Ear and hearing
Ear and hearing
Ear and hearing consultations are for a change in hearing, pain, discharge, pressure, or sound that should not be there. The visit is an examination and an explanation. It is not a diagnosis you can reach from this page.
On this page
Concerns assessed here
People come because one ear feels blocked, both ears have slowly become less clear, there is pain or discharge, or a sound such as ringing has started. Some visits are for a child whose hearing at school is in question. Some are for a person who already uses a hearing aid and wants to know if it is still the right support.
The consultation does not assume an operation. Many ear problems are observed, treated with medicine, or helped by clearing the ear canal. Some need a hearing test before any decision. A few lead to a conversation about surgery or an implant, and those conversations have their own pages.
What the consultation may involve
You will be asked which ear, when it started, whether it fluctuates, and whether there is pain, discharge, dizziness or a change after a cold or a flight. The ear is examined. If wax is the whole explanation, that may be the end of the visit. If it is not, the next test is named and the reason for it is explained.
- A history of the hearing change, in your own words.
- Examination of the ear canal and eardrum.
- A hearing test when the result would change the plan.
- A decision you can follow: review, medicine, a device, or a further opinion.
Tests and where they happen
Apricity has publicly described audiology and hearing-aid services. Which test is available on a given day, and whether it is done at Apricity or at a hospital, is confirmed when the appointment is arranged. Do not travel assuming a particular machine is on site.
When to call rather than use the form
Use the phone, not the form, if hearing drops suddenly over minutes or a day or two, if there is a new spinning dizziness with vomiting, or if there is swelling, fever and a very painful ear. The form is for routine requests. It is not watched as an emergency line.
Practical questions
What if this feels urgent?
Difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, or a throat that is swelling quickly needs emergency care. Do not wait for a reply to the website form. A hearing loss that arrives suddenly should be assessed the same day: call the clinic, or go to an emergency department if the clinic is closed.
Do I need a hearing test before I come?
No. If a recent test exists, bring it. If it does not, the clinic will say whether a test should happen at your visit or be booked separately.
Is every blocked ear wax?
No. Wax is common and can be seen on examination. A blocked feeling can also come from the middle ear, the nose, or a change in the inner ear. The examination is what separates those.