I am 63 years old this year. I experienced partial loss of hearing. Recently, I heard a pop sound in my ear and my hearing returned to normal.
Is this a cause for concern? I am very worried that I will lose my hearing permanently.
Dr Stephen Lee, Specialist in Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery, Raffles Hospital
There are several causes of hearing loss at this age. From the description and the fact that the hearing tends to return to normal, the most likely cause is of a problem with equalising the pressure on the eustachian tube. This is a tube which connects the middle ear and the back of the nose. One of its functions is to allow the equalisation of the air pressure between the middle ear and the external environment. When this function is impaired, the feeling can be similar to the ear block that one feels during descent in an aeroplane. The popping sound experienced is likely due to a sudden release of the block.
A common reason for this problem is either a physical block at the back of the nose by a lump, or postnasal drip secondary to allergy or sinusitis. These conditions can only be diagnosed by a complete examination of the ear and nose, and can be treated effectively in most instances. It is unlikely to lead to permanent hearing loss.