Ear Health

Looking after your hearing is about so much more than just your ears. Research has shown that hearing loss can affect confidence, social connections and quality of life¹ - particularly if left unaddressed. 1 in 3 people in the UK are affected by hearing loss², which can often lead to social isolation, disconnection, and sometimes other cognitive complications. Hearing health is the number one modifiable risk factor associated with the prevention of dementia, so as proud partners of Alzheimer’s Society, we’re here to remind you of the importance of ear checks. Whether you’re experiencing occasional discomfort or simply want to protect your hearing for the future, understanding your ear health is the first step, and we’re here to help.

• Earache and ear infections - ear infections are extremely common and can affect people of all ages. Symptoms might include soreness and discomfort of the ears, hearing changes, or leaking fluid. If you’re a resident in England, then earache is one of the common ailments covered by our Pharmacy First service - meaning no GP appointment required! Just pop into your local Well Pharmacy and one of our trained pharmacists will assess you for treatment.
• Blocked ears - Blocked ears can feel uncomfortable, itchy and make your hearing sound muffled. Common causes include a build-up of ear wax, sinus congestion, air pressure when travelling, a common cold, or a potential ear infection.
• Hearing changes - If you’re struggling to hear conversations, find yourself frequently having to ask people to repeat themselves, or find you’re constantly increasing the TV volume, it could be a sign that your hearing has changed and you should get your ears checked by an Ear Care Practitioner. A common cause of hearing changes is due to excessive ear wax build-up. Well Pharmacy can sort this for patients within a 20-minute appointment.
• Airplane ear - Have you ever travelled on a plane and felt that dreaded blocked/popping sensation in your ears? That’s known as ‘ear barotrauma’ in the medical world, and while it’s common, there are ways to prevent it - and an ear check before you travel is the first step! Read more about ear health and flying.
• Tinnitus - This usually involves hearing a ringing, buzzing or humming in your ears that isn’t coming from any external source. It can affect just one or both ears, and it can vary in severity over time. There are many causes of tinnitus and it's important to get your ears checked if you've recently developed this sensation.

There are a few simple habits you can adopt to help keep your ears healthy:

• Avoid pushing cotton buds or other objects into your ears
• Wear hearing protection if you’re going to be exposed to loud noise
• Keep headphones and earbuds clean
• Give your ears regular breaks from loud music
• Dry your ears gently after swimming or bathing
• Book an ear check if something doesn’t feel quite right, and seek urgent medical care if you’re particularly worried

You can’t prevent earwax because it's there to protect your ears from dirt and germs. However, regularly using eardrops such as olive oil drops will help soften earwax build-up and help it fall out on its own – stopping your ears getting blocked.

For those who suffer from regular earwax build-up, it’s advised that you have your ears checked regularly (every 6 months) with regular use of drops as advised by your healthcare professional.