What should you do if you experience hearing loss for over a week? Top doctors answer

📩 Keep sending in your questions to: hellodoctor@timesofindia.comWelcome to another edition of Hello, Doctor — the TOI+ series that connects India’s leading specialists directly with readers. Each week, subscribers write in with personal health questions, our editors curate the most relevant ones, and top clinicians respond with clear, evidence-based guidance written in simple, everyday language.The purpose remains the same: to cut through the clutter of generic wellness tips and online misinformation, and instead connect readers with trusted, experienced voices. These are not abstract medical discussions — they are real questions from TOI+ subscribers, answered with clarity, context and care.Our panel brings together some of India’s most respected specialists — Dr Kumar Narayanan (Cardiology), Dr Anoop Misra (Diabetology), Dr Sujeet Rajan (Pulmonology), Dr Nita Nair (Oncology), Dr Kiran Coelho (Gynaecology & Obstetrics), Dr Shaunak Ajinkya (Psychiatry), Dr Tushar Parikh (Paediatrics & Neonatology), Dr Lalit Panchal (Orthopaedics), Dr Soumyan Dey (Urology), Dr Anita Mathew (Internal Medicine), Dr Jawaharlal Mansukhani (Dermatology) and Dr Jignesh Gandhi (General Surgeon), We are also pleased to welcome Dr Shama Kovale, Consultant ENT Surgeon and Voice & Swallowing Specialist, to our panel.In a time when health anxieties are deeply personal and misinformation spreads faster than facts, Hello, Doctor aims to restore clarity, confidence, and trust. Below, you’ll find this week’s questions and the doctors’ detailed, no-nonsense answers.📩 Keep sending in your questions to: hellodoctor@timesofind.comQ Vishal Mehra: TOI+ subscriber:I’ve been experiencing sudden hearing loss in my right ear for the past 10 days.My hearing feels significantly reduced when I am standing, walking, or sitting. When I lie down, my hearing improves after about 20 minutes, often accompanied by a clanking or popping sound.I consulted an ENT specialist who initially prescribed ear drops to clear wax, followed by suction cleaning of both ears. After there was no improvement, I have been prescribed a nasal spray (Flomist F) for three weeks. I am currently on day three, but haven’t noticed any change so far.I would like to understand:A: Dr Shama Kovale, Consultant ENT Surgeon and Voice & Swallowing Specialist - Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani HospitalI understand your concern, it is very disturbing to have blocked ears. The most common cause for muffled hearing, or decreased hearing, is Eustachian tube blockage. Sometimes you hear popping or clunking sounds when you have a Eustachian tube blockage. A probable explanation for why you hear better when you lie down could be venous congestion, temporary improvement in the tube patency or if there is a middle ear fluid, which is secondary to again Eustachian tube dysfunction, and can improve when you lie down. You said you experienced sudden hearing loss for 10 days, but sudden hearing loss can be diagnosed only on a pure tone audiometry. To diagnose Eustachian tube dysfunction or middle ear fluid, we need to do something called a tympanogram or impedance audiometry. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss cannot be positional. For the Eustachian tube to improve, it could take another 10-15 days or longer. It is too early to judge how you are responding to Flomist f. You can also do a valsalva gently. You can take antihistamines if you have a cold. I feel you are more or less on the right treatment, but it’s incomplete. What I would suggest is getting a pure tone audiometry and tympanogram done. We will know whether it is conductive hearing loss or a sensorineural hearing loss, and depending on that, treatment can be specified. You can seek a re-evaluation with your doctor to check the tympanic membrane mobility or if there is any fluid, and to conduct a tuning fork test. If the audiometry shows sensorineural hearing loss, then you might require treatment as soon as possible, like steroids. If it’s persistent conductive loss, we will have to diagnose if there is an issue in your nasopharynx. Q:Nimish Patel, TOI+ Subscriber:I am seeking advice for a 53-year-old man. What are the best ways to maintain a healthy heart in the long term?A: Dr Kumar Narayanan, Senior Consultant Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist, Medicover Hospitals, HyderabadTo keep the heart healthy, the most important measure is to adopt a heart healthy lifestyle. The main pillars are eating healthy and keeping oneself physically and mentally fit. Eating healthy involves predominantly home-cooked meals, rich in vegetables and fibre, low in saturated fats, with calories appropriate for body habits and physical activity level. Keeping physically fit requires aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes every week and simple muscle strengthening exercises twice a week. Keeping mentally fit involves appropriate stress management and mind nourishment, in the form of meditation or other relaxation techniques. It is a good idea to have a basic heart check up annually focused on early identification of risk factors such as blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol. Q 3-Anonymous: TOI+ Subscriber I am a 34-year-old woman diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in my leg, which also affects my hip. This started after a fall three years ago. I continue to have severe pain, sensitivity, skin colour changes, tingling, twitching, and face difficulty in walking. I have tried pain medications, and even a nerve block, but it only provided relief for a few days.What are the best long-term treatment options available to control this condition and to improve my mobility and quality of life?A: Dr Lalit Panchal, Senior Consultant - Orthopaedic Surgeon, S.L. Raheja Hospital, Mumbai – A Fortis Associate Chronic pain or nerve-related pain should be treated using a multidisciplinary and structured approach. Pain rehabilitation includes the following:- Graded Motor Imagery- Mirror therapy- DesensitizationThese techniques are designed to assist the brain in "retraining" itself and gradually decreasing the perception of pain over time.Medications also contribute to the successful management of chronic pain. Gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), and duloxetine (Cymbalta) help stabilise nerve signals and have a beneficial effect on persistent pain, when conventional analgesia is not effective.For patients who continue to experience ongoing/sufficient symptoms after utilising the techniques mentioned above, advanced pain management techniques can be used, including spinal cord stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation to control the transmission of pain signals. Additional options include targeted interventions, such as ketamine infusions or specialised nerve blocks.Gentle, regular movement under the guidance of a physiotherapist is extremely important in restoring function without aggravating symptoms. In addition to physical care, psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) will vastly improve an individual's ability to cope with chronic pain, decrease the incidence of stress-induced pain triggers, and improve overall quality of life. Q 4: Chandan Kumar, TOI+ subscriberHow can I focus more on what is within my control rather than worrying about things beyond it?A:Dr Shaunak Ajinkya, Consultant Psychiatrist, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, MumbaiThe most significant source of human suffering isn't the presence of problems, but the misallocation of mental energy. We often treat our circle of concern (everything we care about) as if it were identical to our circle of influence (everything we can actually change). When one worries about things outside of one’s control—e.g., global shifts, what others think of you, or the distant future—your brain stays in a state of hypervigilance. This is exhausting because it takes up a lot of mental energy. To reclaim one’s focus, one must move from anxious contemplation to action.1. Psychological Audit: When a wave of worry hits, perform a cognitive triage. Take a piece of paper and draw two columns: 2. Shifting thinking from ‘What If’ to ‘What Is’ : ‘What if’ is the language of anxious imagination. It projects you into a phantom future where you feel helpless because that future hasn't happened yet. Practice Grounding. If you catch yourself in a “What if” spiral, say out loud: "Right now, in this room, I am safe. Right now, I have this in front of me. Right now, I choose to take one deep breath”. The objective is to force the brain’s prefrontal cortex to activate (instead of the “fight-flight” mode of amygdala) and return to the present moment, which is the only place where we live, and any kind of ‘control’ can actually exist. Practice stress management techniques like yoga, deep breathing and meditation daily. Develop good eating and sleep habits, and avoid any substance addictions (smoking/alcohol/drugs). 3. Practice the ‘15-Minute Worry Window’: Telling oneself “don't worry” is like telling yourself “don't think of a pink elephant”. It backfires badly. Instead, use the practice of Stimulus Control. Schedule a ‘Worry Appointment’ for example, at 5:00 pm for 15 minutes. During this time, worry as intensely, and as much as you like. Write down all the ‘Uncontrollables’. If a worry pops up at 10:00 AM, tell yourself, “I see you, but your appointment isn't until five, I’ll see you then." This teaches your brain that you are the executive, in-charge of your attention, not your anxiety.4. Develop an ‘Internal Locus of Control’: People with an External Locus of Control usually feel like pawns of fate. Those with an Internal Locus of Control believe they are the designers of their responses. Hence, focus on the process, and not the outcome. For example, you cannot control if you get the job (an outcome), but you can control how many high-quality applications you send and how much you practice your interview skills (the process). Resilience isn't about things going right; it’s about knowing you have the tools to handle things when they go wrong. Focus on your resilience, not the world's unpredictability.5. The “Three-Choice” Framework: In any situation which feels overwhelming, tell yourself you always have exactly three choices: Change it: If it's in your Circle of Influence, act now.· Leave it: If it's toxic and uncontrollable, remove yourself· Accept it: If you can't change it or leave it, you must accept it—not because you like it, but to preserve your own sanity.Instead of worrying about the vastness of the problem, focus your energy on the very next smallest step. Instead of worrying about how others perceive your work, focus your energy on the integrity of the work itself. Instead of worrying about the final destination, focus your energy on where your compass is heading, namely, your values.Peace does not come from a life without problems but from the quiet confidence that you can handle whatever is in your hands and whatever life has to offer.📩 Keep sending in your questions to: hellodoctor@timesofindia.comLink -23 https://www.thetimesofindia.online/toi-plus/health/why-does-my-mind-focus-on-worst-case-scenarios-before-deadlines-top-doctors-answer-this-and-more/articleshow/128856297.cmsLink 24- https://www.thetimesofindia.online/toi-plus/health/doctor-heart-diabetets-cardiology-hellodoctor-health-doctor-asktheexperts/articleshow/129262311.cmsLink 25- https://www.thetimesofindia.online/toi-plus/health/why-does-my-mind-focus-on-worst-case-scenarios-before-deadlines-top-doctors-answer-this-and-more/articleshow/128856297.cmsLink 26- https://www.thetimesofindia.online/toi-plus/health/why-does-the-chest-feel-heavy-even-after-a-stent-and-pacemaker-top-doctors-answers-this-and-more/articleshow/129721322.cms