Snoring, Cats and Snowdon
Working in hearing care means no two weeks are ever quite the same. While we spend much of our time helping people hear conversations more clearly and reconnect with family and friends, occasionally we are treated to stories that make us smile long after the appointment has finished.
One of those stories came from a lovely lady in her nineties who recently visited us for an upgrade to her hearing aids.
Having recently moved in with family, it had become increasingly obvious that despite already wearing hearing aids, communication was difficult. Conversations were being missed, television could not be enjoyed properly, and family members often found themselves repeating things.
Like many people in retirement, she enjoys an afternoon nap in her favourite chair. Family members had often teased her about snoring during these naps, although the accusations had not always been accepted without challenge!
We have been delighted with the improvement in her hearing. However, at a recent follow-up appointment her family shared an unexpected consequence.
She can now hear so much better that she wakes herself up snoring.
The story caused plenty of laughter in clinic, but there is a serious point behind it. Many hearing aid users simply do not realise how much better they could be hearing. Over time, people adapt to gradual changes and assume their hearing aids are performing as well as possible when, in reality, careful adjustments, fine-tuning and attention to detail can often make a significant difference.
Our second unusual story of the month involved a cat.
Most people are familiar with common signs of earwax build-up: reduced hearing, blocked sensations, ringing in the ears, discomfort, itching, dizziness, and hearing aids whistling or performing poorly.
This week, however, we discovered a new potential warning sign.
A patient attended after noticing that her cat had become increasingly obsessed with her left ear. The cat repeatedly sniffed around it and seemed unusually interested whenever she sat down.
Sure enough, examination revealed a significant earwax blockage.
While we cannot officially recommend using cats as a diagnostic tool, there is a scientific explanation. Earwax contains oils, fats and proteins that can produce scents detectable to animals with highly sensitive noses. Cats and dogs are known to investigate unusual smells that humans would never notice.
Finally, a huge thank you to everybody supporting our Snowdon Challenge in aid of Syston and District Volunteer Centre.
At the time of writing, donations have exceeded £500, and we continue to be humbled by the generosity of local people, many of whom are still popping into the clinic with donations.
Training continues with plenty of sweaty incline walks and lower-body strength sessions, which should prove useful when tackling the steep lower sections of the Pyg Track on 26th June. We also have a training hike around Beacon Hill planned shortly before the challenge itself.
Syston and District Volunteer Centre provides essential transport and support services for local residents who might otherwise struggle to access appointments, shopping and social activities. Their work helps people remain connected and independent within our community.
If you would like to support the challenge, donations can still be made at www.optimal-hearing.com/snowdon-challenge or in person at the clinic. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps support a truly worthwhile local cause.
Until next month, keep listening, keep smiling, and if your cat suddenly develops an unusual interest in one of your ears, it may be worth getting it checked!
Paul, Sophie & Dee
Optimal Hearing Syston
