Hearing

[Alexw1998]

Hi, I have tinnitus and I believe some hearing loss in my left ear. I saw my gp today who observed my left ear canal is pink and inflamed. He then suggested I get a spec savers hearing test and return to gp if my ear beings to itch or is in pain. I am concerned I’m being fobbed off here but I really don’t know what to do and if this is something to be worried about. I have noticed a recent decline in ability to follow conversations and everyone appears to mumble more frequently. Any advice please. Thank you.

[KittyJ]

I’d go and get your hearing tested, as suggested, if you are struggling to hear then you need it checked. May I ask why you think you are being fobbed off?

[Summerrain14]

Hi Alex. I would get your hearing checked even to just rule out a hearing loss. Specsavers are one of the NHS providers for audiology and they can refer you to ENT if they have concerns and provide you with hearing aids if needed. Hope this helps a little?

[Hidden]

What medication are you on?

[Hidden]

Sorry for some reason my entire reply can’t go through for some reason.

Anyway I was saying naproxen causes tinnitus for me.

An audiologist can only test and dispense hearing aids. If you have inflammation then they will refer you back to your Gp. If your Gp doesn’t know what’s causing pinkness or inflammation then a referral to ENT is best. I was a PA for a audiologist for a few years they will sell you an hearing aid and boy are they expensive. Explore other avenues medically then if you will benefit from an aid get one.

[Alexw1998 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks I’m not any an meds. I don’t know how to get a referral as gp didn’t seem keen

[Hidden in reply to Alexw1998]

Well you could have your hearing tested and if they see inflammation they can refer you back to gp then you ask for an ENT referral if your gp can’t help.. but really if your gp sees inflammation he should be proactive . I would get a second opinion from another gp.

[AgedCrone in reply to Hidden]

Nobody diagnosed by a Specsavers audiologist on referral from your GP as needing a hearing aid, needs to pay for the hearing aid...they are contracted to provide Free NHS Hearing tests, & if needed, hearing aids.

My Private ENT Consultant advised me not to pay for a Private hearing aid...he said most of his patients who did opt to buy private aids mostly went back to the NHS option.

These days you are offered regular updates of both hearing tests & hearing aids.

During lock down Specsavers were open at certain hours to help anybody having trouble with their hearing...or even just to supply batteries for hearing aids.

[helixhelix]

Seems to be possibly two separate things? The hearing loss/tinnitus where getting a hearing test is a sensible first step - the GP can’t do that.

And then the pinkness/inflammation. If there are no other symptoms like fever, itching or discharge from ear then not really much GP can or should do at this stage. Not appropriate to give antibiotics, and can’t think of anything else. What did you expect GP to do? And did you ask him/her for this?

Might you have been worrying at your ear more because of the tinnitus? As could be something that just goes away.

[AgedCrone]

No you are not being fobbed off...SpecSavers now do NHS hearing tests when you are referred by your GP. Much quicker & more efficient than the local hospital audiology department.

If you are found to need a hearing aid they will supply it.

Ear canals can often get inflamed if you have Tinnitus as you often unconsciously touch your years to try to quieten whatever sound disturbance you hear.

I don’t have tinnitus..but I did have inflamed itchy ears...simply dealt with .....with a mild Cortisone cream for 7 days ...then controlled with Vaseline!

So stop worrying & off to Specsavers!

[Hidden in reply to AgedCrone]

Hmm, I had my hearing tested at Specsavers and later at Boots. When I was seen in ENT not long after, the person I saw was very snooty about those tests and told me they were not as good as those done at the hospital - even though all three gave virtually identical results! Demarcation?

[AgedCrone in reply to Hidden]

Nah ....probably jealousy as I would imagine Specsavers staff earn more?

I may be wrong...but I think the machine does the hard bit with hearing tests these days, the audiologist just uses the computer to programme the hearing aid,

When I used the local hospital audiology department it seemed always staffed by somebody learning the job....who appeared to be on their first day. I came away with no answers to any questions I had, and that’s when I swapped over to Specsavers.

I have been very pleased with the service.

[Hidden in reply to AgedCrone]

Delving deep into my memory, the hospital audiologist who tested my hearing was quite complimentary about Specsavers and Boots. It was the ENT nurse practitioner who was denigrating them. I pointed out that I had wanted my hearing tested prior to starting on SSZ to give a baseline in case it damaged my hearing. I'd had no problem with my hearing at that time and therefore could not have gone direct to an NHS audiologist for a test. The nurse knew all that, but still ticked me off for going to Specs and Boots. I think they don't like patients who show any initiative. It regularly gets me into trouble.

Sadly, although I'd been concerned about possible hearing damage from SSZ and had discussed it with the rheumatology pharmacist before I started taking it, I was talked into it. Lesson learnt!

[AgedCrone in reply to Hidden]

Me too...I asked my Private ENT consultant where to go when my hearing started to deteriorate, & he recommended Specsavers, he said it would be quicker & equally as efficient.

But I had to ask my GP to refer me to be seen on the NHS...that is when the Consultant said not to spend thousands on hearing aids....& that has been proven right ....a friend has paid £4,000 for two hearing aids which she finds no better than her previous NHS aids.

Right now mine spends most of its time in its box, as specs, a hearing aid & a mask definitely do not mix!

[sylvi]

I have had tinnitus in my left ear for 25yrs so i understand how you feel. Specsavers will check your ears out properly and see if it is a infection that is causing your problems darling. If there is a infection they will send you back to your drs. xxx

[Paula-C in reply to sylvi]

Sylvi has it ever been investigated why you've only got it in one ear? x

[sylvi in reply to Paula-C]

Oh yes I know what caused it, it was a drug I was put to shut down my overies and I was only one of about 12 it happened to then. Xx

[Paula-C in reply to sylvi]

Good, my husband ended up having a brain scan. If it's only in one ear it may be because there's a tumour pressing onto a nerve. Thankfully he was okay. xx

[Hidden]

I think you’re right, you should be referred to ENT. See NICE guideline NG98 section 1.16 and 1.17 for more info. Specsavers may be a quicker way if you’re GP hasn’t been helpful as they can refer you to the hospital if you have asymmetrical hearing loss and unilateral tinnitus.

[Paula-C in reply to Hidden]

My husband mentioned during an appointment at Specsavers he only had tinnitus in one ear, was told GP would have to be informed. Few days later doctors surgery rang he had to see a GP and was then refereed to ENT department at our hospital.

[Hidden in reply to Paula-C]

That’s how it should be done, properly. That’s good to hear.

[barbieg]

I have Tinnitus and had really itchy ears . My GP referred me to my local ENT department when he noticed they were red and inflamed and I was diagnosed with eczema in the ear canal. I had a hearing test too at the same time but it wasn’t bad enough for hearing aids. You really need to ask your GP to refer you .

[MuppetBaby]

As Pink Treacle Monkey has stated unilateral tinnitus is an automatic referral to ENT. It may be quicker to have your hearing checked at Boots or Specsavers for peace of mind in the interim though. GPs often tell patients to do this as they provide a basic screen of your hearing for free. I am not aware of any Specsavers or Boots that can refer direct to an ENT department though so they will just tell you to go back to your GP if hearing loss in one ear is found. In some areas Specsavers do provide NHS services however you cannot just turn up requesting this the GP needs to refer you like they would do the hospital.

[KittyJ in reply to MuppetBaby]

You can self refer in some areas, check the website for your area Alex.

[MuppetBaby in reply to KittyJ]

Interesting I wasn’t aware of this. I checked their website and it says “if you have been referred by your GP contact your local store”. A person can’t self refer for the hospital in our area as the GP pays for the service. Not all areas have AQP (any qualified provider) I know ours does not. Anyone can attend for a free hearing screen at any time. I know some areas are different though. I also know our area cannot refer directly to ENT but maybe that’s because they are not part of AQP 🤷🏻‍♀️

[MuppetBaby in reply to MuppetBaby]

Found it!

If you are eligible, the first step is to visit your GP and ask them for a referral into the service.

In the areas listed below, a GP referral is not required, and people are able to self-refer at a Specsavers store of their choice.

Derbyshire

Coventry and Rugby

Dorking

North Hampshire

Cheshire

Epsom

Lincolnshire

Devon

If you live in one of these areas, please visit your nearest Specsavers store for more information.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I’d do as the doctor suggested and go to Specsavers for a hearing test. In my area you have to be referred by your GP to get NHS hearing aids but that doesn’t apply in a lot of areas. Read what it says in their website. I has my first ever hearing test back in February and it was fine. Didn’t need aids either.

You might find that Specsavers can do direct referrals to ENT - I know my optometrist can do direct referrals to eye departments so it might be the same with ears. I don’t know though. Even if they can’t they will tell you what to do next.

The problem may be that your GP like mine is not doing any referrals to your local hospital because of covid in which case there’s not much you can do.

[Tiverland]

Hi. talking from experience. RA can cause inflammation and swelling in the ear canal hence hearing loss. My ENT nurse told me to take Naproxen ( my usual pain relief) to reduce the swelling and my hearing loss came back. I am already deaf in one ear and not able to wear an aid so I lost my hearing completely.

Sorry can’t offer suggestion for tinnitus.