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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
I didn't realise how bad my hearing was until I had my ear wax removed
There's a crackling, like someone tuning an old radio, then a violent pop as if a champagne cork exploded near my head. And all of a sudden I can hear. The hum of the air conditioning, a shout from the street outside, distant traffic; the world which had been a dull and distant fog to me comes rushing in. The process of restoring my hearing has taken a while. Three weeks ago, the Telegraph Health editor asked if I'd be willing to be videoed getting my ears cleaned out. 'What?' I responded, wondering why my editor might want a video of beer-weaned trout. When I told my partner about this assignment, he was delighted, reeling off all the times I'd accused him of mumbling when, he claimed, his volume was normal. 'I'm sure it's not that bad,' I demurred. Later, as we ate our blackened dinner – I hadn't heard the oven timer going off – I conceded that he may have a point. In 2019, earwax removal services, formerly free to access at GPs practices, were removed from the roster of 'core services' GPs were obliged to provide. Six years later, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) says it's a postcode lottery as to whether those who need the treatment can get it. According to the RNID, 2.3 million Britons suffer with excess wax requiring professional removal every year, leaving many people vulnerable to reduced hearing. Just as in my case, hearing loss is often detected by family or friends rather than the person experiencing it, says Mitan Katelia, the pharmacist who first checked my ears. 'Our busiest time for hearing checks is after Christmas,' he explains. 'It becomes evident which forces people to act.' It's partly down to the stigma around hearing, thinks Dr Krishan Ramdoo, a former ENT surgeon who founded TympaHealth, the UK's largest provider of hearing assessment technology. 'If you woke up and you couldn't see, you would seek medical attention,' he says. 'But when people experience hearing loss, they muddle on and find ways to get around it.' That's me. I've always had intermittent hearing loss. If I ever go swimming, I'll be near-deaf in at least one ear for a week or so. Similarly if I get a cold I sometimes wake up with a blocked ear for a few days. It's annoying but I remind myself to say 'I beg your pardon?' instead of 'what?', and hope it'll sort itself out. This is not the course of action recommended by Dr Ramdoo. 'Hearing is hugely important to our health. Hearing loss is the single biggest modifiable risk factor in the prevention of dementia,' he tells me. 'When you lose your hearing you automatically feel disengaged with your environment so it leads to social isolation. If you have untreated hearing loss you're also three times more likely to have a fall.' I've seen all of these issues personally. My grandmother refused hearing aids and soon began complaining that she couldn't follow conversations. She became reclusive and, after a fall landed her in hospital, she was diagnosed with dementia. But I'm 31, not 81, surely this shouldn't matter so much to me? 'Maybe not yet, but the World Health Organisation thinks that by 2030 hearing loss will overtake diabetes and cataracts in the top 10 burdens on global health,' says Dr Ramdoo. 'We're wearing headphones all the time, going to loud concerts, sitting beside busy roads – our ears didn't evolve to cope with these constant micro-traumas.' Soon Katelia had his camera and suction tube in my ear. 'Hmm,' he said. 'You have a lot of wax in there.' 'What?' I replied. 'A lot of wax!' he bellowed. My other ear was the same. Katelia showed me the videos he had taken (click to watch below). In each of my ear canals sat a hard ball of wax, both so old that they'd had lost their golden hue and morphed into a pair of pitch black clumps. Part of the problem is that I have the tightest ear canals Katelia has ever seen among the thousands of patients he has worked on (I'm slightly proud of this superlative.) I was dispatched with a bottle of olive oil and told to put a few drops into my dainty little ears every morning and night to help soften the wax. Given that cotton buds are strictly forbidden (they just push the wax further back into the ear and can damage the ear drum which can lead to permanent deafness) olive oil is usually the first port of call for home remedies. For most people it'll soften the wax enough for it to come out on its own. A week later I was back in his clinic; 'a lot has come out,' Katelia advised. But the black clumps were still firmly in post, if a little frayed around the edges. I was sent away again, this time with the next step up from olive oil: sodium bicarbonate drops to soften the lumps. I left thinking about a scene from Dreamworks's 2001 film Shrek where the ogre extracts a glob of wax from his ear so big he can make a candle from it. The following week I was visited by Katelia's colleague, the Pearl Pharmacy Group's brightest talent when it comes to removing earwax. After a quick inspection, we were off again: the microsuction machine at full whack. My pharmacist glaring into my ear with intense concentration, sweat beading across her brow. The machine was emitting a high pitched whine. 'Keep going,' I demanded. 'I can feel it moving.' 'I'm giving it all she's got, Captain!' the pharmacist snapped back. For one brief, golden moment, it felt like she'd got it – my hearing suddenly clicked into high-definition. I could hear like never before. But then the microsuction hose retracted and it was blocked again. The pharmacist was able to open up a small hole between my ear drum and the canal, but the wax soon slipped back. It shifted, but remained unextractable. 'I really believe I can do it,' the pharmacist said with determination. 'I don't want to use too much force because your ear canals are so tight I can't see around the wax. For all I know it's adhered to your ear drum. If I turn the suction up too much it could rip a hole in it.' When I returned in three days time it was the same story: a glimmer of success, but no cigar. With nothing more to be done, I'm referred upwards. Dr Ramdoo's friend, a fellow ENT specialist, Joseph Manjaly sees me at his private clinic. When I arrive he's already seen my file and the videos that the pharmacy had sent. 'Are my ear canals the tightest you've seen?' I demand. 'Definitely in the top 10, I'd say,' Manjaly says. I am mollified. 'But it's not the worst case I've ever dealt with.' The end being in sight now, I wonder how big a difference to my hearing I should expect. One thing I find most annoying is that when I'm in a noisy environment – a busy restaurant for instance – my ears tend to lock onto whatever the loudest sound is (invariably an American having a personal conversation) and then tune out everything else. 'That happens because your hearing isn't great and your brain gets worn out by trying to sort through all the different sounds, so it just fixates on whatever is easiest for it to hear,' Manjaly explains. 'Once the wax is out that shouldn't be a problem any more.' Then we're away, there's the crackling as the last of the olive oil gets slurped out and then the pop of the wax plug springing forth. The globules of black grime aren't as big as I expected – each is about the size of my little fingertip – but are satisfyingly disgusting. After he's finished, Manjaly gives me a hearing test. The results? 'Perfectly average.' Since my ears have been cleaned, I no longer have to lean in close to hear someone in a crowded room, I can hear approaching cars, I've never missed the oven timer. The world suddenly feels crisp and defined; it's the equivalent of having spent the past few years watching a flickering old TV then upgrading to a high-definition 4K cinema screen. What I'm surprised by is how much I'd been compensating. A few weeks ago, I'd have said my hearing was basically fine. I'm just discovering how much I couldn't hear. For most of us, hearing gradually declines from the age of 35. Given we know how badly hearing loss affects us, it's worth a check up, isn't it? Take my experiences as proof that just because you think you can hear doesn't mean you can and if you're always complaining about your partner mumbling, maybe the problem lies in your ears. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Young music fans who regularly attend live shows ignoring risk of hearing loss
Young people who regularly go to live music events are at risk of suffering permanent hearing loss, a charity has warned. A survey of 2,000 adults found that more than half of respondents aged between 18 and 28 reported hearing loss, the ear-ringing condition tinnitus or both after attending a festival, gig or going to a nightclub. The report by the Royal National Institute For Deaf People (RNID) warns that while these symptoms are normally temporary, long-term exposure can cause permanent damage. Despite three-quarters of respondents being aware of a risk of hearing damage when exposed to noisy venues, 35 per cent said they do not plan to wear hearing protection such as earplugs at live music events this year. More than 18 million people in the UK are thought to be either deaf, hard of hearing or suffer from tinnitus. Research shows that prolonged exposure to sounds louder than 85 decibels – roughly the same as a food blender – can trigger hearing damage. However, the music at many live venues and nightclubs can often reach more than 100 decibels. Experts say that more than 15 minutes of exposure to noise this loud will likely lead to some level of permanent hearing loss. The RNID has also warned that young people are more likely to be exposed to unsafe levels of noise through headphones. Those who wear headphones in the presence of background noise, such as during a commute, are most at risk. The charity says this risk can be reduced by ensuring the volume is below 60 per cent. Franki Oliver, audiology manager at RNID, said: 'There is growing concern that headphone use, both by over-ear headphones and in-ear buds, could risk permanent damage, especially if people aren't aware of the risks.'
The Guardian
03-08-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
I lost my hearing in one ear and I'm worried I won't find a new job
I am a 50-year-old man. After a long-term disease, I had my inner ear removed, and then lost my job due to incapacity. I have hearing in one ear, am waiting for an implant and wear aids, which help. I felt lost for a few years, but I got fit and slowly regrouped, and ended up doing an apprenticeship. Now it is coming to an end, I am worried about applying for jobs, having to prove myself again against healthy people half my age. Sometimes I wake in the night panicking. I want to cry most of the time. I just want someone to say it will be OK and help me. But I'm not sure who to ask. My biggest fear is putting strain on my wife and kids again. I can't drive due to the illness and operation, so I am already at a loss as to which jobs I can apply for. After being ill for so long I lost a lot of friends, who just didn't get it. I think the new situation is triggering a lot of that hurt. Facing a long-term disease and loss of hearing is tough. You have already really helped yourself. I went to emergency planner Prof Lucy Easthope, and the RNID, the national charity supporting people who are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus (which is one in three adults in the UK). Easthope has written a book you may find helpful called Come What May: Life-Changing Lessons for Coping with Crisis. The first thing she said was: 'Bloody well done. We often need to hear that, but no one says it. You've been incredibly brave doing the apprenticeship.' She felt you were using 'pessimism as protection, which can actually be really helpful as long as it doesn't sabotage, because you have to be ready for things to not go entirely right. And there are reasons things might not go right that shouldn't be linked to your self-esteem.' She gave the example of people after adversity 'going for total reinvention and not being realistic, like going for jobs they can't do and maybe could never do. If the job isn't right for you, then you probably won't get it.' She also felt that: 'What you are going through is bigger than what happens next; the dreams you have had to give up on.' She suggested 'speaking out loud the monsters that keep you awake at night so you can explore them'. Who previously made things OK for you? Is there someone you can talk to? I'm sure your wife would welcome you letting her in, but if not, a good friend or a family member? I'm sorry your friends didn't get it. Lots of people don't, but often it's not ill intent, just ignorance (and laziness to not find out what you need). Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Little by little, things can and will shift. Health crises can really throw us, and it can take a long time to adapt and redefine ourselves. It also sounds like you are a bit afraid of letting others in, but talking about things is how we process. No one can say this is going to be 100% OK, but slowly you may realise that there will be OK-ness, joy and hope. You can cry if you need to. The RNID recommended looking for employers who have signed up to the Disability Confident scheme. And added: 'Remember that under the Equality Act 2010, employers have a legal duty to support individuals, including those who are deaf or have hearing loss.' The RNID has lots more info, and the charity Hearing Link Services offers peer support sessions. Easthope said that you might imagine younger people without your issues wouldn't be afraid but, trust us, they are. Everyone is with a new start. You've done amazingly well. This wasn't what you planned, but it's where you've found yourself. You're not the same person you were at the beginning of this journey, because you've already found great resources within yourself. Every week, Annalisa Barbieri addresses a personal problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Annalisa, please send your problem to Annalisa regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions. The latest series of Annalisa's podcast is available here. Comments on this piece are pre-moderated to ensure the discussion remains on the topics raised by the article. Please be aware that there may be a short delay in comments appearing on the site.
The Guardian
03-08-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
I lost my hearing in one ear and I'm worried I won't find a new job
I am a 50-year-old man. After a long-term disease, I had my inner ear removed, and then lost my job due to incapacity. I have hearing in one ear, am waiting for an implant and wear aids, which help. I felt lost for a few years, but I got fit and slowly regrouped, and ended up doing an apprenticeship. Now it is coming to an end, I am worried about applying for jobs, having to prove myself again against healthy people half my age. Sometimes I wake in the night panicking. I want to cry most of the time. I just want someone to say it will be OK and help me. But I'm not sure who to ask. My biggest fear is putting strain on my wife and kids again. I can't drive due to the illness and operation, so I am already at a loss as to which jobs I can apply for. After being ill for so long I lost a lot of friends, who just didn't get it. I think the new situation is triggering a lot of that hurt. Facing a long-term disease and loss of hearing is tough. You have already really helped yourself. I went to emergency planner Prof Lucy Easthope, and the RNID, the national charity supporting people who are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus (which is one in three adults in the UK). Easthope has written a book you may find helpful called Come What May: Life-Changing Lessons for Coping with Crisis. The first thing she said was: 'Bloody well done. We often need to hear that, but no one says it. You've been incredibly brave doing the apprenticeship.' She felt you were using 'pessimism as protection, which can actually be really helpful as long as it doesn't sabotage, because you have to be ready for things to not go entirely right. And there are reasons things might not go right that shouldn't be linked to your self-esteem.' She gave the example of people after adversity 'going for total reinvention and not being realistic, like going for jobs they can't do and maybe could never do. If the job isn't right for you, then you probably won't get it.' She also felt that: 'What you are going through is bigger than what happens next; the dreams you have had to give up on.' She suggested 'speaking out loud the monsters that keep you awake at night so you can explore them'. Who previously made things OK for you? Is there someone you can talk to? I'm sure your wife would welcome you letting her in, but if not, a good friend or a family member? I'm sorry your friends didn't get it. Lots of people don't, but often it's not ill intent, just ignorance (and laziness to not find out what you need). Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Little by little, things can and will shift. Health crises can really throw us, and it can take a long time to adapt and redefine ourselves. It also sounds like you are a bit afraid of letting others in, but talking about things is how we process. No one can say this is going to be 100% OK, but slowly you may realise that there will be OK-ness, joy and hope. You can cry if you need to. The RNID recommended looking for employers who have signed up to the Disability Confident scheme. And added: 'Remember that under the Equality Act 2010, employers have a legal duty to support individuals, including those who are deaf or have hearing loss.' The RNID has lots more info, and the charity Hearing Link Services offers peer support sessions. Easthope said that you might imagine younger people without your issues wouldn't be afraid but, trust us, they are. Everyone is with a new start. You've done amazingly well. This wasn't what you planned, but it's where you've found yourself. You're not the same person you were at the beginning of this journey, because you've already found great resources within yourself. Every week, Annalisa Barbieri addresses a personal problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Annalisa, please send your problem to Annalisa regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions. The latest series of Annalisa's podcast is available here. Comments on this piece are pre-moderated to ensure the discussion remains on the topics raised by the article. Please be aware that there may be a short delay in comments appearing on the site.
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
NHS earwax removal must be available to all
Your article about ear health (Get plugs and never remove wax at home, 24 June) didn't reflect the huge impact on some people's lives of the withdrawal of NHS earwax removal services in many areas. Cornwall is one of the areas of the country where you now have to pay privately to have earwax safely removed. The cost of this can be considerable for those on limited incomes, which causes some to undertake dangerous procedures themselves to clear their wax, or go to an unregulated and possibly dangerous practitioner, or simply live with reduced hearing. The double whammy is that you can't get an NHS hearing check – and thus NHS-funded hearing aids if you need them – or access to other treatment unless you have had your earwax removed at your own expense. RNID, the national hearing-loss charity, has published a report, Stop the Block, highlighting the issue. As your article rightly says, people need good hearing to stay socially connected. Without good-quality social interactions, people can become withdrawn, isolated, depressed and ill. The withdrawal in many areas of this apparently minor service to remove earwax is having a serious impact on some people's lives. The free NHS service must be reinstated for BlundyWest Cornwall HealthWatch Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
