Veteran comedian and actor Harry Enfield has revealed that his lifelong habit of swimming in fresh water has left him partially deaf. The actor recently shared that frequent swimming in natural waters develops a condition that affects the hearing in his ears.
Harry Enfield admits he has become partially deaf
While appearing on a recent episode of the Off Menu podcast, Enfield opened up about his hearing problems. He revealed that after a recent doctor’s visit, he learned that swimming in Highgate Ponds had caused him to develop bony growths in his ears, known as Surfer’s Ear.Speaking about the diagnosis, Enfield said: “I’m deaf, partially deaf. They have little hearing aids that you can get now, and they look really good. They cost money, but they are worth having. So I went to get fit. They said: “No, you have big bones growing in your ears – stalactites”. Do you do a lot of fresh water swimming?’ I said: ‘Well, yes’. They said, ‘Oh, that’s it.'”Also, although the condition is treatable, doctors warned that removing the growths can be a very painful process.The actress has been open about her hearing loss since last year and has spoken openly about how she has dealt with the condition.
What is Surfer’s Ear?
According to the National Institutes of Health, Surfer’s Ear or external auditory exostosis (EAE) is a slowly progressive condition caused by benign bone growth in the ear canal due to repeated exposure to cold water.The condition is most commonly associated with surfers, but it can also affect swimmers, divers, kayakers and sailors who are regularly exposed to cold water environments. Although surfer’s ear is often asymptomatic in its early stages, it can lead to hearing loss, recurrent ear infections, ear discharge, a feeling of fullness in the ear, and wax buildup.
About Harry Enfield
For the uninitiated, Harry Enfield is best known for Bad Education, Kevin & Perry Go Large, Spitting Image, Harry Enfield’s Brand Spanking New Show and Men Behaving Badly. Over the years, he has become one of the most recognizable faces of British comedy.
