Wax on...Wax off

[MaidenFaeSnow]

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/printer_friendly/news_logo.gif
Deaf boy's cotton wool bud 'cure' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/7214066.stm)
A boy who has been partially deaf for nine years was suddenly cured - when a cotton wool bud popped out of his ear.

Jerome Bartens was diagnosed as deaf in his right ear when he was just two and has struggled at school ever since.
But Jerome, now 11, was suddenly able to hear clearly again as he played with friends in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
He said he heard a popping sound, then found the tip of a cotton wool bud in his ear.
His family believe Jerome must have put the bud in his ear as a toddler and the centimetre-long cotton tip came off the plastic stem.
Jerome's father Carsten, 45, said: "It was just incredible - his hearing returned to normal in an instant.
"He was cured as suddenly as he became deaf. I had always suspected Jerome had stuck something in his ear when he was little and that was causing the problem.

Now he has 100% hearing and he's just a normal boy again
Carsten Bartens, father

"But the doctors and hearing specialists said it was wax and he would probably grow out of it.
"I am amazed they didn't spot something as obvious as a cotton wool bud."
Jerome has kept the waxy bud as a souvenir.
His family believe that as he grew the bud has been forced out - and finally came out nine years later.
He is due to be examined by hearing experts later this week - and his father is taking along the cotton wool bud as proof of his "miracle cure".
Single father Mr Bartens has now complained to his GP and hearing specialists who examined Jerome over the years.

I think I'll be much happier at school now my ear does not ache all the time
Jerome Bartens

He said: "It has held Jerome back in school and caused him problems in communicating with his friends."
Lorry driver Mr Bartens - who has two older daughters Takita, 16, and Tiffany, 14, - says he is "thrilled" Jerome's hearing has come back.
He said: "If he was playing down the garden I would have to shout for him eight or nine times before he would respond.
"But now he has 100% hearing and he's just a normal boy again."
Jerome said: "I can hear much better now and I think I'll be much happier at school now my ear does not ache all the time.
"I was just playing pool in the church hall when my ear made a popping noise. It was very strange at first to be able to hear everything.
"But now I'm getting used to it - it's great that people don't have to shout to me or that I don't have to turn my head all the time."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/7214066.stm

Published: 2008/01/28 18:54:59 GMT

© BBC MMVIII


WAX???? He'll grow out of it?? WHAT?? We're they actually looking in his ear?

[Torra]

I'm surprised the doctors didn't find something as large as that cotton. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was standard practice to check for that kind of thing, and to try blowing blockages out. My dad lost his hearing, went to the ER, and that's what they did. Maybe it was his age that made them hesitate to act, but I don't know if that's a viable excuse.

At least the parents and child are happy, healthy, and all hearing now. I hope he goes to school and has a blast.

[Lady Hefron]

Fabulous. Gives you a real warm and fuzzy feeling doesn't it.

[Phoenix McHeit]

Please correct me if I'm mistaken but... isn't England one place with 'Universal Healthcare'?

[Ysobelle]

Please correct me if I'm mistaken but... isn't England one place with 'Universal Healthcare'?

Yup. So they may have screwed up, but hey, at least the family didn't have to PAY for it! Talk about adding insult to injury.

[Capt. Stamina]

Please correct me if I'm mistaken but... isn't England one place with 'Universal Healthcare'?

Yes it is. It only took 9 years (probably with yearly check-ups to go to school), and the Doctors never found any problems. I guess this is one of those times where they family get the service that they paid for.

BTW - because of the vast inadequacies of medical coverage in the UK, they're pushing towards the free enterprise system.

[UnicornBee]

That is interesting..
I know some kids have been born deaf and got their hearing later on (my pirate is one). But to have a cotton tip that long? Wow...

[Buxom Wench]

When my older daughter was just 2, she had a major operation on her mastoid. The doctor put a tube in her ear and said it should come out in about 6 months.

Seven years later at a routine physical, the doctor was checking her ears, made an odd sound, grabbed a medical instrument and pulled it out of her ear. It was sitting just inside where we couldn't see it. I thought it had already come out and we just never saw it.

[KissMeKate]

Jerome Bartens was diagnosed as deaf in his right ear when he was just two .... His family believe Jerome must have put the bud in his ear as a toddler and the centimetre-long cotton tip came off the plastic stem.


His family is saying he did this to himself? I had a friend who managed to shove a grape up his nose to the point it had to be cut out by a doctor. But I would NEVER give a q-tip to a two-year-old to have him stick it in his own ear! In that case, I would not have been surprised to hear he had ruptured his ear drum.

And as I have an aversion to doctors, I'm not too surprised that it went unnoticed for too long. You just slap on the headphones for the hearing test without looking beforehand.

[Phoenix McHeit]

And as I have an aversion to doctors, I'm not too surprised that it went unnoticed for too long. You just slap on the headphones for the hearing test without looking beforehand.

Aversion or not... there's these nifty little light-thingers that actually go inside the ear for Good Ol Doc to have a look-see inside.

How that was missed, and for so long - is totally beyond me.

[MaidenFaeSnow]

Aversion or not... there's these nifty little light-thingers that actually go inside the ear for Good Ol Doc to have a look-see inside.

How that was missed, and for so long - is totally beyond me.

See, that's what threw me! How the heck didn't they see it? And if he had been to specialists (yeah - even in England they have nifty gadgets) even more reason to think someone had to see something and not just think it was earwax. As a parent, I would find the earwax explanation completely unacceptable much less be told "he'll grow out of it"! Monkey-heinie he will! If his hearing loss is to the point of being deaf in that ear due to earwax, someone better be doing something!

[LitlePepito]

Aversion or not... there's these nifty little light-thingers that actually go inside the ear for Good Ol Doc to have a look-see inside.

How that was missed, and for so long - is totally beyond me.


There called orthoscopes. Funny thing is my husband had to order his from England because they apparently make very very good ones over there. :shock: Gess you get what you pay for.

[SHpepperKat]

As someone who is partially deaf, I can tell you from prsonal experience that anyt good doctor should be able to see what is in the ear. I have had diminished hearing for a number of years and have had it monitored by an Ear nose and Throat doc. Everytime I went in to see him. He not only looked insied my ears with the otoscope but he also used a lighed vacuum machine to remove all the wax buildup. There is no possible way that he would have missed something like that. This story makes my wonder if the docs were specialists or even did look into the ear. The docs don't even have to use the vacuum machine. There are small loops that they use to clear wax out ot the ear too. There is no reason that a doc should have left that in this young man's ear. I am really happy for him that he got his hearing back but I would really be wondering about the doc after that one.

[Phoenix McHeit]

Yup. So they may have screwed up, but hey, at least the family didn't have to PAY for it! Talk about adding insult to injury.
Sorry sweetie, I really gotta disagree with you there. This is more than just a screwup. This is outright negligence, perhaps even malpractice, to have missed this for so long.

Hmmm, I wonder if they can even do anything about this, since they're Universal. AND, I wonder if there's such a thing as a second opinion. I admit, I'm not as 'up' on Universal as I should be.

At least if you pay for things, you have the right to expect a certain level of care. Not 'oh well, we screwed up, but at least it was free!'

[Ysobelle]

I was being arch, trust me. I'm all for a universal health care program, but I'd like it to have competent doctors.

[Capt. Stamina]

I always end up with two questions on this topic and can never get an answer. First, if Universal care is so great, then why did congress pass a law so that they did not have to participate in it?

Second, the government doesn’t have a wonderful track record of managing anything; so why would anyone want to have the these same people be responsible for the most important thing in you life; your health?

[MaidenFaeSnow]

Sorry sweetie, I really gotta disagree with you there. This is more than just a screwup. This is outright negligence, perhaps even malpractice, to have missed this for so long.

Hmmm, I wonder if they can even do anything about this, since they're Universal. AND, I wonder if there's such a thing as a second opinion. I admit, I'm not as 'up' on Universal as I should be.

At least if you pay for things, you have the right to expect a certain level of care. Not 'oh well, we screwed up, but at least it was free!'

Yes, you can request a second opinion. The NHS is largely tax funded so it's not altogether 'free' per-se, citizens have paid into it. Unfortunately, the system is lacking in many ways. Ever wonder why so many British people have crappy teeth? Access to dental care is horrid...waiting lists to see any doctor can be long. Hospitals are often understaffed, a relative of mine is a nurse and frequently has to work double shifts because there is no one to relieve her.

Much of this I know from personal experience as I have a lot of family there. I also found this article (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1447686) that has a lot of good info in it.

[Phoenix McHeit]

I was being arch, trust me. I'm all for a universal health care program, but I'd like it to have competent doctors.

Ahh, I see. Sorry hun. I know you're for Universal, so I missed the sarcasm.

[Ysobelle]

Ahh, I see. Sorry hun. I know you're for Universal, so I missed the sarcasm.

S'okay. See, if we DO switch to some kind of universal system, we'll still have the same doctors. It's the method of paying them that changes. So incompetent bastards who were screw-ups before will still be screw-ups. Isn't that comforting?

MFS, that's a great article. I've only had time to skim it so far, but I'm also going to be working my way through it in depth.

Anyone else read it yet?

[rosefaeries]

I am partially deaf and have some problems with wax buildup. Every time my hearing has been impaired by the wax, the doctors have removed it. Why wasn't it done here?

[Ysobelle]

I am partially deaf and have some problems with wax buildup. Every time my hearing has been impaired by the wax, the doctors have removed it. Why wasn't it done here?



Cos incompetence knows no homeland.

I'm pretty sure there must be more to the story than we're getting. I mean, I know there are some dumb-as-a-brick doctors out there, but this is beyond the pale. Maybe the kid has funny-shaped ears or something.