Which examinations are recommended for hearing problems?
December 4, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Jessica Jung
Dear doctor,
My name is Björn Zellmann and I have been suffering from hearing problems for some time now. I feel like my hearing has significantly worsened recently and I have difficulty following conversations or perceiving sounds correctly. Especially in noisy environments, I find it hard to filter out individual voices.
I am very concerned about my hearing and I wonder what tests would be recommended in my case to determine the cause of my hearing problems. Are there specific tests or examinations that you could recommend to me in order to get an accurate diagnosis? I have not yet undergone any medical examinations regarding my hearing problems and I am unsure of the next steps that would be advisable.
It is very distressing for me to not be able to hear as well as I used to and I would like to find out if there are possible treatment options to improve my hearing. I hope you can help me and provide advice on which examinations I should undergo to further investigate my hearing problems.
Thank you in advance for your help and support.
Sincerely,
Björn Zellmann
Dear Mr. Zellmann,
Thank you for your message and your trust in my expertise as an ear, nose, and throat doctor. I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing hearing problems and are concerned about your hearing ability. It is important that you take care of your health and have the cause of your symptoms evaluated.
In your case, it would be advisable to undergo an audiologic examination to further analyze your hearing problems. This examination is typically conducted by an audiologist or an ear, nose, and throat doctor and includes various tests to assess your hearing ability. These may include the audiogram test, which evaluates your hearing in different frequency ranges, as well as speech tests to assess how well you can understand spoken words.
Additionally, a tympanometry test can be performed to assess the function of your middle ear. This test measures the pressure in the ear and checks the mobility of the eardrum. This examination can provide information on whether there may be an issue with the middle ear or eardrum.
In some cases, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the inner ear may be useful to detect structural changes or damage in the inner ear. This may be necessary in cases of persistent or severe hearing problems to rule out potential causes such as tumors or inflammation.
Following the examinations, an individualized treatment recommendation can be provided based on the cause of your hearing problems. This may range from medication therapy to hearing aids to surgical interventions, depending on what is best suited for you.
I encourage you not to hesitate and to promptly undergo an audiologic examination to gain clarity on your hearing problems and initiate appropriate treatment. Your health is a top priority, and it is important that you take care of your hearing ability.
I hope this information has been helpful, and I am available to assist you if you have any further questions or need support.
Best regards,
Jessica Jung
