What it is
Earwax and infections can usually be treated. Age-related and noise-related hearing loss is permanent, but hearing aids or cochlear implants can help a lot.
Protecting your ears from loud noise helps prevent it.
Common signs
- Difficulty hearing other people clearly
- Asking people to repeat themselves
- Turning the TV up loud
- Finding it hard to follow conversations in noisy places
- Ringing in the ears
How it is usually diagnosed
- Examination of the ears
- Hearing tests (audiometry)
- Scans, sometimes
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Audiograms over time
- ENT and audiology letters
- Hearing aid details and settings
Questions to ask your doctor
- What type of hearing loss do I have?
- Would a hearing aid help?
- How often should my hearing be checked?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears: get seen the same day, early treatment can help
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.