Hearing Test Doctor in Dubai | Dr. Muhammad Jabbr

Maybe the TV seems too quiet. Maybe you keep asking people to repeat themselves. Or maybe you have a hearing report in your hand and the chart makes no sense. If you are looking for a hearing test doctor in Dubai, this guide is for you.

Below, you will learn when to get tested, who needs regular checks and how to read your results.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa. He is one of the best ENT doctors in Dubai to see when you want your results explained clearly and a plan for what comes next.

When should you see a hearing test doctor in Dubai?

A slow change is easy to miss, because your brain learns to fill the gaps. These signs suggest a hearing check is a good idea:

You turn up the TV or phone volume more than others like.
Speech sounds mumbled, especially in cafes, malls or family gatherings.
You often say "what?" or answer the wrong question.
Higher voices, such as a child's, are harder to catch than deep ones.
You hear ringing, buzzing or hissing in one or both ears (tinnitus).
One ear feels blocked or full for more than a few days.

Some changes should not wait. Sudden hearing loss is an emergency. If hearing in one or both ears drops over a few hours or up to three days, see an ENT doctor as soon as you can, ideally within 24 hours. Treatment started early may give a better chance of recovery. Go to an emergency department if hearing loss comes with face weakness, a severe headache or severe dizziness. Ear pain with fever and discharge also needs prompt care.

To understand what can cause these changes, read our guide to common hearing loss causes and prevention tips.

Who needs regular hearing checks?

Some people should not wait for symptoms. Regular checks catch changes early.

People exposed to noise at work

Building sites, factories, airports and nightclubs can be loud enough to harm the inner ear. Wear ear protection and keep up with the checks your employer or doctor advises.

Adults over 50

Age-related hearing loss is very common. It usually affects high-pitched sounds first. A check every few years from around age 50 helps you and your doctor track any change. If you already have hearing loss, your doctor may suggest a check every year.

People taking certain medicines

Some medicines can affect the inner ear. These include some strong antibiotics given by drip, some cancer treatments, and high doses of certain water tablets or aspirin. Your doctor may arrange a test before and during treatment. Never stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor.

Others who may benefit from checks

People with diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease.
Anyone with a family history of early hearing loss.
People with past ear surgery or repeated ear infections.
Children with speech delay or poor school progress. Read more about speech delay and hearing loss in children.

How do you read your audiogram?

An audiogram is the chart of your hearing results. It maps the quietest sound you can hear at each pitch.

Pitch across, loudness down

The line along the top shows pitch, measured in hertz (Hz). Low sounds, like a drum, sit on the left. High sounds, like birdsong or the letters "s" and "f", sit on the right. Most charts run from 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz.

The side of the chart shows loudness in decibels (dB). Quiet sounds are at the top. Loud sounds are at the bottom. So the lower your marks sit on the chart, the louder a sound had to be before you heard it.

The symbols and colours

Most audiograms use a red circle (O) for the right ear and a blue cross (X) for the left ear. Bracket shapes, such as [ ] or < >, show bone conduction. This is sound sent through the bone behind the ear, straight to the inner ear. If the bone marks sit clearly higher on the chart than the O and X marks, this is called an air-bone gap. It may point to a problem in the ear canal or middle ear, such as wax, fluid, a hole in the eardrum or stiff middle ear bones.

Decibel levels and degrees of hearing loss

Doctors group results into degrees, often using the average of the main speech pitches. Exact cut-offs differ between guidelines, but a common scale for adults is:

Normal: up to 20 to 25 dB. You can hear a soft whisper.
Mild: about 26 to 40 dB. Soft speech and speech in noise are harder.
Moderate: about 41 to 55 dB. Normal conversation is hard to follow.
Moderately severe: about 56 to 70 dB. You miss most speech without help.
Severe: about 71 to 90 dB. You may only hear loud voices close by.
Profound: over 90 dB. Even very loud sounds may not be heard.

Common patterns on the chart

The shape of the line gives clues too. A line that slopes down to the right is typical of ageing, where high pitches fade first. A dip around 4,000 Hz that recovers a little at 8,000 Hz is often called a "noise notch". It can point to noise damage. A loss mainly in the low pitches is less common and can be seen in Meniere's disease. A flat line has several possible causes and needs a doctor's review.

Left ear versus right ear: why does one ear test worse?

Small differences between the ears are normal. A larger difference is called asymmetric hearing loss, and it deserves a closer look.

Common reasons are simple: wax in one ear, fluid behind one eardrum after a cold, or an old infection or perforation. Gunfire from shooting or hunting can also harm one ear more than the other.

Sometimes the cause is less obvious. If one inner ear is clearly weaker for no clear reason, or you have ringing in one ear only, your ENT doctor may suggest an MRI scan. This is mainly to rule out rare causes, such as a slow-growing, non-cancerous growth called an acoustic neuroma. Most of these scans come back clear.

What happens after your hearing test results?

Your next steps depend on the type, degree and cause of the change:

Normal results. You may repeat the test later, based on your age, noise exposure or medicines.
A blockage or middle ear problem. Wax can be removed in the clinic. Fluid, infection or a perforation may need medical or surgical care, then a repeat test.
Inner ear hearing loss. This type is usually permanent. Your doctor will look for causes and help you protect the hearing you have. Hearing aids may be discussed if daily life is affected.
A clear difference between ears. Extra tests, such as an MRI, may be arranged.
Sudden change. Treatment is started quickly, as early care may help recovery.

Keep your old reports. Comparing charts over time shows whether hearing is stable or changing. If you have not had a test yet, see our page on the hearing test in Dubai.

Why see Dr. Muhammad Jabbr about your hearing results?

A chart alone is not a diagnosis. Dr. Muhammad Jabbr checks your ear canal and eardrum, asks about your symptoms and explains your audiogram in plain words.

Consultant ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa.
Qualifications: MD, MS, DOHNS (England), European Board ORL-HNS and Arab Board ORL-HNS.
More than 20 years of experience and more than 3,000 ENT procedures.
Sees both adults and children.

If your results point to an ear disease, learn more about his otology (ear) care in Dubai, or read more about Dr. Muhammad Jabbr.

Book an appointment

Bring any old hearing reports and a list of your medicines. Book online with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, or call +971 52 751 7811. The clinic is on Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hearing level counts as normal on an audiogram?

For adults, results up to about 20 to 25 dB at each pitch are usually seen as normal. Children are often held to a stricter standard. Your doctor will explain where your marks sit.

Does a mild result mean I need hearing aids?

Not always. Many people with mild loss manage well with simple changes and regular checks. Hearing aids are considered when hearing problems affect your work, safety or social life.

How often should I get tested if I work in a noisy place?

Once a year is a common plan. Have a baseline test when you start the job. Test sooner if you notice ringing, muffled hearing or any change.

Can my hearing test result get better?

It can, if the cause is treatable. Wax, fluid and some infections often improve with treatment. Inner ear damage from age or noise usually does not improve, but it can often be managed.

Will my ear ringing show up on the audiogram?

Not directly. The chart shows the softest sounds you can hear, not the ringing itself. But many people with tinnitus have some hearing loss on the chart, often in the high pitches.

Conclusion

Knowing the warning signs helps you test at the right time. Knowing how to read your audiogram helps you ask better questions. If your results worry you, a calm review with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can help you plan what comes next.