What is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is any reduction in the ability to perceive sound. It can be subtle — struggling to follow a conversation in a crowded restaurant — or profound. It can come on gradually over years, or suddenly overnight. The single most important question is: did it happen suddenly? Sudden one-sided hearing loss is a medical emergency.
Types of Hearing Loss
- Conductive — sound can't reach the inner ear (wax, fluid, perforation, ossicular problem). Often treatable, often reversible.
- Sensorineural — damage to the inner ear or nerve. Usually permanent but very manageable.
- Mixed — both conductive and sensorineural together.
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) — emergency. Treatment with steroids within 72 hours offers the best chance of recovery.
Sudden hearing loss in one ear is a medical emergency. Don't wait. Steroid treatment started within 72 hours significantly improves the chance of recovery. Call CENTAS or attend an emergency department right away.
Symptoms
- Difficulty hearing conversations, especially against background noise
- Asking people to repeat themselves
- Turning television, phone, or radio volume higher than others need
- Missing phone calls, doorbells, or alarms
- Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, hissing)
- Withdrawing from social situations
- In children: speech delay, inattention, poor school performance, not responding to their name
Common Causes in Singapore
- Age-related (presbycusis) — the most common cause in over-60s
- Noise exposure — National Service live firing, construction, concerts, prolonged earphone use
- Ear wax impaction — easily reversible
- Acute or chronic ear infections
- Otosclerosis — abnormal bone growth around the stapes
- Ménière's disease — episodic hearing loss with vertigo and tinnitus
- Ototoxic medications — including some antibiotics, chemotherapy, and high-dose aspirin
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss — usually viral or vascular
When to See an ENT Doctor
- Any sudden hearing loss — within 72 hours, no exceptions
- Gradual decline noticed over months
- Hearing loss in one ear only
- Hearing loss with dizziness or tinnitus
- Difficulty understanding speech despite normal volume
- For children: speech or language delay, not responding to their name
How is Hearing Loss Diagnosed?
- Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) — the gold standard hearing test, performed in a sound-proofed booth
- Tympanometry — assesses middle-ear pressure and eardrum mobility
- Speech audiometry — measures word recognition
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) — inner-ear function, useful in young children
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) — for infants and difficult-to-test patients
- CT or MRI — when a structural cause or acoustic neuroma is suspected
Treatment Options
Medical Treatment
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss — urgent oral steroids and intratympanic steroid injections
- Infection-related — antibiotics and aural toilet
- Wax impaction — micro-suction (often immediate improvement)
- Ménière's disease — dietary modification and medication
Hearing Aids
- For sensorineural hearing loss that cannot be surgically corrected
- Modern digital aids are nearly invisible and can connect to phones via Bluetooth
- A trial period before purchase is standard
- Dr Pang works with established audiologists for fitting and follow-up
Surgical Options
- Tympanoplasty (eardrum repair)
- Stapedectomy (for otosclerosis)
- Grommet insertion (for persistent middle-ear fluid)
- Cochlear implant referral (for severe-profound loss)
- Bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA)
Why Choose Dr Pang?
- Full audiometric testing performed in-clinic at Mt Elizabeth
- Urgent appointment slots reserved for sudden hearing loss
- Both medical and surgical expertise — no fragmentation of care
- Experience across all ages, from infant screening to elderly rehabilitation
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a hearing test cost in Singapore?
A formal pure tone audiometry assessment in a private specialist clinic typically costs $50 to $100 on top of the consultation fee. Many insurance plans and Medisave cover hearing diagnostics when medically indicated.
Is sudden hearing loss really an emergency?
Yes. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in one ear is a medical emergency. Treatment with steroids within 72 hours offers the best chance of recovery. Do not wait to see if it improves.
Will I need a hearing aid?
Not necessarily. Conductive losses from wax, fluid, or perforation are often treatable. Permanent sensorineural loss may benefit from a modern, near-invisible digital hearing aid — but this is decided after a full assessment, never as a first step.
My child seems inattentive — could it be hearing loss?
Yes. Glue ear (fluid behind the eardrum) is common in young children and often presents as inattention, speech delay, or behavioural issues rather than complaints of poor hearing. A simple test can rule it out.
Can Medisave be used for hearing loss treatment?
Many ENT diagnostic procedures and hearing-related surgeries (such as tympanoplasty and grommet insertion) are Medisave-claimable. Hearing aids themselves are usually not covered by Medisave but may be covered by certain insurance plans.
Can I prevent hearing loss?
Yes — protect your hearing from loud noise (use ear protection during NS live firing, concerts, and power tools), follow the 60/60 rule for earphones (no more than 60 minutes at 60% volume), and treat ear infections promptly.
Related Conditions
Book a Hearing Assessment
Get a clear picture of your hearing
Consultation, otoscopy, and pure tone audiometry can be completed in a single visit at Mt Elizabeth. Sudden hearing loss appointments are prioritised same-day.
3 Mount Elizabeth, #16-11, Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore 228510