Ear conditions and treatments

Having hearing problems can be very distressing. People suffering from deafness or hearing problems can find it very tiring to interact with other people and may choose to withdraw from social life. They can often suffer from feelings of frustration and isolation.

There are many causes for deafness and hearing loss. Some of them can be treated by simple procedures such as removing wax, inserting a grommet, close a hole in the ear drum or repair damaged hearing bones. Many people with hearing problems benefit from simple hearing aids which, when fitted well, can transform a person's life.

Not all dizziness is caused by issues with the ear, but if there is a sensation of movement or spinning, it is known as vertigo and may come from problems with the inner ear. Dizziness can also be caused by problems with the heart, joints, vision, brain, nervous system or blood, to name a few.

If you have vertigo, a specialist needs to establish the true cause so you can be offered appropriate treatment. The consultant will likely see your medical history and may perform a hearing test.

Ear infections are a common disorder suffered by most people at some point. Occasionally the inner ear can be affected by an infection which will usually cause severe dizziness and difficulty hearing. Sometimes ear infections can be the sign of serious underlying ear disease – especially if any associated discharge is particularly smelly.

Our specialist ENT consultants will have the facilities to clean out the ear canal thoroughly using a microscope and suction machine. This allows for a detailed assessment of the ear canal and ear drum and often just the procedure of cleaning the infected debris from the ear canal will allow the infection to settle.

Ear pain can be a common symptom of ear infections; however pain in the ear may not always be from the ear itself but from one of the structures surrounding the ears. Simple tests can be undertaken to ascertain the exact cause and then a suitable treatment can be chosen.

Tinnitus is a noise which you can hear in one or both ears or ‘in your head’ that no one else can hear. It is often described as a ringing or whistling or whooshing noise. It is a condition that a large proportion of the population will suffer from at some point in their lives and is more common as people get older.

The ringing can vary in pitch and may be intermittent or constant. Tinnitus can also sometimes be pulsatile, such as hearing a heartbeat, which means a different set of possible causes has to be considered.

A full history and examination and simple hearing test is required to exclude any serious underlying condition. Occasionally more sophisticated hearing tests, a CT scan, an MRI scan or blood tests may be suggested.

Some patients simply need reassurance that there are no underlying causes for concern. Treatment can vary from hearing aids and other devices to counselling.