SHEFFIELD, UK, December 04, 2008
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Judith Curtis from Chelmsford, Essex, was aware that her hearing had been getting worse in the previous ten months, but it wasn't until she went completely deaf in her right ear just after Christmas 2007 that she acknowledged the need to do something about it. She was referred by her GP to the local specialist ear clinic, which miraculously gave Judith her hearing back.
Before her hearing went altogether, Judith, who is retired, recalls some very strange activity in her ears. "I would sometimes get in the shower in the morning and come out with fuzzy hearing; my ears would suddenly pop and and I could hear again" she says. "I had to make sure that I used my better ear to talk on the phone."
"I can't walk very far as I have multiple sclerosis, so it was a relief that the specialist ear care nurse was able to visit me at home," says Judith. The nurse very carefully cleaned out and syringed Judith's ears having examined them and found them full of wax. "It was amazing. Suddenly after the syringing I could hear again. The wax had obviously been building up over a long period of time. The nurse was very helpful, and gave me information and advice on how to avoid having this degree of problem again. She suggested using olive oil drops weekly to lubricate the wax, encouraging it to move naturally out of the ear. She recommended this in preference to any of the chemist's treatments, and happily it worked really well for me."
Judith understands the frustrations of others with ear conditions, as it is an invisible affliction. "People must think to themselves, 'Well, you look perfectly alright, how can there be something wrong?' But it is very difficult to live with hearing problems," she says.
Prompt treatment of ear infections, blockage or wax build up can stop a minor problem becoming major, yet most people have no idea what to do if they experience ear pain, itchiness or dulled hearing. Guidance is available from Deafness Research UK who have recently published a handy leaflet called 'Trouble With Your Ears?', which can be obtained from your local GP or practice nurse, or directly from Deafness Research UK. It also offers valuable tips on self-help for the ears, to keep them healthy and problem-free.
Deafness Research UK is the country's only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and technologies for the deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired people including tinnitus sufferers.
Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK, said: "Thousands of people have ear problems yet few people realise that many common ear complaints can be avoided with good ear hygiene and preventative measures. Our new leaflet ' Trouble With Your Ears?' is designed to provide people with the information they need for good ear health, and free copies of the leaflet are available from us directly if people are not able to get hold of a copy from their local GP or practice nurse. We don't guarantee to solve everyone's ear and hearing problems, but the leaflet goes a long way to helping people understand exactly what they can do themselves and explain what help is available
"In Judith's case, expert care and advice has offered significant improvement, which should be sustainable with regular check ups and more attention to ear hygiene. This is great news and it is the type of care and support that all sufferers of ear conditions should expect. Sadly, the level of service available around the country is patchy and people are by no means certain to get this degree of care and understanding when they attend their local GP or nurse with an ear complaint. That is why we are campaigning hard so that everyone has access to the expertise of a nurse who has received specialist ear care training.
To get your copy of the leaflet 'Trouble With Your Ears?', telephone 0808 808 2222 or email info@deafnessresearch.org.uk. For information on research into deafness and other hearing conditions, log on to the website, http://www.deafnessresearch.org.uk'
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Jon Gardner, BeyondPR. Direct line 0114 275 6996. Mobile 07930 697773. e-mail: jon.gardner@beyondpr.co.uk
Ref: DRUK0062 - Judith Curtis
Deafness Research UK
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