Hearing Loss

Hearing impairment arises when there is an issue with one or multiple components of the ear, impacting individuals across all age groups. 

The condition manifests in two distinct types, each potentially stemming from various underlying problems.

• Conductive Hearing Loss – The inability of sound waves to transmit effectively from the external environment to the cochlea. This impairment may stem from conditions within the outer ear canal, eardrum, middle ear bones, or middle ear space.
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss – This impairment can occur due to damage to the hearing organ (cochlea) or the auditory nerve (hearing nerve).

Our Singapore ENT Specialist, Dr Ker Liang, will take a complete history as well as conduct a comprehensive head and neck examination, focusing on the ear canal and tympanic membrane. We may perform endoscopic evaluations of the nose and nasopharynx, with occasional neurological assessments.

Audiograms and tympanograms are available at Aglow ENT Centre to diagnose and determine the severity and type of hearing loss. Radiological imaging, like CT scans or MRIs, may identify issues like acoustic neuromas.

Treatment varies based on the diagnosis, ranging from observation to medication or surgical interventions. ENT specialists can remove ear canal obstructions like wax or foreign bodies under a microscope. Topical antibiotics treat external ear infections, while eardrum perforations may require infection management or surgical repair.

Presbycusis, associated with ageing, generally requires no treatment. However, individuals are advised to protect their hearing and assess the need for hearing aids or implants.