ENT Doctor for Hearing Problems in Dubai

Quick answer

Who treats hearing problems in Dubai, and when should you see a doctor?

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist who treats hearing problems. He sees patients at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, Dubai. Common causes include ear wax, fluid behind the eardrum and slow changes in the inner ear. Book a check if muffled hearing lasts more than a week or two. If hearing drops suddenly in one ear, see a doctor within 24 hours. A hearing change with a drooping face or slurred speech needs emergency care at once.

Hearing problems rarely come with a clear label. Most people first notice that something feels odd. Voices sound muffled. One ear stays blocked after a flight. You hear the TV but miss the words. For many people, the search for an ENT doctor for hearing problems in Dubai starts with that one strange feeling.

This guide follows what you notice. For each symptom, you will see what it may point to, sensible first steps and how soon to be seen.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, assesses hearing changes in adults and children. Many patients regard him as one of Dubai's best ENT doctors for hearing concerns.

Which hearing symptom do you have?

Start with a few questions:

Is it one ear or both ears?
Did it start suddenly, over a few days, or slowly over months?
Do sounds feel quieter, or loud but unclear?
Is there pain, discharge, ringing or dizziness as well?
Did it begin after a cold, a flight, swimming or loud noise?

Then read the section below that sounds most like you.

Why does my hearing sound muffled?

Muffled hearing feels like listening through a wall. Sounds are there but dull and soft. Common reasons include:

Earwax build-up. Wax can plug the ear canal. Cotton buds often push it deeper.
Fluid behind the eardrum. This often follows a cold, a sinus flare or allergies. In children it is often called glue ear.
An outer ear infection. Swimmer's ear can swell the ear canal and make it itchy or sore.
Slow change with age or noise. When muffling creeps in over years in both ears, the inner ear may be involved.

First steps: Do not dig in the ear with buds, pins or keys. Muffling from a cold often eases as the cold clears. If it stays beyond a week or two, an ear examination usually shows the cause quickly. If your hearing dropped suddenly, do not wait at all. You can read more about everyday causes of hearing loss and how to protect your ears.

What does a blocked or full ear mean?

A blocked ear feels like pressure, as if your ear needs to "pop". Your own voice may sound loud inside your head.

This often comes from the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear with the back of the nose and balances pressure. When it does not open well, pressure builds. Common triggers are a cold, sinus trouble, nasal allergies, flying and diving.

First steps: Gentle swallowing, yawning or chewing can help after a flight. Treating a blocked nose may also help. See a doctor if the fullness lasts more than two weeks, keeps coming back, or comes with pain or discharge.

One warning: a full ear with a clear drop in hearing may be a sudden inner ear problem. Do not wait.

I can hear, but I cannot understand speech

This is easy to brush aside. People often say, "My hearing is fine, others just mumble." You may struggle to follow talk in restaurants, mix up similar words, or turn the TV up higher than others like.

This pattern often points to gradual inner ear change. High-pitched sounds fade first, and many consonants live in that range. Speech then sounds loud enough but unclear, mainly with background noise. Noise exposure, ageing and family history can all play a part.

First steps: Ask someone close to you if they have noticed it too. Then book a hearing check. A proper hearing test in Dubai can show which pitches are affected and how much.

Hearing loss in one ear only

One-sided loss often has a simple cause, such as wax or an infection. Still, it deserves an ENT check, because a few causes need prompt care. Possible causes include:

Wax or a small object in one ear canal
An ear infection or a hole in the eardrum
Fluid behind one eardrum. In adults, if this does not clear, the back of the nose should also be checked.
A sudden inner ear problem
Rarely, a slow, non-cancerous lump pressing on the nerve between the ear and the brain

First steps: A humming check can give a rough clue. Hum softly with your mouth closed. If the hum sounds louder in the bad ear, the problem may be in the ear canal or middle ear. If it sounds louder in the good ear, the inner ear may be involved. This is not a diagnosis, and it should never delay a visit.

If the loss came on suddenly, see a doctor within a day. If it came on slowly, a hearing test usually comes first. If that shows one-sided inner ear loss, your doctor may also suggest an MRI scan.

Ringing, buzzing or fullness with hearing change

Ringing often travels with hearing loss. It can be an early clue that the ear has changed.

Ringing in both ears with slowly unclear speech may suggest gradual inner ear change.
Ringing, fullness and spinning dizziness in one ear that come in attacks need an ENT review.
Ringing in one ear only, or a sound that pulses along with your heartbeat, should be checked properly.

First steps: Note when the ringing started and what changes it. An ear specialist (otology) can then look at the whole picture, not just the ringing.

Which ear and hearing symptoms should not wait?

Most hearing problems can wait for a routine visit. Some cannot.

Go to an emergency department straight away if a hearing change comes with drooping or weakness of the face, slurred speech, severe dizziness or a sudden bad headache, or if it follows a head injury.

See a doctor within 24 hours if you have:

Hearing in one ear that drops suddenly, over a few hours to three days. Do not assume it is just wax or a cold until the ear has been examined.
Severe ear pain with fever, or a red, tender swelling behind the ear
Bleeding from the ear after a minor injury, such as a cotton bud slip

Smelly discharge that keeps coming back is not an emergency, but book a check soon. With sudden hearing loss, every day counts, because early treatment tends to give the ear a better chance.

How an ENT doctor for hearing problems in Dubai can help

At your visit, Dr. Muhammad Jabbr will first listen to your story, then examine your ears, nose and throat. Often the cause, such as wax or fluid, is seen straight away.

If needed, he may arrange a hearing test and a pressure test of the eardrum. Treatment depends on the cause. It may be safe wax removal under direct view, medicines, a plan for allergies, or treatment of an infection. Some patients may need a procedure, and some benefit from hearing aids.

His training includes MD, MS and DOHNS (England), plus the European Board and Arab Board in ORL-HNS. He has spent more than 20 years in ENT practice and performed more than 3,000 ENT procedures. He sees adults and children, and many families regard him as one of the best ear doctors in Dubai. If your child has unclear speech or seems not to listen, see how hearing problems can delay speech in children.

Book an appointment

If a hearing change is bothering you, have it checked. You can book an appointment online with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr. You will find him in the ENT Department at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa 1 (Hadiqa Street), Dubai. You can also phone +971 52 751 7811. If your hearing dropped suddenly, mention it when you call.

Frequently Asked Questions

My ear has felt blocked since my flight. Should I worry?

A blocked ear after flying is common and often clears within a few days. Swallowing, yawning and treating a stuffy nose may help. If it lasts more than two weeks, hurts, or your hearing drops clearly, see an ENT doctor.

Are cotton buds, ear candles or wax drops safe for a muffled ear?

Cotton buds often push wax deeper. Ear candles are not advised, as they do not remove wax and can cause burns. Softening drops may help some people with wax. Avoid drops if you have ear pain, discharge or a known hole in the eardrum.

Why does my own voice sound loud in one ear?

This often happens when the ear is blocked by wax, fluid or a cold. Less often, the Eustachian tube stays open too much, for example after weight loss. If it does not settle, an ENT check can find the cause.

My hearing comes and goes. Does it still need checking?

Yes. Hearing that changes from day to day is often linked to fluid or pressure in the middle ear. But hearing that dips in attacks, along with fullness, ringing or spinning dizziness, can point to an inner ear problem. Keep a short diary for your visit.

Should I see a GP or an ENT doctor for a hearing problem?

A GP can help with simple cases. If the problem keeps coming back, affects one ear, or comes with ringing or dizziness, an ENT doctor can examine the ear closely and arrange tests.

Final thoughts

Muffled sound, a full ear, unclear speech or one quiet ear can each point in a different direction. Many causes can be treated once a proper check finds them. Write down what you notice, avoid poking your ears, and act fast if hearing drops suddenly. When you are ready, Dr. Jabbr is there to examine your ears and plan the next step.