Hearing care

Making a splash this summer? Whether you are serious about swimming, hitting up the surf or enjoying a casual dip in the pool, don’t let swimmer’s ear ruin your fun. Here at Leightons, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about swimmer’s ear and how you can avoid it What is Swimmer's Ear? Otitis externa, or as it’s often referred to, swimmer’s ear, is a common condition that will affect around 1 in 10 of us at some point in our lifetime [1]. In simple terms, otitis externa causes the external ear canal to become inflamed which can result in a number of symptoms, including: Swelling and redness on the outer ear Pain or discomfort Temporary hearing loss Tinnitus Discharge from the ear What causes swimmer's ear? Otitis externa most commonly occurs as a result of bacterial infections caused by water or moisture trapped in the ear. Water can easily enter our ears, especially when they are submerged. With a little help from gravity, this water will leave the way it came in and our ears will dry up. However, in some cases, this water doesn’t fully exit the ear, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive! Those who spend lots of time in the water, have narrow ear canals or have a build-up of ear wax are at a higher risk of developing swimmer's ear. How to Treat Swimmer's Ear Should you suspect you have swimmer’s ear or a possible ear infection, you should contact your GP immediately. They will be able to prescribe you with the correct course of treatment. How to Prevent Swimmer's Ear Prevention is always better than treatment, so here are our top tips for preventing swimmer’s ear: Avoiding swimming in polluted or untreated water. These environments can harbour bacteria which, if allowed to sit in the ear canal for an extended period, could cause a nasty infection. Gently dry your ears off with a towel after swimming or bathing to remove any residual water. Use a swim cap or ear plugs to prevent water from entering the ears. Ear plugs for swimming Here at Leightons, we offer a fantastic range of hearing protection, including custom-moulded ear plugs for swimming. These are durable, tailor-made ear plugs that stop water and bacteria from entering the ear canal, making them the ear plug of choice for regular swimmers and watersports enthusiasts. Another type of ear plug for swimming that many people use is silicone ear plugs. These do a good job at keeping the water out. However, they are often only available in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ style, so they aren’t suitable for everyone and don’t offer the comfort or security that custom-moulded swimming ear plugs do. If you’d like to find out more about custom ear plugs for swimming then why not book a hearing protection consultation today? Book a hearing protection appointment Get swim season ready! So now you know what swimmer’s ear is, how it's caused and, most importantly, how to avoid it, you and your ears can enjoy summer to the full! Remember, if you think you have symptoms of swimmer’s ear, contact your GP for advice and treatment. Frequent swimmer? If you would like to find out more about your hearing health, you can book a FREE hearing assessment today. Our friendly and professional audiologists will use the latest technology to complete a range of diagnostic tests, building a detailed profile of your hearing levels. Book yours today online, or call us on 0800 40 20 20. book an appointment [1] https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/otitis-externa

Connecting to modern life Our hearing aids play a vital role in helping us feel connected to one another, but did you know that many of these aids have the power to help us even further, and connect us to the modern world? With a range of options designed to enhance your everyday activities and add convenience to your life, you'll be amazed at what's possible, so here’s our handy guide to connections and wireless accessories! Pairing your hearing aids to your smartphone Are you tired of adjusting your hearing aids using fiddly buttons? With many of our hearing aids, including Oticon hearing aids, that's a thing of the past. Most of our hearing aids can link directly to an app, such as the Oticon Companion app, so you can control your hearing aids from your screen! It's easy to pair your hearing aids with your smartphone – for Oticon hearing aids follow the step-by-step instructions here. For information about other manufacturers, please speak to your audiologist. Using a landline phone with your hearing aids Do you sometimes struggle to hear conversations whilst on the phone with your hearing aids? These days many hearing aids are compatible with phone adapters to allow you to wirelessly stream the sound from your landline straight into your hearing aid for comfortable conversations. Phone Adapters are available to purchase from a majority of hearing aid manufacturers, including Oticon - to check if your phone is compatible and learn how to set it up, click here. For information about other manufacturers, please speak to your audiologist. Wireless microphone and headset in one Whilst many smartphones can connect to your hearing aids directly, some aren’t compatible. With Oticon hearing aids and ConnectClip, you can make hands-free phone calls and stream music from your smartphone. Learn more about how to use the ConnectClip here. For information about other manufacturers, please speak to your audiologist. Connect your hearing aids to the TV You can enjoy watching TV at your preferred volume, with the help of a TV adapter. This will stream sound directly from the TV to your hearing aids, whilst the rest of the family can keep the volume at a level that suits them. These are available from Oticon and all other major hearing aid manufacturers. Control your hearing aids with a smartphone app A lot of modern hearing aids come with free companion apps so you can take control of your hearing aids in the palm of your hand. For those wearing Oticon aids, you can download Oticon's free hearing aid app, Oticon Companion. Within the app you can adjust the volume, switch programmes, check your battery, and much more. For information about other manufacturers, please speak to your audiologist. Please note: Compatibility with apps and wireless accessories are dependent on your hearing aid and smartphone. For more information about what is compatible with your aids, please speak to your audiologist.