommet (ventilation tube) insertion for fluid behind the eardrum. Dr. Halikar will explain which option suits your ear, and what results are realistic.
What recovery generally looks like
Ear operations are performed under general or local anaesthesia, often with a short hospital stay. While the ear heals, you will usually be advised to keep it dry and to avoid blowing your nose hard, heavy straining and flying for a period.
After eardrum repair or stapedectomy, hearing tends to improve gradually over the following weeks as the ear settles. Follow-up hearing tests are used to check progress.
Frequently asked questions
Will ear surgery restore my hearing?
It depends on the cause. Repairing the eardrum or the hearing bones improves hearing for many people, but results vary and cannot be guaranteed. Dr. Halikar will explain what is realistic for your ear after examination and a hearing test.
Can a perforated eardrum heal without surgery?
Many small perforations heal by themselves within a few weeks, especially after an injury. Perforations that persist, or that cause repeated infections, may need repair.
When can I fly after ear surgery?
You will usually be advised to avoid flying for a while after ear surgery. Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe, based on the operation you had.
When should I worry about ear pain after a flight?
Most ear pain after flying settles within hours to a few days. See an ENT specialist if pain, blocked hearing or ringing continues, or if there is discharge, bleeding or dizziness.
Dr. Halikar’s relevant experience
Dr. Sudhir Halikar is a Consultant ENT, Head & Neck Surgeon with 33+ years of experience. He trained at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital and Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, is a former Associate Professor at IMSR Medical College, and performs surgery at Noble Hospital.
- Tympanoplasty, including reconstruction of the hearing bones
- Mastoidectomy (canal wall up and canal wall down) and stapedotomy for otosclerosis
- Myringotomy with grommet insertion, and intratympanic (transtympanic) steroid treatment for sudden hearing loss
- Member of the Indian Society of Otology
Related treatments
This information is general and not a substitute for a consultation.