Otology
Ear treatment and ear surgery in Tambaram
From ear pain and discharge to hearing loss, perforated eardrums and cholesteatoma, Dr. Udayakumar examines the ear under an otoscope and microscope, tests your hearing in the same clinic, and treats most problems with medicine or minimally invasive surgery.
In short
When should you see a specialist?
See an ENT specialist if ear pain lasts more than two or three days, if the ear discharges, if hearing drops suddenly, or if ringing, fullness or dizziness appears. Sudden hearing loss should be checked within 24 to 72 hours.
- Ear pain that lasts more than 2 to 3 days
- Any discharge, especially if it smells or keeps returning
- Sudden drop in hearing in one ear (treat as urgent)
- Ringing, blocked feeling or dizziness along with hearing change
- A child who does not respond to sounds or has delayed speech
Conditions
Conditions we diagnose and treat
Ear infections
Otitis externa (outer ear canal) and otitis media (middle ear), in adults and children.
Hearing loss
Conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss, including sudden hearing loss.
Ear discharge
Recurrent or long-standing discharge, usually from a chronic middle ear infection.
Ear pain
Pain from infection, wax, the jaw joint, throat or teeth that refers to the ear.
Tinnitus
Ringing, buzzing or hissing sounds in one or both ears.
Ear wax
Hard or impacted wax removed safely under direct vision.
Eardrum perforation
Holes in the eardrum after infection or injury.
Glue ear
Fluid behind the eardrum (otitis media with effusion), common in children.
Cholesteatoma
A skin growth in the middle ear that erodes bone and needs surgery.
Otosclerosis
Fixation of the stapes bone that causes slowly worsening hearing.
Mastoid problems
Infection or disease spreading into the mastoid bone behind the ear.
Foreign bodies
Beads, insects and cotton buds removed from the ear canal.
Diagnosis
Tests available in the clinic
Testing in the same building means fewer trips and a diagnosis you can act on sooner.
- Otoscopy and ear microscopy
- Pure tone audiometry
- Impedance audiometry (tympanometry)
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)
- Brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA)
- Eustachian tube function test
Treatment
Procedures and surgeries
Treatment always starts with the least invasive option that works. These are the procedures offered when surgery is needed.
Myringoplasty
Closing an eardrum perforation with a graft.
Tympanoplasty
Repairing the eardrum and middle ear to stop discharge and improve hearing.
Ossiculoplasty
Rebuilding the chain of hearing bones.
Stapedectomy / stapedotomy
Microsurgery for otosclerosis to restore sound conduction.
Myringotomy
A small opening in the eardrum to drain fluid, with or without a ventilation tube.
Mastoidectomy
Clearing disease, including cholesteatoma, from the mastoid bone.
Excision of ear lesions and tumours
Removal of growths from the outer ear and ear canal.
Otoplasty / pinnaplasty
Correcting prominent or misshapen ears.
Ear canal surgery
Widening or clearing a narrowed ear canal.
Preauricular sinus excision
Removing an infected pit in front of the ear.
Split earlobe repair / lobuloplasty
Repairing torn or stretched earlobes.
Founder & Chief Consultant
Dr. Udayakumar, MBBS, MS (ENT)
ENT specialist in otology, rhinology, neurotology, hearing sciences, and vertigo and balance disorders. Former Senior Consultant in ENT at Dr. Kamakshi Memorial Hospital and Assistant Professor of ENT at Adhiparasakthi Medical College. Founder of Dr. Udaya’s ENT Wellness Centre (2018) and SAMANILAI Diagnostic & Therapeutic Centre (2023).
Also consulting in this clinic
FAQ
Common questions
Is it safe to clean ears with cotton buds?
It is better not to. Cotton buds push wax deeper and can injure the canal or eardrum. If wax blocks the ear, it can be removed safely in clinic under direct vision.
Can a perforated eardrum heal on its own?
Small perforations after injury often heal within a few weeks if the ear is kept dry. Perforations that stay open after about three months, or that keep discharging, usually need myringoplasty or tympanoplasty.
Is sudden hearing loss an emergency?
Yes. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss should be assessed within 24 to 72 hours, because early treatment improves the chance of recovery. Do not wait to see if it settles.
Does ear surgery need general anaesthesia?
Not always. Many ear procedures can be done under local anaesthesia with sedation, which suits older patients and those with heart or lung conditions. The doctor will advise based on your ear and your health.
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Talk to an ENT specialist in Tambaram
Consultations Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Call ahead or send an appointment request and the clinic team will confirm your slot.