Hearing & Ear Care Guides

Hearing aids are a significant investment, so it's natural to ask how long they should last. Most give three to seven years of use, though some last longer. Here's what affects that, and how to choose between repair and replacement.

A hearing aid that whistles, squeals or buzzes is irritating for you and for everyone around you. The sound is called feedback, and it's one of the most common complaints I hear. The good news is that it almost always has a clear cause, and most causes can be fixed.

When a hearing aid goes quiet, cuts out or sounds muffled, it's easy to assume the worst. In practice, many "broken" aids are blocked, damp or on the wrong setting. Here's the order I'd work through before booking a repair.

"Free" can make people wary, and a free hearing test is no exception. So here is exactly what a free hearing test at AJC Hearing involves, what it doesn't, and what happens afterwards.

Hearing loss rarely arrives overnight. It usually creeps in so gradually that the people around you notice before you do. Knowing the early signs means you can act sooner, when help is simplest and most effective.

If you've never had your hearing checked, the unknown can put you off booking. The reality is reassuringly simple: a hearing test is painless and tells you exactly where you stand. Here's what to expect, step by step.

It's one of the most common habits, and one of the worst things you can do for your ears. Reaching for a cotton bud feels like cleaning, but it usually does the opposite. Here's why, from someone who sees the consequences every week.

Ear wax is completely normal and usually looks after itself. But when too much builds up, it can quietly affect your hearing and comfort, and the signs aren't always obvious. Here's how to recognise a wax build-up, what causes it, and when it's worth seeing a professional.

If you've got a blocked ear, you've probably come across two very different approaches: the older water-based methods, syringing and irrigation, and the newer, water-free technique of microsuction. So which is actually safer? Here's an honest, clinician's-eye comparison.

If you've been told you'd benefit from hearing aids, one of the first questions is whether to go through the NHS or buy privately. Both routes can work well. This guide sets out what is different, so you can decide with the full picture.