Serious loss of hearing or just earwax?
A sudden decline in hearing ability should always be investigated by a doctor immediately. It only takes the specialist a quick glance into the ear to see whether the auditory canal is just blocked with earwax or whether there is a suspected loss of hearing (sudden loss of hearing due to damage of the inner ear/auditory nerves). If this is identified early on it can be treated quickly and effectively.
People are all speaking so unclearly, they sound muffled...
A gradual loss of hearing often goes unnoticed by the patient for a long time. Often it is the relatives who send the patient to a doctor as they are bothered by the increasing hearing problems. At the latest when you feel that most people are not speaking clearly or that you can't understand a lot when you go to the theatre, you should go straight to an ENT specialist.
After an ear examination with a microscope, you are given a hearing test. This examination is conducted by me personally. When the results are ready I explain to you what the best course of action is.
Some hearing problems can only be corrected by use of a hearing aid. Unfortunately hearing aids are perceived as less socially acceptable than glasses and are considered by many patients to be a blatant sign of aging.
The earlier a loss of hearing is corrected by a hearing aid, the more effective is the result. Every part of the brain which is responsible for hearing shows a deterioration in the nerve endings if information from the ear is not being transmitted properly for years - it therefore takes them longer to regenerate.
Too often people try to convince themselves that an untreated loss of hearing is much easier to hide from other people than a hearing aid. If you can't follow conversations, you also tend to be more withdrawn and suffer from social isolation.
My task is to advise you on the best choice of hearing aid and take care that you don't become one of the many whose expensive hearing aids lie unused on the bedside table after making ill-advised decisions when buying them.
Since my training and education I have had a particular interest in problems of balance and advised many patients during my neurootological consultation clinic.
As our organ for balance lies in the ear, the ENT doctor plays a crucial role in the examination and treatment of patients who complain of dizziness.
Many people suffer from hearing noises that unfortunately, despite all the medical advances, can not always be treated to peoples' satisfaction.
For Tinnitus patients, my role is to offer you sufficient time for Anamnesis and necessary examinations in order successfully to identify whether your case is treatable. For those patients where it is not possible to make the noises disappear completely, I hope to offer at least an alleviation of the complaint. My aim is to help you avoid the labyrinth of countless, often pointless and usually expensive therapy offers.
