Hallmark Speciality ENT Clinic · Kharadi, Pune
Hearing loss in adults and children: causes and treatment in Kharadi, Pune
Hearing loss can come on gradually or suddenly, and can affect one or both ears. Finding the cause matters: some types can be treated with medicines or surgery, and others are helped by hearing aids.
This page is for information only. For diagnosis and treatment, please consult a doctor.
Types and causes of hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss happens when sound cannot pass properly through the outer or middle ear. Common causes are ear wax, ear infections, fluid behind the eardrum (glue ear), a hole in the eardrum and otosclerosis. This type can often be treated medically or surgically.
Sensorineural hearing loss comes from the inner ear or the hearing nerve. It is commonly related to ageing or long-term exposure to loud noise, and can also follow infections or some medicines, or occur suddenly without an obvious cause. It is usually permanent, but hearing aids can help.
Some people have a mix of both types.
Signs of hearing loss
- Finding conversations hard to follow, especially in noisy places
- Asking people to repeat themselves
- Turning up the TV or phone volume
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Hearing better in one ear than the other
- In children: speech delay, not responding when called, or poor attention at school
When to see an ENT specialist
See an ENT specialist if you or your family notice that your hearing has changed, or if a child’s speech or response to sound worries you.
Sudden hearing loss in one ear is urgent. See an ENT specialist within a day or two if possible, because early treatment can make a difference.
How it is diagnosed at the clinic
Dr. Halikar will ask about your hearing, noise exposure, ear infections and family history, and examine your ears using a microscope or endoscope. A hearing test (pure-tone audiometry) measures how well you hear sounds of different pitches, and tympanometry checks how the eardrum and middle ear are working. Together they show the type and degree of hearing loss. Scans or other tests are arranged when needed.
Treatment options
- Removal of ear wax
- Treatment of ear infections, and of fluid behind the eardrum, which may include grommet insertion
- Surgery for a hole in the eardrum (tympanoplasty) or for otosclerosis (stapedectomy)
- Steroid treatment for sudden hearing loss, by mouth or through the eardrum, ideally started early
- Hearing aids for permanent hearing loss
When a hearing aid is advised, Dr. Halikar will refer you to an audiologist for fitting and follow-up. Protecting your ears from loud noise helps prevent further loss.
Living with hearing loss
Hearing aids take a few weeks to get used to, and regular follow-up helps adjust them. Telling people about your hearing, facing the person who is speaking and reducing background noise all make conversation easier. Repeat hearing tests show whether hearing is stable or changing.
Frequently asked questions
Can hearing loss be cured?
It depends on the cause. Hearing loss from wax, infection, fluid, a hole in the eardrum or otosclerosis can often be improved. Hearing loss from the inner ear is usually permanent, but hearing aids can help.
Will a hearing aid make my hearing worse?
No. A correctly fitted hearing aid does not damage hearing. It makes sounds easier to hear and can reduce the strain of listening.
How can I protect my hearing?
Keep earphone volume moderate, take breaks from loud sound, and use ear protection in noisy workplaces or near loud sounds such as firecrackers and concerts.
At what age can a child’s hearing be tested?
Hearing can be tested at any age, including in newborns, using tests suited to the child’s age. If you are worried about a child’s hearing or speech, it is best not to wait.
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
- Stapedotomy for otosclerosis
- Intratympanic steroid treatment for sudden hearing loss
- Organised a CME programme on noise-induced hearing loss
Related treatments
This information is general and not a substitute for a consultation.