GP Alice Fitzgibbon tackles hearing loss.
This month we cover another common problem – hearing loss. Most people will have experienced temporary changes in their hearing at some point. These experiences show us how difficult it can be to manage with reduced hearing. I certainly get a lot of patients who complain about it! Often hearing loss happens gradually and you might not notice. Others around you might be the first to tell you it is a problem. Having difficulty keeping up with conversations, asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the volume on the TV and struggling to hear on the phone might be signs that your hearing is not as good as it was.
Sometimes, sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency. If you are completely well and you rapidly lose hearing on one side (both sides less likely) then you must see a doctor as soon as possible. This might be due to a condition called Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). SSHL happens due to a problem with the sensory organs of the inner ear. There can be a number of causes including medications, infection, blood circulation problems and neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis to name a few. In most cases of SSHL the cause is unknown. Seeking urgent medical help is important to get a timely diagnosis and treatment to increase the chances of recovering some hearing. Around half of people with SSHL will recover some or all of their hearing within 1-2 weeks. SSHL can happen at any age but people in their late 40s and early 50s are affected most.
Gradual hearing loss happens as part of the ageing process or from repeated noise exposure over many years. We can’t stop ageing unfortunately but using ear protection in noisy environments is key to preventing noise exposure related hearing loss. Loud noise causes the cells in the inner ear to overwork. Over time they become damaged and stop working properly leading to hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is gradual and is related to activities such as working with loud power tools or always listening to loud music. If you are closely exposed to a single loud noise that is extreme e.g., a very close firework, then that might be enough to permanently damage hearing. With this kind of hearing loss there is no treatment to help it improve. Hearing aids can be used to try and make it easier to hear sounds if there is some hearing left. Prevention of hearing loss is the best step you can take so I strongly advise ear protection if you regularly use loud tools – looking after your hearing now will help you in the years to come.
Other causes of hearing loss may be short lasting. These can include wax build up, ear infections and perforated eardrums. Wax build-up is painless. To remove excess wax, drops such as olive oil can be used to soften it. There are many over the counter drops that dissolve wax too that can be effective. Cotton buds should never be used to clean the ear canal.
Ear infections are normally associated with hearing loss, pain and sometimes discharge from the ear. Your GP will be able to assess for ear infection by having a look inside the ear canal and recommending treatment if needed. Perforated or “burst” ear drums can happen as part of an ear infection or due to sudden change in pressure – when flying, for example. If the eardrum bursts there is sometimes a ‘popping’ sensation, then reduced hearing. Ear drums often heal themselves, but this can take 6-8 weeks for things to get back to normal.
Hearing loss can be a difficult thing to manage. If you are concerned about your hearing, please see your GP. Alternatively, many high street outlets can also provide audiology testing. Having your hearing tested by a specialist will help identify the level of hearing loss there is, and suitable hearing aids may be offered.
Next time, we will talk about tinnitus, a condition closely linked to hearing loss.
For further information on hearing loss from the NHS visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hearing-loss/
