Surgeon helped me hear again
Rebecca Willmont, 31, from Ruislip underwent surgery at Northwick Park Hospital to replace fused bones with an implant reversing damage caused by otosclerosis, a common type of hearing loss.
The operation saw her home in just a few hours with her hearing restored, in time for two-year old son Harry’s bedtime.
The implant allows sound waves to travel once more through the ear.
Surgeons operate through the existing hole in the ear, meaning there is no need to make a new incision, and the operation can be carried out with minimal pain relief and recovery time. Each ear is operated on separately.
Previously, patients would have been treated with general anaesthetic which would take them significantly longer to feel well enough to leave hospital, sometimes requiring at least one night recovering in hospital.
The surgical team ask patients to select a song to be played at the end of the operation, helping them to check how successful the operation has been. In a sign of the operation’s significance, Rebecca chose for her wedding song to be played.
Mr Bhav Patel, Consultant ENT surgeon at Northwick Park, part of London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, explained:
“I am delighted for Rebecca. This operation has a very high success rate, hugely increasing the quality of life for those affected by what is often a drastic reduction in their ability to hear at an important time in their lives with careers or young family.
“Doing the surgery with the patient awake is much better for their recovery, but also better for the hospital. People would much rather go home if they don’t need to stay in hospital, and for colleagues and myself it means we can continue operating with beds freed up for those needing more urgent care.
“Having the patient awake during the operation also helps us to ensure we make their hearing is as good as can be by allowing us to make any adjustments necessary before completing the surgery.”
Rebecca first noticed a loss of hearing while pregnant, realising her husband’s voice had become unclear. By the time Harry had been born and old enough to start speaking, she could only make out a ‘tinny’ impression of his voice.
Rebecca explained: “There’s an old wives’ tale that pregnancy can cause hearing loss, but in my case it turned out to be true and I ended up having to wear hearing aids all the time.”
Rebecca was diagnosed with otosclerosis, a common cause of hearing loss in younger adults with symptoms usually starting between the ages of between 30 to 50.
Now, following surgery at Northwick Park Hospital over winter, Rebecca is able to hear clearly and has no need for her hearing aids.
She said: “I’m often asked jokingly if I am sure I want to be able to hear my son at full volume at just two years old, but it is such a relief. Hearing him speak and knowing that I am better able to look out for his safety. It’s wonderful.
“Hearing loss wasn’t something I was expecting, especially not in my twenties: recently married, running my own business, and then a baby on the way. I am delighted that I am now able to hear again and very grateful to Mr Patel and the hospital team.”
Otosclerosis is a common cause of hearing loss, especially in younger adults with symptoms usually starting between the ages of 30 to 50.
Caused by bones in the middle ear growing abnormally and becoming fused, they are no longer able to vibrate and carry sound. It is thought to affect 3 in one thousand people.
Although hearing aids can help to improve sound quality, surgery to replace the fused bones with an implant is often the only option.
Northwick Park is among UK hospitals carrying out the highest-performing number of surgeries for otosclerosis, at approximately 80 operations each year.