Ear Problems - Hearing Problems

[Guest]

Just a quick query to satisfy my inquisitive nature.

 

 

Do any of you suffer from regular ear infections, hearing loss or other ear problems?

 

Over the last 4 yrs I've had 2 ear operations, the last one being my left ear, last week, both operations were to repair perforated eardrums. I constantly had ear infections, the perforations were so large that the doctors kept asking if I had had a trauma to my ear- ie: hit very hard. this was not the case, but I do recall once that when I held my nose, with my mouth shut, and "blew" out, my ear would whistle - it became my "party piece" ( sad, aren't I). This obviously didn't do my ears any good

 

Went for my check-up today and had stitches out, they did a graft, taking cartilage from my earlobe to mend the eardrum. The operation was successful. Unfortunately though, on checking my right ear ( which was done 2 yrs ago, same problem but mended with a membrane graft,) they found a new small perforation. The doctor advised that when I blow my nose I should do one nostril at a time ( stops the pressure), this stops any infections from blowing out the eadrum.

So maybe that is how we should teach children to blow their noses.

 

oops I digress, I have wondered if early years practitioners are prone to ear damage due to the noise levels we work with and maybe I should provide staff with ear mufflers so they don't sue me in years to come and to keep them healthy, of course

 

So can you let me know if you have had ear problems and if you think it is connected with your work.

 

 

Peggy

[Gezabel]

Hi Peggy

 

Sorry I am shattered and off for an early night but just had to say YES to your query about ear problems. I have been under the ENT specialist for the last 3 years.

 

NOt perforated eardrums but continual infections more one ear than the other but often both and the only thing that helped was having gromets fitted!!! Of course these do their job and then fall out of their own accord and the whole circle starts again.

 

Off for second lot of gromets to be fitted in the New Year!

[Guest MaryEMac]

Peggy, your query set me to thinking. I have been working with children all my working life. I was a houseparent at a school for children with cerebral palsy in the mid 70's, then from 1986 I have been leader at our playgroup and also school midday supervisor. I have had a few ear infections during that time and remember my doctor saying that not many adults get them. My hearing loss could be due to the number of infections I have had over the years.

Mary.

[catma]

not ears specificaly, but ent related, a friend of mine has had recent explorations because she has polyps on her vocal chords which is an occupational risk for teachers acording to her consultant. She now has to have speech therapy to help her project from her diaphragm but if that doesn't help she wil need surgery.

Cx

[Guest]

This is soooooooooooo weird!!!!!!!! I have had a problem with my right ear for over a year now, and good old Sudocrem has not sorted out the problem (yes I know I shouldn't be using it but never mind!)

 

Once term has finished (next Wednesday) then I'll be off to the Doctors.

 

I can't actually see how it's related but I've never had anything like it before.

[Guest]

Oh Gosh!

 

My hearing is not what it was - but I have just put this down to my advancing years (and over-exposure to live music in the 1970's).

 

I'm always saying "Sorry, I didn't hear that, can you say it again".

 

I'm sure this is my past catching up with me (not my present causing problems).

 

Diane

[Inge]

Dianne...you seem to have the same complaint as I have!

 

I had a lot of the ear infections as a child, perforated ear drums etc and have also been left with a mild tinitus in one ear, not a problem you learn to live with it but those 70s concerts may have had a hand in it!! and not current work related!!

 

Inge

[Marion]

Maybe peggy has something here! (or is it ear? )

I too suffer from an unusual number of ear infections (suffering at the moment) everything sounds like Im under water perhaps its a blessing I can hardly hear as its the Christmas party on Tuesday

[Guest]

Thanks for the responses, not sure yet if it is an occupational hazard though, out of 105 people who have read the post only 7 have responded with actual hearing or ent experiences.

 

So keep your comments coming, initial indications are that I won't get sued in the future for neglecting my staffs health needs, and not putting into place measures to protect their hearing, not that I'd know what to do,apart from compulsory issue of ear muffs

 

Do these results show that some of us do more listening than talking?, thus wearing our ears out, well from all the wonderful things children say, I think it's worth all the earache, don't you?.

 

 

Peggy

[Marion]

I should add that there are 4 full time staff in our Foundation Stage Unit plus a student who has been with us for 2 years and over the past month we ALL have had ear infections/problems