Comedian Harry Enfield has revealed that years of daily cold-water swimming have left him with hearing loss due to a condition known as 'surfer's ear'. The 65-year-old, known for his character work, shared on the Off Menu podcast that he has been diagnosed with exostosis, which causes extra bone growth inside the ear canal.
Enfield described the condition as having 'stalactites in your ears', which he discovered when seeking hearing aids. He noted that while the growths can be surgically removed, the procedure is painful and takes a long time to recover from, adding, 'I'd sooner not hear what you're saying.'
Surfer's ear, medically termed external auditory canal exostoses, occurs when repeated exposure to cold water and wind irritates the ear canal, triggering abnormal bone growth. This narrowing can trap debris and wax, leading to infections and eventual hearing loss. Consultant otologist Joseph Manjaly explains that the condition is more common in surfers and cold-water swimmers, though only 3-6% of the general population may have some form of it.
Preventive measures include wearing earplugs and a headband to keep them in place during cold-water exposure. For those already affected, treatment options range from leaving the growths alone to surgery (canalplasty) or bone conduction hearing aids. Manjaly stresses that sudden hearing loss should be treated as an emergency, regardless of swimming habits.
