Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Here's the story of my hearing loss, and remarkable recovery - for now, at least! If you have a condition called Eustacian Tube Dysfunction, and are being considered for Ossiculoplasty (repair or total replacement of your ear bones - I had a “PORP”) then you may find the account helpful, as I have had both (as well as hissy tinnitus) and explain the aftermath of the surgery. And there are lessons about hearing health in here that affect everyone, that I wish I had learned earlier. See pinned comment for a summary of the lessons I learned!
Also, that grey blob on my CT scan - when the surgeon went in, there was no sign of it there. 🤷♂️
One really important tip I forgot to mention but I recommend: Drink plain water throughout the day! I have read that good REAL hydration can help Eustacian Tube Dysfunction as the tubes are less prone to open if they are dry and sticky through lack of hydration (I was super guilty of having pure tea and coffee days for YEARS) - and even if that's wishful thinking - being well hydrated is quite obviously better than only drinking tea and coffee (and beers and single malts) all day. So become a water drinker!
LINKS:
▶︎ A hearing health clinic in the UK I attended and 100% recommend (London): hearology.uk (You can get professional custom fit Ear plugs and hearing tests with minimal wait, there is likely a business like it near you - please recommend some if you know them!)
▶︎ You can buy 'musicians earplugs' off the shelf. These are not custom fitted but will have similar properties: e.g. loopearplugs.com (Note, I haven't tried these - have asked to but no reply so far - but the company seems serious, I'm sure they're decent) and flareaudio.com (A friend has some of these and swears by them)
▶︎ Very Brief vid with Dr Charles Viva MBE, who operated on my Cleft Palate when I was a baby: (He was still working doing free surgery when he was nearly 90, he passed away in 2023). youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7IxJkcu2k
▶︎ Information about Balloon Dilation: nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg665/chapter/2-The-condition-current-treatments-and-procedure (A new process to improve chronic Eustacian Tube dysfunction which is available in the UK)
▶︎Very interesting video about how ear bone impedance matching works: youtube.com/watch?v=geSDcollRos
▶︎ Watch a CT Scanner spinning without a cover on: youtube.com/watch?v=jsOWlNv8eN0 (Wait for 30 seconds to see when it goes full tilt. Just utterly insane science and engineering.)
▶︎ Subpac (device to FEEL bass which I own - I have an old M2 - and recommend): subpac.com (BUT NOTE - the company has been going through all sorts of business nightmares this last few years, I would not personally purchase a pre-order a NEW one at this time, but maybe consider an old one second hand if you're interested)
▶︎ Evelyn Glennie being incredible: youtube.com/watch?v=IU3V6zNER4g
▶︎ And one more...covering Clapping Music solo, in under 2 mins: youtube.com/watch?v=7BOMA7f5GrE
SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL:
▶︎ Patreon: patreon.com/mylarmelodies (Join a community of music makers and ask me questions directly!)
▶︎ Buy some music on Bandcamp: mylarmelodies.bandcamp.com
▶︎ Make a one-time donation via Paypal: paypal.com/ncp/payment/KNLRQUDAUDUUJ
▶︎ Subscribe to my podcast Why We Bleep: whywebleep.com
CHAPTERS
00:00 Being born with a cleft palate
01:06 Why I'm making this video
02:02 My cleft palate doctor was a legend
02:50 Introducing Eustacian Tubes
4:14 Getting fitted earplugs
5:49 How to make earplugs sound good
6:42 Finding a problem
08:14 On the Subpac solution
9:43 Learning to pop my ears in Thailand
11:53 The big bad ear infection
12:27 Lesson: Don't ignore infections
13:53 Lesson: GPs aren't necessarily ear specialists
16:59 The amazingness of a CT scan
19:14 Lesson: Don't let test results get forgotten
22:58 The phone call finally comes.
23:48 Introducing 'Ossiculoplasty'/The Surgeon briefing
26:01 What my hearing was like before
27:02 Let's all experience my tinnitus!
28:59 The weirdness of a General Anesthetic
30:11 I wake up and find out what happened
31:08 Introducing the Ear Bone chain
33:01 Retracted ear drum meets bones :(
34:16 The insane titanium solution
36:00 Immediate aftermath
37:07 So...what was my new hearing like?
38:54 Recovery is up and down!
40:45 How is my hearing now?
42:23 Tinnitus update
43:15 The most important hearing lesson of all
Here's the story of my hearing loss, and remarkable recovery - for now, at least! If you have a condition called Eustacian Tube Dysfunction, and are being considered for Ossiculoplasty (repair or total replacement of your ear bones - I had a “PORP”) then you may find the account helpful, as I have had both (as well as hissy tinnitus) and explain the aftermath of the surgery. And there are lessons about hearing health in here that affect everyone, that I wish I had learned earlier. See pinned comment for a summary of the lessons I learned!
Also, that grey blob on my CT scan - when the surgeon went in, there was no sign of it there. 🤷♂️
One really important tip I forgot to mention but I recommend: Drink plain water throughout the day! I have read that good REAL hydration can help Eustacian Tube Dysfunction as the tubes are less prone to open if they are dry and sticky through lack of hydration (I was super guilty of having pure tea and coffee days for YEARS) - and even if that's wishful thinking - being well hydrated is quite obviously better than only drinking tea and coffee (and beers and single malts) all day. So become a water drinker!
LINKS:
▶︎ A hearing health clinic in the UK I attended and 100% recommend (London): hearology.uk (You can get professional custom fit Ear plugs and hearing tests with minimal wait, there is likely a business like it near you - please recommend some if you know them!)
▶︎ You can buy 'musicians earplugs' off the shelf. These are not custom fitted but will have similar properties: e.g. loopearplugs.com (Note, I haven't tried these - have asked to but no reply so far - but the company seems serious, I'm sure they're decent) and flareaudio.com (A friend has some of these and swears by them)
▶︎ Very Brief vid with Dr Charles Viva MBE, who operated on my Cleft Palate when I was a baby: (He was still working doing free surgery when he was nearly 90, he passed away in 2023). youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7IxJkcu2k
▶︎ Information about Balloon Dilation: nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg665/chapter/2-The-condition-current-treatments-and-procedure (A new process to improve chronic Eustacian Tube dysfunction which is available in the UK)
▶︎Very interesting video about how ear bone impedance matching works: youtube.com/watch?v=geSDcollRos
▶︎ Watch a CT Scanner spinning without a cover on: youtube.com/watch?v=jsOWlNv8eN0 (Wait for 30 seconds to see when it goes full tilt. Just utterly insane science and engineering.)
▶︎ Subpac (device to FEEL bass which I own - I have an old M2 - and recommend): subpac.com (BUT NOTE - the company has been going through all sorts of business nightmares this last few years, I would not personally purchase a pre-order a NEW one at this time, but maybe consider an old one second hand if you're interested)
▶︎ Evelyn Glennie being incredible: youtube.com/watch?v=IU3V6zNER4g
▶︎ And one more...covering Clapping Music solo, in under 2 mins: youtube.com/watch?v=7BOMA7f5GrE
SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL:
▶︎ Patreon: patreon.com/mylarmelodies (Join a community of music makers and ask me questions directly!)
▶︎ Buy some music on Bandcamp: mylarmelodies.bandcamp.com
▶︎ Make a one-time donation via Paypal: paypal.com/ncp/payment/KNLRQUDAUDUUJ
▶︎ Subscribe to my podcast Why We Bleep: whywebleep.com
CHAPTERS
00:00 Being born with a cleft palate
01:06 Why I'm making this video
02:02 My cleft palate doctor was a legend
02:50 Introducing Eustacian Tubes
4:14 Getting fitted earplugs
5:49 How to make earplugs sound good
6:42 Finding a problem
08:14 On the Subpac solution
9:43 Learning to pop my ears in Thailand
11:53 The big bad ear infection
12:27 Lesson: Don't ignore infections
13:53 Lesson: GPs aren't necessarily ear specialists
16:59 The amazingness of a CT scan
19:14 Lesson: Don't let test results get forgotten
22:58 The phone call finally comes.
23:48 Introducing 'Ossiculoplasty'/The Surgeon briefing
26:01 What my hearing was like before
27:02 Let's all experience my tinnitus!
28:59 The weirdness of a General Anesthetic
30:11 I wake up and find out what happened
31:08 Introducing the Ear Bone chain
33:01 Retracted ear drum meets bones :(
34:16 The insane titanium solution
36:00 Immediate aftermath
37:07 So...what was my new hearing like?
38:54 Recovery is up and down!
40:45 How is my hearing now?
42:23 Tinnitus update
43:15 The most important hearing lesson of all
