Hearing loss refers to a partial or complete inability to hear sounds in one or both ears. This condition affects the auditory system’s ability to detect, process, or transmit sound waves to the brain, resulting in reduced hearing sensitivity or clarity. The condition can range from mild difficulty hearing soft sounds to profound deafness. Hearing loss may develop gradually over years or occur suddenly, depending on the underlying cause. Understanding the type and severity of your hearing loss is essential for determining the most appropriate treatment approach.
Hearing Loss Treatment Singapore
Hearing loss can significantly impact your daily life, affecting communication, relationships, and overall well-being. Whether you’ve noticed gradual changes in your hearing or experienced sudden hearing difficulties, understanding your condition and available treatment options is important for maintaining your quality of life. In Singapore, where our multicultural society relies heavily on verbal communication, addressing hearing concerns promptly can help you stay connected with family, friends, and colleagues. Our ENT specialist provides comprehensive hearing loss treatment using modern diagnostic techniques and evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to your specific needs.
Dr Gan Eng Cern
MBBS
MRCS (Edin)
mmed (orl)
FAMS
What is Hearing Loss?
Types of Hearing Loss
Understanding the different types of hearing loss helps determine the most effective treatment approach for your specific condition.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves cannot efficiently travel through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones (ossicles) of the middle ear. This type typically results from blockages or structural problems that prevent sound from reaching the inner ear. Common causes include earwax buildup, fluid in the middle ear, or perforated eardrums. Conductive hearing loss often responds well to medical or surgical treatment.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. This is a common type of permanent hearing loss, often caused by ageing, noise exposure, or certain medications. The delicate hair cells in the cochlea that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals become damaged or die, affecting hearing clarity and sensitivity.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss combines elements of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Patients may have damage in the outer or middle ear as well as the inner ear or auditory nerve. This type requires a comprehensive evaluation to address both components effectively.
Causes & Risk Factors
Causes
Understanding what causes hearing loss helps in prevention and treatment planning.
- Age-related changes (presbycusis): Natural deterioration of hearing structures over time
- Noise exposure: Prolonged exposure to loud sounds damages inner ear structures
- Ear infections: Chronic or severe infections affecting ear structures
- Ototoxic medications: Certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and high-dose aspirin
- Genetic factors: Inherited conditions affecting ear development or function
- Head trauma: Injuries damaging ear structures or auditory pathways
- Meniere’s disease: Inner ear disorder causing hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus
- Acoustic neuroma: Benign tumour on the auditory nerve
- Autoimmune inner ear disease: Immune system attacking inner ear tissues
Risk Factors
Several factors may increase your likelihood of developing hearing loss.
- Advanced age: Risk increases with age
- Occupational noise exposure: Working in construction, manufacturing, or entertainment industries
- Recreational noise exposure: Regular attendance at concerts or use of loud personal audio devices
- Family history: Genetic predisposition to hearing loss
- Certain medical conditions: Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and thyroid disorders
- Smoking: Reduced blood flow to inner ear structures
- Previous ear surgeries or infections: Structural changes from past medical issues
Signs & Symptoms
Recognising the signs and symptoms of hearing loss enables timely intervention and treatment.
Mild Hearing Loss
- Difficulty hearing soft sounds or whispers
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
- Trouble following conversations in noisy environments
- Turning up the television or radio volume higher than others prefer
- Missing consonant sounds in speech
- Occasional ringing or buzzing in ears (tinnitus)
Moderate Hearing Loss
- Difficulty understanding normal conversation
- Frequent misunderstanding of words or phrases
- Avoiding social situations due to hearing difficulties
- Relying heavily on lip reading
- Difficulty hearing telephone conversations
- Persistent tinnitus or ear fullness
Struggling to locate sound sources
Severe Hearing Loss
- Unable to hear conversations without amplification
- Cannot hear the doorbell, telephone ring, or alarm sounds
- Social isolation due to communication barriers
- May only hear very loud sounds
- Complete reliance on visual cues for communication
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Speech changes due to inability to self-monitor
Hearing loss symptoms typically develop gradually, making them easy to dismiss initially. Many people adapt unconsciously by lip-reading or positioning themselves strategically in conversations before recognising their hearing difficulty.
Experiencing these symptoms? Don’t wait for them to worsen.
Schedule a consultation with our ENT specialist for an accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment plan.
When to See a Doctor
Seeking timely medical attention for hearing concerns can help prevent further deterioration and improve treatment outcomes. You should consult an ENT specialist immediately if you experience sudden hearing loss in one or both ears, as this constitutes a medical emergency requiring prompt treatment within 72 hours for optimal recovery potential. Schedule an appointment if you notice a gradual hearing decline affecting daily activities, persistent ear pain or drainage, recurring ear infections, or dizziness accompanying hearing changes.
During your first consultation, our ENT specialist will conduct a comprehensive medical history review, discussing your symptoms, noise exposure history, medications, and family history of hearing problems. The physical examination includes otoscopy to visualise your ear canal and eardrum, checking for wax buildup, inflammation, or structural abnormalities. You’ll undergo various hearing tests to determine the type and severity of your hearing loss. The specialist will explain your results clearly and discuss appropriate treatment options based on your specific condition and lifestyle needs.
Diagnosis & Testing Methods
Accurate diagnosis of hearing loss requires a comprehensive evaluation using various specialised tests to determine the type, degree, and underlying cause of your hearing difficulties.
Otoscopic Examination
The diagnostic tool involves direct visualisation of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) using an otoscope. The ENT specialist looks for signs, including eardrum bulging, redness, loss of normal landmarks, and reduced or absent light reflex. In acute otitis media, the eardrum typically appears opaque and inflamed rather than its normal pearlescent appearance.
Pure Tone Audiometry
Pure Tone Audiometry measures your hearing sensitivity across different frequencies. You’ll wear headphones and indicate when you hear various tones at different volumes. This test creates an audiogram showing your hearing thresholds for each ear, helping identify the severity and pattern of hearing loss.
Tympanometry
Tympanometry evaluates middle ear function by measuring eardrum movement in response to air pressure changes. This test helps identify fluid behind the eardrum, eustachian tube dysfunction, or perforations. The procedure is painless and takes only a few minutes per ear.
Acoustic Reflex Testing
Acoustic Reflex Testing measures the stapedius muscle’s involuntary contraction in response to loud sounds, providing information about your auditory pathway’s integrity from the middle ear to the brainstem. Abnormal reflexes may indicate nerve damage or middle ear problems.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) testing measures sound waves produced by the inner ear’s hair cells in response to acoustic stimulation. This objective test helps differentiate between sensory and neural hearing problems and is particularly useful for screening newborns and young children.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing records brain wave activity in response to sound, helping identify problems along the auditory nerve pathway. This test is valuable when standard audiometry isn’t possible or when retrocochlear pathology is suspected.
Treatment Options Overview
Our ENT specialist offers comprehensive hearing loss treatment options tailored to your specific condition, hearing needs, and lifestyle requirements.
Medical Management
Certain types of hearing loss may respond to medication, particularly when inflammation, infection, or autoimmune processes are involved. Oral corticosteroids may be prescribed for sudden sensorineural hearing loss or autoimmune inner ear disease, with treatment most effective when started within 72 hours of symptom onset. Antibiotics treat bacterial ear infections, causing conductive hearing loss, while antifungal medications address fungal infections. Diuretics may help manage Meniere’s disease-related hearing fluctuations.
Earwax Removal
Professional earwax removal can improve hearing when impacted cerumen causes conductive hearing loss. Our ENT specialist uses microsuction, a safe and precise method using a microscope and gentle suction to remove wax without water irrigation. This technique is suitable for patients with perforated eardrums or previous ear surgery. The procedure is typically painless and provides immediate results.
Hearing Aids
Modern hearing aids are sophisticated digital devices that amplify and process sound to compensate for hearing loss. Today’s technology offers various styles from behind-the-ear to completely-in-canal models, with features including directional microphones, noise reduction, and Bluetooth connectivity. Our specialist works with audiologists to help ensure proper fitting and programming based on your audiogram and lifestyle needs. Regular adjustments may optimise performance as you adapt to amplified sound.
Bone Conduction Devices
Bone conduction hearing devices bypass the outer and middle ear by transmitting sound vibrations directly through the skull bone to the inner ear. These devices may benefit patients with conductive hearing loss, single-sided deafness, or chronic ear infections, preventing traditional hearing aid use. Options include non-surgical bone conduction hearing aids and surgically implanted bone-anchored hearing systems.
Middle Ear Surgery
Surgical interventions can help restore hearing in specific conductive hearing loss cases. Tympanoplasty repairs perforated eardrums using tissue grafts, while stapedectomy replaces the fixed stapes bone in otosclerosis with a prosthesis. Ossiculoplasty reconstructs the tiny middle ear bones damaged by infection or trauma. These procedures may provide hearing improvement when medical management isn’t sufficient.
*Individual results and timelines may vary.*
Cochlear Implants
Cochlear implants are electronic devices surgically implanted to bypass damaged inner ear structures and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. These devices may benefit patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss who receive limited benefit from conventional hearing aids. The system includes an internal implant and an external processor that captures and processes sound into electrical signals. Candidacy evaluation involves comprehensive audiological testing, medical assessment, and counselling about realistic expectations.
Tinnitus Management
Many hearing loss patients also experience tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Treatment approaches include sound therapy using white noise or nature sounds to mask tinnitus, hearing aids that address both hearing loss and tinnitus, and cognitive behavioural therapy to manage tinnitus-related distress. Tinnitus retraining therapy combines sound therapy with counselling to help your brain filter out tinnitus perception.
Every patient’s condition is unique.
Our ENT specialist will assess your specific situation and recommend the most suitable treatment approach for you.
Complications if Left Untreated
Untreated hearing loss can lead to complications affecting various aspects of your life. Cognitive decline may accelerate in older adults with untreated hearing loss, with potential increased risk of dementia and memory problems. The brain’s auditory processing areas may atrophy from lack of stimulation, making future hearing rehabilitation more challenging.
Social isolation commonly develops as communication difficulties lead to withdrawal from conversations, social gatherings, and previously enjoyed activities. This isolation may contribute to depression and anxiety, particularly in older adults. Relationships may suffer when partners and family members struggle with communication barriers, leading to frustration and misunderstandings.
Professional implications include reduced job performance, missed opportunities for advancement, and potential safety hazards in workplace environments. Children with untreated hearing loss may experience delayed speech and language development, academic difficulties, and social challenges affecting their educational progress and emotional development.
Physical safety concerns arise when warning sounds like smoke alarms, approaching vehicles, or emergency sirens go unheard. Balance problems associated with inner ear dysfunction may increase fall risk, particularly in elderly patients.
Prevention
While not all hearing loss is preventable, many protective measures can help preserve your hearing health throughout life.
Noise Protection remains an effective prevention strategy. Use appropriate hearing protection in noisy environments, including earplugs or earmuffs, when operating power tools, attending concerts, or working in loud settings. Follow the 60/60 rule for personal audio devices: no more than 60% volume for no longer than 60 minutes continuously.
Regular Hearing Screenings enable early detection of hearing changes. Adults should consider baseline hearing tests by age 50, with follow-up testing as recommended by their healthcare provider. Those with risk factors or noise exposure should begin screening earlier.
Ear Health Maintenance includes avoiding cotton swabs or other objects in ear canals, which can push wax deeper or damage delicate structures. Manage allergies and upper respiratory infections promptly to help prevent eustachian tube dysfunction and middle ear problems. Stay current with vaccinations, as certain infections like measles and mumps can cause hearing loss.
Cardiovascular Health directly impacts hearing health through blood flow to delicate inner ear structures. Maintain healthy blood pressure, manage diabetes effectively, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking to help preserve cochlear function.
For Singaporeans & Singapore Permanent Residents
Medisave & Insurance Shield Plan approved
Your ENT procedure may be eligible for Medisave claims, with the claimable amount varying based on the procedure’s complexity. For additional options, including the use of your insurance or Integrated Shield Plan, reach out to our friendly clinic staff today for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can hearing loss be reversed?
Treatment potential depends on the type and cause of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss from earwax, infections, or middle ear problems may improve with medical or surgical treatment. Sensorineural hearing loss from ageing or noise damage is typically permanent but manageable with hearing aids or implants. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may partially or fully recover with prompt corticosteroid treatment. Our ENT specialist will determine your specific treatment possibilities after a comprehensive evaluation.
How do I know if I need hearing aids?
Hearing aids may be recommended when hearing loss affects your daily communication and quality of life. Audiometric testing showing mild to moderate hearing loss often benefits from amplification. Consider hearing aids if you struggle with conversations, frequently ask for repetition, or avoid social situations due to hearing difficulties. Our specialist will review your audiogram results, lifestyle needs, and communication goals to determine if hearing aids would benefit you.
Are hearing tests painful?
Hearing tests are completely painless and non-invasive. Pure tone audiometry involves listening to sounds through headphones and pressing a button when you hear them. Tympanometry uses a soft probe in your ear canal with slight pressure changes that may feel unusual but not painful. OAE testing involves placing a small probe in your ear that plays soft sounds. The most uncomfortable sensation might be sitting still in a quiet booth during testing.
How long does hearing loss treatment take to show results?
Treatment timelines vary based on the cause and intervention type. Medical treatments like earwax removal may provide immediate improvement. Corticosteroids for sudden hearing loss work most effectively within 72 hours but may take weeks to show full effect. Hearing aid adjustment typically requires several weeks for brain adaptation. Surgical interventions may need several months for complete healing and optimal hearing improvement. Cochlear implant rehabilitation can take months for maximum benefit.
*Individual results and timelines may vary.*
Can children develop hearing loss?
Yes, children can experience hearing loss from birth (congenital) or develop it during childhood (acquired). Causes include genetic conditions, prenatal infections, birth complications, chronic ear infections, meningitis, head trauma, or noise exposure. Early detection through newborn screening and regular paediatric assessments is important for speech and language development. Treatment options for children include hearing aids, cochlear implants, speech therapy, and educational support services.
Will my hearing loss get worse over time?
Progression depends on the underlying cause. Age-related hearing loss typically worsens gradually over the years. Noise-induced hearing loss may stabilise if further exposure is avoided. Meniere’s disease causes fluctuating hearing that may progressively decline. Some genetic conditions cause progressive loss, while others remain stable. Regular monitoring helps track changes and adjust treatment accordingly. Protecting your remaining hearing through noise avoidance and proper ear care may help slow progression.
When should tympanostomy tubes be considered?
Tube placement may be recommended for children with recurrent ear infections or persistent middle ear fluid with hearing loss. Additional factors include antibiotic resistance, complications from previous infections, or developmental concerns related to hearing loss. Your ENT specialist will evaluate individual circumstances, weighing potential benefits against risks to determine optimal timing for this intervention.
*Individual results and timelines may vary.*
Conclusion
Hearing loss affects many people worldwide, but modern medicine offers numerous treatment options to help improve your hearing and quality of life. From contemporary digital hearing aids to surgical interventions and cochlear implants, today’s treatments can address various types and severities of hearing loss. Early detection and intervention may provide improved outcomes, helping prevent the cognitive, social, and emotional complications associated with untreated hearing difficulties. Our ENT specialist combines experience with current diagnostic technology to provide personalised treatment plans tailored to your specific hearing needs and lifestyle goals.
Take the First Step Towards Better Hearing
Living with hearing loss can be challenging, but you don’t have to face it alone. Our ENT specialist has experience diagnosing and treating hearing loss using evidence-based approaches.
Dr Gan Eng Cern
MBBS
MRCS (Edin)
mmed (orl)
FAMS
With over 15 years of experience, Dr Gan specialises in the comprehensive management of a broad range of conditions related to the ear, nose and throat (ENT), and head and neck.
Dr. Gan has contributed to the academic field as a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. He is recognised for his extensive research work, with numerous contributions to reputable international ENT journals. Dr Gan is also highly sought after as a speaker and has shared his surgical knowledge as a surgical dissection teacher at various prominent ENT conferences and courses.
- 2020 – Reader’s Choice Gold Award for Best ENT Specialist (Expat Living Singapore)
- 2016 – Best Educator Award (Eastern Health Alliance)
- 2016 – “Wow” Award (Patient Compliment)
- 2014 – Eastern Health Alliance Caring Award – Silver
- 2014 – 19th Yahya Cohen Memorial Lectureship (awarded by the College of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine Singapore for best scientific surgical paper)
- 2012 – Human Manpower Development Award (Ministry of Health, Singapore)
- 2007 – Singhealth Best Doctor Award
Qualifications
- MBBS – Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia)
- MRCS (Edin) – Member of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- MMed (ORL) – Master of Medicine in ENT (National University of Singapore)
- FAMS – Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Singapore
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A Specialist Clinic for Sinus, Snoring & ENT
38 Irrawaddy Road #08-45
Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital
Singapore 329563
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