Ear health
A suspected ruptured eardrum: protect the ear and arrange assessment
Hearing change and drainage need a clinical assessment rather than an improvised home treatment.
The October collection
All articles
25 stories. Useful ideas. Room for a little perspective.
Hearing
Sudden hearing loss: treat the change as time-sensitive
Do not wait for a home wax treatment to explain an abrupt drop in hearing.
Ear health
Ear infection symptoms: decide which level of help to seek
Use the symptom pattern and medical history to arrange the appropriate assessment.
Everyday care
Blocked ears and wax: ask the right questions before using drops
A blocked feeling is a symptom, and a damaged eardrum changes which products are appropriate.
Everyday care
Swimmer’s ear prevention: keep a simple pool routine
Plan gentle drying and discuss products before applying them to a vulnerable ear.
Hearing
A hearing appointment: prepare examples that describe daily life
Bring a short listening history and questions that connect the tests to your priorities.
Hearing
Gradual hearing change: start with a conversation rather than a label
Describe what has become difficult and arrange evaluation without assuming it is simply aging.
Ear health
Tinnitus symptoms: know which changes need urgent help
Match the route for care to the onset and accompanying symptoms.
Everyday care
Persistent tinnitus: plan a useful support appointment
Focus on sleep, concentration, and communication goals when discussing management.
Ear health
Dizziness and ear symptoms: make the appointment safer and clearer
Describe the movement sensation and protect yourself from falls while arranging assessment.
Sound & safety
Headphone listening in 2026: plan volume and time together
Use WHO’s updated guidance to make a routine that works during calls, commuting, and leisure.
Sound & safety
Gaming sound safety: what the WHO–ITU standard changes for players
The 2025 standard turns safe listening into a design question as well as a player habit.
Sound & safety
Hearing protectors: practice the fit before the noisy activity
Choose protection you can wear consistently and learn its supported fitting method.
Sound & safety
A noisy workplace: ask for control measures and a fit check
Hearing protection works best within a broader plan that reduces noise at its source.
Sound & safety
Protecting a child’s hearing at an event: rehearse the routine together
Choose a suitable fit, a quieter escape route, and an adult who will notice discomfort.
Sound & safety
A concert hearing plan: choose distance, breaks, and protection in advance
Make the venue plan before the music starts so comfort does not depend on a last-minute decision.
Sound & safety
Why loud sound can damage hearing before you notice a clear loss
Use the three exposure questions—level, distance, and time—to guide practical choices.
Hearing
A first hearing-aid fitting: rehearse the tasks you will do at home
Connect the fitting to everyday use, maintenance, and realistic listening goals.
Hearing
US over-the-counter hearing aids: check eligibility and warning signs first
The FDA category is for adults with perceived mild to moderate loss and has specific limits.
Hearing
Cochlear implants: questions to bring to a specialist discussion
Consider assessment, surgery, rehabilitation, and personal communication goals together.
Hearing
Assistive listening beyond hearing aids: match the tool to the room
A meeting, theatre, and home alarm can need different forms of support.
Ear health
Ménière’s disease: use an episode history to support specialist care
A cluster of dizziness and hearing symptoms needs assessment rather than diagnosis from a checklist.
Ear health
Otosclerosis explained: ask how the middle ear is affecting hearing
Understand the diagnosis and discuss hearing aids or surgery with an ear specialist.
Ear health
Pain or swelling behind the ear: seek urgent assessment
The NHS’s August 2026 mastoiditis guidance stresses prompt care for the relevant symptoms.
Everyday care
Newborn hearing screening: keep the result and follow-up appointment together
Screening is an early step, and a result needing follow-up deserves prompt diagnostic assessment.