Medical treatment
Wax removal, and treatment of ear infections and middle ear problems. Some causes of hearing loss are fully reversible.
EARS & HEARING · ISLAMABAD
Hearing loss & ear problemsassessment and treatment.
Dr M Riaz Khokhar assesses hearing loss, tinnitus, ear discharge and blocked ears in adults and children, and advises on medical treatment, hearing aids and ear surgery, at PNS Hafeez Hospital Islamabad.
Evening clinic, Monday to Friday, 5–7 pm. Your appointment time will be confirmed by the clinic.
WHEN TO COME
Reasons to have your hearing checked.
- Difficulty following conversations, especially in noisy places or on the phone.
- Family members say the TV is too loud, or that you often ask them to repeat things.
- Ringing, buzzing or other sounds in one or both ears (tinnitus).
- Ear discharge, or a hole in the eardrum.
- A blocked feeling or hearing loss in one ear only.
- A child who is not responding to sound or is slow to speak.
Hearing loss often develops gradually and is easy to put off. A hearing test is painless and shows what kind of hearing loss it is and how much.
YOUR VISIT
What happens at a hearing consultation.
Bring any previous hearing tests and scans, and your hearing aids if you use them.
1
History and examination
When the problem started, whether it affects one ear or both, noise exposure, family history and medicines, followed by an examination of the ears.
2
Ear cleaning when needed
Wax or discharge blocking the ear canal is removed so that the eardrum can be seen properly.
3
Hearing tests
A hearing test (audiogram) measures how well each ear hears. A pressure test (tympanometry) checks the middle ear.
4
Scans when needed
A CT or MRI scan is arranged only in particular situations, such as hearing loss in one ear or long-standing ear discharge.
5
A clear plan
The results are explained, along with the options that suit the type and degree of your hearing loss.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Treatment depends on the cause.
Hearing aids
The main treatment for age-related and other permanent (nerve-type) hearing loss. You will be advised whether a hearing aid is likely to help, and guided on getting one fitted.
Surgery
Considered for a hole in the eardrum, long-standing ear discharge, damaged hearing bones or persistent glue ear. For severe to profound hearing loss where hearing aids no longer help, cochlear implant assessment can be discussed.
EAR SURGERY
Operations that can help.
Eardrum repair (tympanoplasty)
A graft is used to close a hole in the eardrum. This helps stop repeated discharge and may improve hearing.
Mastoid surgery
For chronic ear disease or cholesteatoma, the diseased area behind the ear is cleared. The main aim is a safe, dry ear; better hearing is a secondary aim.
Grommets (ventilation tubes)
A tiny tube is placed in the eardrum for persistent fluid in the middle ear, most often in children.
Risks
Ear operations carry risks that include infection, a change in taste, dizziness, tinnitus and, rarely, worse hearing or weakness of the face. Dr Khokhar will explain how each applies to you before you decide.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent medical care if you have:
- Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears, over hours or a few days. Early treatment matters.
- Weakness or drooping of one side of the face.
- Severe ear pain with fever, or a painful swelling behind the ear.
- Severe spinning dizziness with hearing loss, or ear discharge with severe headache.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions patients often ask.
Can hearing loss be cured?
It depends on the cause. Wax, infection, fluid and eardrum problems can often be treated. Nerve-type hearing loss is usually permanent, but hearing aids and, in selected cases, implants can help a great deal.
Do I need a hearing aid?
That depends on your hearing test and on how much the hearing loss affects your daily life. The result will be explained to you, and the decision is yours.
Is there a cure for tinnitus?
There is usually no single cure, but tinnitus often becomes less intrusive with time. Treating any hearing loss, sound therapy and good sleep habits help many people.
Is it safe to clean my ears with cotton buds?
No. Cotton buds push wax deeper and can injure the ear canal or eardrum. Ears usually clean themselves; if wax causes blockage, have it removed in the clinic.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Previous hearing tests, any scans, your hearing aids if you have them, and a list of your current medicines.
Reviewed by Dr M Riaz Khokhar, ENT Consultant · November 2026. This page gives general information and does not replace a consultation.
Ready to arrange a hearing consultation?
Monday–Friday · 5–7 pm · PNS Hafeez Hospital Islamabad