Hearing Loss
1 medicine
Hearing loss ranges from mild difficulty following conversation to complete deafness, with causes in the inner ear, the auditory nerve or the brain, and only some forms treatable with medicine.
Key facts
- Hearing loss ranges from mild difficulty following conversation to complete deafness in one or both ears.
- The inner ear, the auditory nerve and the brain's processing centres can all be involved, which is why causes and treatments differ widely.
- Conditions such as Ménière's disease cause fluctuating hearing loss with vertigo and tinnitus, from abnormal fluid pressure in the cochlea; betahistine can help stabilise this.
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear, loss after a head injury, or loss with severe pain or facial weakness needs prompt medical assessment.
When the inner ear is the source
Most treatable forms of hearing loss in otherwise healthy adults trace back to the inner ear. Conditions such as Ménière's disease cause fluctuating hearing loss alongside vertigo and tinnitus, due to abnormal fluid pressure in the cochlea. Betahistine works on the inner-ear blood vessels and histamine receptors to reduce this fluid build-up, which can stabilise hearing and lessen the frequency of dizzy episodes. It falls under neurology treatments rather than the surgical or audiological approaches used for permanent structural loss.
When drugs don't help
Other causes, such as noise damage, age-related loss (presbycusis), and earwax blockage, do not respond to drug treatment. These need a different approach entirely, from hearing aids to simple ear cleaning, so getting an accurate diagnosis matters before assuming medicine can fix the problem.
When to see a doctor
Seek medical assessment promptly if you notice sudden hearing loss in one ear, hearing loss after a head injury, or loss accompanied by severe pain or facial weakness.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.