Prof. Michael Timms
Prof. Michael Timms
Consultant ENT Surgeon

Available at these locations

Saudi German Hospital
Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai, UAE
Please see below of website for full address and map.

  • Home
  • Children
    • Glue Ear
    • Grommets
    • Snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
    • Coblation Adenoid Surgery
    • Coblation Tonsil Surgery
    • Cochlear Implants
    • Ear Infection
    • Prominent Ear Surgery
  • Ear
    • Prominent Ear Surgery
    • Hearing & Deafness
    • Ear Infections
    • Middle Ear Reconstructive Surgery
    • Cochlear Implants
    • Bone Anchored Hearing Aids
  • Nose
    • Nasal Blockage/Congestion
    • Sinusitis & Sinus Surgery
    • Rhinoplasty
  • Snoring & Sleep
    • Snoring & Sleep Disorders
    • Investigations / Sleep Studies
    • Surgical Treatment
    • Coblation Assisted Snoring Surgery
  • Voice
    • Hoarseness
    • Vocal Cord Surgery
  • Head & Neck
    • Swallowing Difficulties / Dysphagia
    • Submandibular Gland
    • Parotid Gland & Parotid Surgery
  • About
  • Locations
    • Hospitals & Clinics
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Children
    • Glue Ear
    • Grommets
    • Snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
    • Coblation Adenoid Surgery
    • Coblation Tonsil Surgery
    • Cochlear Implants
    • Ear Infection
    • Prominent Ear Surgery
  • Ear
    • Prominent Ear Surgery
    • Hearing & Deafness
    • Ear Infections
    • Middle Ear Reconstructive Surgery
    • Cochlear Implants
    • Bone Anchored Hearing Aids
  • Nose
    • Nasal Blockage/Congestion
    • Sinusitis & Sinus Surgery
    • Rhinoplasty
  • Snoring & Sleep
    • Snoring & Sleep Disorders
    • Investigations / Sleep Studies
    • Surgical Treatment
    • Coblation Assisted Snoring Surgery
  • Voice
    • Hoarseness
    • Vocal Cord Surgery
  • Head & Neck
    • Swallowing Difficulties / Dysphagia
    • Submandibular Gland
    • Parotid Gland & Parotid Surgery
  • About
  • Locations
    • Hospitals & Clinics
  • Contact

Hearing & Deafness

The information below should serve as a general guide only.

Hearing loss can affect people of any age. One in six adults have some degree of hearing loss, which increase to three in four above the age of 75. Children can also be affected, usually due to fluid or infection in the middle ear but also due to congenital problems or viral illness during early childhood.

The mechanism of hearing

We can hear sounds via the ear canal and eardrum by vibrations of the eardrum, ossicles (small bones in the ear) and then the inner ear or cochlea where the sound waves are changed into electrical signals which are passed on to the brain along the auditory nerve.

Types of deafness

The causes of deafness can be broadly grouped into conductive problems in the ear canal and middle ear (conductive hearing loss) or sensori-neural problems, which is a problem with the translation of the sound waves into an electrical signal by the inner (sensorineural hearing loss).

A conductive hearing loss can occur due to wax blocking the ear canal, or infection, a collection of fluid, trauma or fixation of the ossicles in the middle ear. Fortunately they can usually be treated.

A sensorineural hearing loss is due to a problem of the inner ear or of the nerve that carries the signal to the brain. There are many causes, the commonest being that of hearing loss in old age (presbyacusis), but other causes include virus infections, trauma, drugs, noise exposure and congenital causes. Some inner ear problems are reversible, but usually loss is permanent. Extremely rarely it may be due to a growth or tumour in the brain.

Hearing aids are continuing to improve and help to amplify the sounds that are heard by the inner ear and so partially overcome the hearing loss.

When to ask for help from an ENT specialist

You should seek advice urgently (within 24-48 hours) if you have a sudden hearing loss, as treatment should be started within 48 hours of its onset.

You should seek advice if you have a hearing loss in one ear only.

If you notice a gradual deterioration of your hearing and need to discover the cause and get treatment.

Further information

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)

ENT-UK

  • Children
    Learn about some common ENT conditions that affect children
  • Ear
    Find useful information on some common conditions affecting the ears.
  • Nose
    Find out about some common conditions that affect the nose and sinuses.
  • Snoring & Sleep
    Find useful information on some common ENT sleep disorders.
  • Voice
    Learn about some common ENT conditions affecting the vocal cords.
  • Head & Neck
    Learn about some common ENT conditions that affect the head and neck.

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Saudi German Hospital

Al Barsha 3, Hessa Street 331 West,
Off Exit 36 Sheikh Zayed Road

P.O.Box: 391093
Tel: 0800 744823 / 04 389 0000
Website: sghdubai.ae/en/services/ent-center.html
 

Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai

Al Barsha, near to Sharaf DG Metro Station,
Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai, UAE

Tel: 04 378 6666
Website: http://www.azhd.ae
 

Novomed Centers – Dubai Marina Plaza

30th Floor, Marina Plaza, Dubai Marina
Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai, UAE

Tel: 800 6686
Website: https://www.novomed.com
 

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