By Dr. Zeenat Sultana , Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT)
Decreased hearing can be the result of less sound reaching the Inner Ear (Conductive Loss) or Less Sensation traveling from the Inner Ear to the Brain (Sensorineural loss) .
Conductive Hearing Loss-
Causes:
- Wax blocking the External Canal
- Hole in Eardrum
- Mucus Filling the Middle Ear due to Adenoid or Ear Infection
- Misplaced/ Dissolved Bone in Middle Ear
- Fixed Bones in Middle Ear
Sensorineural Hearing Loss-
Causes:
- Old Age (Presbyacusis)
- Viral Ear Infections like mumps, measles
- Exposure to loud noise
- Head trauma
- Autoimmune inner ear disease
To Differentiate and Treat the Above causes of Hearing Loss, OTO VIDEO ENDOSCOPY is available along with Audiometric Hearing Tests.
Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions-
Why do my Ears Hurt during Air Travel?
Some people develop ear pain when descending to land during an air plane journey. It is caused by pressure difference that develops on either side of the eardrum as the plane descends.
Sucking sweets and gently blowing against a closed nose and mouth will usually push air into the middle ear, equalise the pressure and ease the pain.
What Should I do about Ear Wax? Is Ear Wax Normal and Hygienic? Should I Clean My Ears?
Earwax is secreted by glands in the outer Ear canal and is healthy in normal amounts. It serves like a temporary water repellent. The absence of earwax may result in dry, itchy ears.
Under ideal circumstances, you should never have to clean your ear canals. But people having dry wax or narrow ear canals can get wax blockage with pain and decreased hearing. If you want to clean your ears, you can wipe the external ear with a cloth over a finger.
DO NOT INSERT Ear bud into ear canal as it can further push the wax inside leading to complete blockage of the ear canal.
Treatment –
Most cases of ear wax especially if dry, hard and impacted will need softening to decrease pain and facilitate removal. Wax can be softened by Ceruminolytic drops and can be removed from the Ear Canal using Suction Removal Syringing.
