10 Common Hearing Problems – When to Worry and When to See a Doctor

10 Common Hearing Problems – When to Worry and When to See a Doctor

1. Age-Related Hearing Loss

• What it is: Gradual loss of hearing due to aging
• Symptoms: Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, trouble understanding speech in noisy environments
• When to Worry: If you notice a gradual decline in hearing over time
• When to See a Doctor: If you’re experiencing significant hearing loss or difficulty communicating

2. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

• What it is: Permanent damage to hearing due to prolonged exposure to loud noises
• Symptoms: Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), muffled hearing, difficulty hearing certain frequencies
• When to Worry: If you’ve been exposed to loud noises and experience hearing loss or tinnitus
• When to See a Doctor: If you’re experiencing persistent tinnitus or hearing loss

3. Earwax Buildup

• What it is: Excessive earwax blocking the ear canal
• Symptoms: Feeling of fullness in the ear, muffled hearing, discomfort
• When to Worry: If you experience persistent ear fullness or hearing loss
• When to See a Doctor: If you’re experiencing significant earwax buildup or discomfort

4. Middle Ear Infection

• What it is: Infection of the middle ear causing fluid buildup and hearing loss
• Symptoms: Ear pain, fever, hearing loss, feeling of fullness in the ear
• When to Worry: If you experience persistent ear pain or hearing loss
• When to See a Doctor: If you’re experiencing severe ear pain, fever, or hearing loss

5. Tinnitus

• What it is: Ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in the ears
• Symptoms: Ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in the ears
• When to Worry: If you experience persistent tinnitus or it’s affecting your daily life
• When to See a Doctor: If you’re experiencing persistent tinnitus or it’s interfering with your sleep or daily activities

6. Otosclerosis

• What it is: Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear causing hearing loss
• Symptoms: Gradual hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness
• When to Worry: If you experience gradual hearing loss or tinnitus
• When to See a Doctor: If you’re experiencing significant hearing loss or tinnitus

• What it is: Inner ear disorder causing vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus
• Symptoms: Vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, feeling of fullness in the ear
• When to Worry: If you experience recurring vertigo or hearing loss
• When to See a Doctor: If you’re experiencing severe vertigo or hearing loss

• What it is: A benign tumour of the auditory (hearing) nerve causing hearing loss and tinnitus
• Symptoms: Unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, balance problems
• When to Worry: If you experience persistent hearing loss or tinnitus
• When to See a Doctor: If you’re experiencing significant hearing loss or tinnitus

• What it is: Hole or tear in the eardrum causing hearing loss and discomfort
• Symptoms: Ear pain, hearing loss, discharge, feeling of fullness in the ear
• When to Worry: If you experience persistent ear pain or hearing loss
• When to See a Doctor: If you’re experiencing severe ear pain, discharge, or hearing loss

• What it is: Sudden and unexplained hearing loss in one or both ears
• Symptoms: Sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, feeling of fullness in the ear
• When to Worry: If you experience sudden and unexplained hearing loss
• When to See a Doctor: Immediately if you experience sudden hearing loss, as prompt treatment is essential.

• Sudden or severe hearing loss
• Persistent tinnitus or ear pain
• Discharge or bleeding from the ear
• Difficulty communicating or significant hearing loss
• Vertigo or balance problems.