Q: I am a 30 years old male who was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in my right ear, 10 years back. I am experiencing constant pain in my right ear since two years. The pain occurs particularly while watching television or talking on the phone (because of the sound). I have done an ear examination and it says everything is normal. I also have neck pain in the same side. How can SNHL be treated?

A:From your symptoms, and where the ENT examination is normal, the pain might be related to the TM joint: the joint in front of the ear, possibly caused by muscular tension by overuse of a phone. warm fermentation and an analgesic would help. For longstanding unilateral SN loss, the only new technology is to use a BAHA: bone anchored hearing aid. there is an implant into the bone behind the ear, and the amplifying device fits outside. the sound is conducted via the bone to the normal ear. the advantage is that the directional loss of hearing is improved.