Hearing loss can be traced to conductive hearing loss or sensorineural hearing loss.

• Conductive hearing loss is caused by an inability of the ear to ‘conduct’ sound from the external ear to the cochlea. This may be caused by a blockage of the external ear canal, the eardrum or the middle ear. The blockage could be due to earwax, a ruptured eardrum, an infection of the external or middle ear, fluid in the middle ear (glue ear) or a disruption of the middle ear conducting bones.
• Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the cochlea, the hearing nerves or the brain. The damage could be caused by viral infections (like rubella, mumps or measles), meningitis, noise-induced hearing loss, acoustic trauma, fracture of the temporal bone, ototoxic drugs or tumours. Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when one is exposed to a noise level above 85 decibels for a prolonged period (such as load music, construction sites, engine rooms etc). Acoustic trauma occurs when one is exposed to a sudden burst of extremely loud noise - such as a bomb going off nearby (the noise from this can reach up to 150 decibels). This loud sound send huge vibrations from the eardrum to the tiny hair cells in the cochlea, very much like a tsunami wiping off coconut trees along the coastal area and less so inland. Higher frequency nerve endings happen to be nearer the ‘coastal area’ of the cochlea and thus it is usually the higher frequency hearing that is most affected in such cases.

Cochlear implant is an electronic device designed to give partial hearing to people who are profoundly deaf. Unlike a hearing aid, the cochlear implant "bypasses" the damaged hair cells in the cochlea. It is implanted in the cochlea and serves the function of the hair cells. It sends electrical signals directly to the auditory nerve fibres. These electrical impulses act in a similar way to impulses that normal hair cells send.

Couples with a family history of hearing loss are advised to seek genetic counselling before planning a family. Young children should also be immunised against mumps, measles and rubella. There should be no smoking, alcohol or certain drugs during pregnancy. If your child complains of hearing difficulty, they may have glue ear or otitis media - a condition that appears to be quite common, particularly among Caucasian, Japanese and Indian children. Take your child’s hearing complaints seriously and have their ears checked by a doctor.

Both adults and children should practice good ear hygiene. Digging the ears with cotton buds is a popular practice that should be avoided as it is both unnecessary (the ear canal is self-cleaning) and could cause damage (leading to infections, impacted ear wax or trauma to the ear drums).

The consultation fee for the first visit starts from $150. Patients will be advised on the estimated bill and their average length of stay should any procedure be required.