Common ear problems I treat
- Earache and ear infections — acute and chronic, in adults and children.
- Eardrum perforation — usually from old infections or a slap injury; repair (tympanoplasty) restores hearing and stops chronic discharge.
- Glue ear — fluid in the middle ear causing muffled hearing, often in children.
- Hearing loss — age-related, noise-induced, or sudden. Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency: prompt treatment in the first 72 hours dramatically improves recovery.
- Tinnitus — ringing or hissing in the ears. Often manageable with a structured assessment and treatment plan.
- Vertigo and dizziness — many causes, including a curable inner-ear condition called BPPV that can be fixed in clinic with a simple manoeuvre.
- Wax impaction and foreign bodies — safely removed under direct vision, never blind syringing.
How an ear consultation works
I start with otoscopy and microscopic ear examination — much higher resolution than a standard otoscope. For hearing concerns, a pure tone audiogram and impedance test (tympanometry) are usually done at the same visit, so you leave with a clear diagnosis rather than a maybe.
For vertigo, a few targeted bedside tests can usually distinguish inner-ear causes from central ones within minutes. If BPPV is found, an Epley manoeuvre often resolves it on the spot.
Surgical options when needed
- Tympanoplasty for chronic eardrum perforations — restores the drum and protects hearing.
- Mastoid surgery for cholesteatoma (a skin growth in the middle ear) — eradicates disease, often with hearing reconstruction at the same time.
- Grommet (ventilation tube) insertion for persistent glue ear in children — a quick day-care procedure that lets the ear breathe and dries up the fluid.
- Stapedotomy for otosclerosis — restoring hearing in adults with conductive hearing loss caused by a stiffened bone in the middle ear.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean my ears safely?
You don't need to — the ear is self-cleaning. Cotton buds push wax deeper and cause most of the impactions I see in clinic. If wax does cause symptoms (blockage, muffled hearing), it should be removed under direct vision, not by syringing.
Is sudden hearing loss serious?
Yes — sudden hearing loss in one ear is a medical emergency. The first 72 hours offer the best window for treatment, often with steroids. If you wake up with one ear noticeably down and there's no obvious wax cause, see an ENT the same day.
What can be done about tinnitus?
A lot — but not a single magic pill. Step one is a proper assessment to rule out treatable causes (wax, infection, hearing loss, vascular causes). For most people, a combination of treating any hearing loss, sound enrichment, and stress management substantially improves day-to-day intrusion.
My child fails school hearing screening — what next?
Most of these are glue ear, which is treatable. A 15-minute clinic visit with tympanometry and a paediatric audiogram usually nails the diagnosis. If it's glue ear that's persisted beyond 3 months with hearing impact, grommets are the standard fix.
Will tympanoplasty fully restore my hearing?
It restores the drum and stops the chronic discharge. Hearing usually improves substantially, and for most people, returns close to normal. The exact gain depends on how long the perforation has been there and the condition of the small bones behind the drum.