Ear Conditions

The ENT Partnership can assess, diagnose and treat the following conditions:

Ear Infections | Eardrum Perforation | Tinnitus | Prominent Ears | Cholesteatoma | Dizziness and Vertigo | Hearing Loss

Ear Infectionstop

Ear infections affect either the external ear (ear canal) or middle ear. Sometimes an external ear infection develops very quickly and so we will try to see you as quickly as possible to start treatment.  This often involves ‘microsuction’ to clean the ear and then treatment of the infection itself.  Middle ear infections (otitis media) are common in children but less so in adults.  Usually an ear infection occurs with a cold but sometimes a perforation can cause recurring ear infections and in rare circumstances collapse of the eardrum may be a cause.  It is therefore important that the ear is examined carefully under the microscope to make a correct diagnosis and then appropriate treatment can be given.  Middle ear infections in children occasionally require Grommets.

Click to download information booklet: Grommet Insertion

Eardrum Perforationtop

Perforations can occur suddenly as a result of infection or an injury to the ear; usually they heal in time but sometimes they become ‘chronic’ which can lead to further ear infections and hearing loss. Eardrum perforation can be repaired with a Myringoplasty. 

Click to download information booklet:  Myringoplasty

Tinnitustop

Tinnitus means a noise in the ear. Often this is harmless and only reassurance is required. An audiogram is useful to assess the hearing level as sometimes tinnitus is associated with hearing loss.  If the tinnitus occurs in just one ear, a MRI scan of the ears and brain may be required. More severe cases of tinnitus are referred to our Tinnitus therapist for Tinnitus retraining therapy.  

Click to open the Tinnitus website

Prominent Earstop

Prominent ears may cause low self-esteem and can be corrected with a Pinnaplasty.  This may be appropriate in children at the age of 5 years onwards or sometimes in adults. 

Click to download information booklet:  Pinnaplasty

Cholesteatomatop

Cholesteatoma is a condition in which skin debris accumulates in the middle ear. It can result in ear infections, hearing loss and other more serious complications. Treatment is usually by surgery to remove the skin pocket and repair the ear drum.  Sometimes the small bones which carry sound through the middle ear can be damaged and may also need repairing. 

Click to download information booklet:  Cholesteatoma

Dizziness and Vertigotop

Dizziness may relate to many differing causes but vertigo indicates an inner ear problem. A common cause is Benign Paroxymal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) which can be easily diagnosed and treated with the Epley or Particle Repositioning manoeuvre. Other causes include Menieres disease which can usually be controlled with medication but occasionally an injection of Gentamicin into the middle ear may be necessary to control the symptoms.  Labyrinthitis often occurs as a sudden attack which usually gets better on its own but sometimes recovery is slow and treatment is needed.  We work alongside our Physiotherapy colleagues who can help in the rehabilitation process with vestibular rehabilitation exercises.

Hearing Losstop

Hearing Loss may result from a conductive cause (outer or middle ear problem) or sensorineural cause (inner ear problem). Conductive hearing loss in children is often due to ‘glue ear’ which occasionally can be treated with an operation such as grommet insertion.  A perforation in the ear drum may cause a hearing loss and so surgical repair by myringoplasty may improve the hearing.  The small bones within the middle ear are a very delicate structure and damage to these will cause hearing loss – they can sometimes be repaired by surgery, ossiculoplasty.  Sometimes these bones become fixed and so stapedectomy may be necessary to replace part of the chain of bones. 

Hearing aids are the usual treatment for a sensorineural hearing loss and we can access the very latest in digital hearing aid technology including the recent ‘open fit’ hearing aids through our audiology colleagues.   Sometimes conventional hearing aids cannot be worn so a bone anchored hearing aid www.cochlear.co.uk may be an alternative option. If the hearing is worse in one ear, a MRI scan of the ears and brain may be required.