Is Your Hearing Fading? Get Expert Hearing Tests in Stanmore

Aarti Raicha • November 21, 2025

Hearing loss is gradual and often worsens with age. Our philosophy, built over 35 years, is that a simple 'one size fits all' approach will inevitably fail when it comes to effective treatment.

As expert audiologists, we understand the vital role excellent hearing plays in your daily life. That's why we provide professional, comprehensive hearing tests in Stanmore and the surrounding community. Our tests help us locate the precise cause of your hearing problem, and from there we deliver the right treatment.


Which Type of Hearing Test Do You Need?


Hearing tests are essential diagnostic tools that allow us to evaluate the specific type of hearing loss you may have: sensorineural, conductive, or mixed. We will detail these types below.

The right approach depends entirely on your individual situation. We use our extensive experience to tailor our assessment to ensure the most accurate diagnosis.


1. Pure Tone Audiometry

During this foundational test, you will simply relax in a comfortable, sound-treated room. While you listen through the headphones, we'll ask you to signal every time you hear the various tones or speech. Your response will help us fully understand the pattern and severity of your hearing loss. 

  • Bone Conduction: We also use a small device called a bone vibrator placed behind your ear. This sends sound vibrations directly to your inner ear, bypassing the eardrum and ear canal. This step allows us to specifically evaluate how well your cochlea (the part of the inner ear that translates sound into electrical signals for the brain) is working.

2. Impedance Testing (Tympanometry)


quick, painless test measures your middle ear pressure and the movement of your eardrum. A soft probe (similar to an earplug) sends a low tone and a puff of air into your ear.

  • What it reveals: This test is highly useful if we suspect middle ear issues like fluid in the ear (otitis media), problems with your Eustachian tube, or a perforated eardrum. Patients often report a sensation similar to when their ears "pop" due to air pressure changes.


What Do the Results of a Hearing Test Reveal?


Our hearing tests in Stanmore will help us map out the best treatment plan for you. The first step (which the tests help with) is identifying the type of loss you have. Some of these are highlighted below:

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

This is often referred to as ‘nerve damage’ hearing loss. It is caused by damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.

  • Common Causes: Exposure to loud noise, natural ageing (presbycusis), certain ototoxic medications (used for cancer, heart conditions, etc.), or diseases like Meniere’s.
  • Treatment: While this type is usually permanent, our audiologists specialise in fitting the most advanced hearing aids to restore clarity and confidence to your hearing.

Conductive Hearing Loss

This occurs when sound waves are physically prevented from reaching the inner ear. The inner ear may be perfectly healthy, but a blockage or barrier is stopping the sound.

  • Common Causes: Excessive earwax, fluid build-up behind the eardrum, a ruptured or perforated eardrum, or middle ear bone problems.
  • Treatment: The good news is that conductive hearing loss can often be successfully treated with medicine or minor surgery, depending on the cause.

Mixed Hearing Loss

As the name suggests, this is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.


Who Needs a Hearing Test?


It's tempting to put off an appointment if you only occasionally struggle, but early diagnosis is key to better long-term outcomes. If you answer YES to any of the following questions, you should schedule a hearing test with our award-winning audiologists:

  • Do you frequently ask others to repeat themselves?
  • Do you find it difficult to follow conversation in noisy environments like restaurants or crowded places?
  • Do you feel as though everyone else mumbles?
  • Do your friends or family complain that your TV is too loud?


The Ealing Hearing Centre Difference


You shouldn't trust your hearing health to just anyone. Our father-daughter team are licensed, certified audiologists with decades of experience.

We provide a level of clinical expertise and personal attention that ensures your solution is never ‘one size fits all’. You shouldn't settle for less when it comes to your hearing.


Choose Ealing Hearing Centre for your hearing tests in Stanmore. Benefit from over 35 years of expert, patient-centred care.


Schedule your appointment today.

Wax in Ears Symptoms: How They Present and Why They’re Often Misread

By Aarti Raicha • December 29, 2025
For many adults, wax-related ear problems show up quietly. Speech may start to sound less clear, one ear may feel slightly fuller than the other, or listening may feel more tiring than usual, without any obvious pain to point to the ear as the cause. When symptoms develop this way, wax is rarely what people think of first. Changes in hearing or comfort are more often blamed on tiredness, sinus pressure, or simply getting older, and the ear canal is not always considered until the problem has been there for a while. Changes in Hearing Clarity Hearing often feels different before it feels reduced. Voices can start to sound flatter or harder to pick out, especially in places with background noise, even when nothing feels obviously quieter. It also tends to vary. Some days, one ear feels more affected than the other, or things seem clearer at one point in the day and less so later on, which makes it easy to assume the problem is temporary rather than ear-related. Because these changes build gradually, many people adapt without realising how much extra effort listening has begun to require. A Feeling of Fullness or Pressure Another change people commonly notice is a sense of fullness in the ear. This is often described as pressure or blockage, similar to the feeling some experience after swimming or during changes in air pressure. The sensation can become more noticeable when chewing, yawning, or lying on one side, and it may shift slightly depending on how the wax sits within the ear canal. As it is rarely painful, it is easy to tolerate for longer than expected. Over time, this constant awareness of the ear can become distracting, even if it never develops into sharp discomfort. Ringing or Internal Sounds

How to Unblock Wax in Ears: What Actually Helps and What Often Makes It Worse

By Aarti Raicha • December 20, 2025
Blocked ears are rarely dramatic at first, and for many adults the sensation builds gradually, with a feeling of fullness, mild muffling, or pressure that comes and goes, often becoming more noticeable in quiet rooms or during conversations where speech suddenly feels less clear than it used to. When this happens, the instinct is to “unblock” the ear as quickly as possible. People search for ways to clear wax, assuming it is a simple obstruction that needs to be removed. In practice, earwax blockage is more complex than it appears, and many attempts to unblock it at home end up making the problem harder to resolve. Why Ear Wax Builds Up in Adults Earwax is a normal and necessary part of ear health. It protects the ear canal, traps dust and debris, and helps prevent infection. In most people, wax gradually moves out of the ear on its own as the jaw moves during talking and chewing. In adults, however, this process does not always work as smoothly. Wax can become drier with age, ear canals can narrow slightly, and the natural movement that helps wax migrate outward may slow. Hearing aid use, earbud use, and repeated attempts to clean the ears can also interfere with this self-cleaning process. Over time, wax that would normally exit the ear can compact deeper inside the canal, leading to blockage. Misunderstanding Blocked Ears Many people think of blocked ears as similar to a blocked nose, something that can be cleared quickly with the right technique. This comparison is misleading. Ear wax does not dissolve easily, and once it has compacted, it often behaves more like a plug than a soft build-up. Attempts to flush it out, soften it too aggressively, or remove it manually can push it further in rather than clearing it. This is why people often report that their ears feel worse after trying to unblock them themselves, even though they intended to fix the problem. Common Home Methods

What's the Safest Way to Remove Hard Ear Wax?

By Aarti Raicha • November 28, 2025
People, you probably just see earwax as something to remove. But its role is crucial: it’s your ear’s natural defence system against foreign particles and bacteria. The problem only happens when this protective barrier eventually dries up and turns into a blockage. Understanding Hardened Earwax Hardened earwax develops when it dries up and becomes firmly lodged, or impacted, inside the ear canal. This impaction isn't just a physical blockage; it can trigger a range of symptoms that severely impact your well-being: A persistent feeling of blocked ears or fullness Tinnitus (a distracting ringing or buzzing) Occasional dizziness or balance issues Noticeable reduction in hearing or muffled hearing . The hardening is often due to factors outside your control, such as age, genetic predisposition, the unique anatomy of your ear canals, or certain past medical events. Gentle Ways to Soften Wax at Home (Exercise Caution) Before seeking professional intervention, you may try softening the wax yourself. However, we must stress that safety and caution are paramount. 1. Medical-Grade Olive Oil Drops Gently warm some medical-grade olive oil (it should feel lukewarm, never hot) and place a few drops in the affected ear. Leave the oil to work for 10–15 minutes, then tilt your head to drain the excess. Repeating this 3–4 times daily for several days can significantly soften the blockage. 2. Over-the-Counter Drops Ask your local chemist for non-prescription drops designed to help break down earwax. If you prefer a ready-made solution, the pharmacist can guide you. The Absolute Rule of Ear Care This is vital: Never insert objects like cotton swabs, hairpins, or rolled-up tissue into your ear canal. These objects do not remove wax; they inevitably push the wax deeper against the eardrum, worsening the impaction and risking serious injury to the delicate inner ear structures. The Experts' Choice: Professional Ear Wax Removal in Ealing When home remedies prove insufficient, or if you are experiencing worrisome symptoms like pain, persistent ringing, or sudden hearing loss, consulting an expert is the safest course of action. Our professional services guarantee safe, accurate, and hygienic removal.