Hearing health
Can hear but can’t understand speech in background noise?
Struggling in restaurants, meetings or groups? What a hearing assessment can check, how hearing aids may help and three listening examples to bring to your appointment.
From Drummond Hearing
Hearing health advice & insights.
Clear, practical guidance to help you understand your hearing and make informed choices, alongside the latest news from our clinics.
Your AudiologistExplore the latest articles
27 articles · Most recent first
Hearing aids
Phonak Eon hearing aids: what's new and who they suit
Phonak's newest hearing aid family has arrived. What's genuinely new — the Sphere processing, wind handling and connectivity — and who is likely to get the most from it.
Ear health
How to clean your ears safely — and what not to put in them
Cotton buds, ear candles and hydrogen peroxide: what actually helps, what pushes wax further in, and the simple routine that keeps ears healthy.
Ear health
Microsuction vs syringing vs irrigation: which is safest?
The three main ways ear wax is removed, how each one works, the risks of water-based methods, and why microsuction is preferred for most ears.
Hearing health
Do I need a hearing test? 8 signs it's time
Not sure if your hearing is bad enough to test? Audiologist Scott Drummond explains the 8 most common signs, what a private hearing test involves, and how to book in Kensington or Chelsea.
Ear health
Ear still feels blocked after wax removal? Why, and how long it lasts
Why an ear can still feel blocked after wax removal, the possible causes, and which symptoms need prompt medical assessment.
Hearing aids
Bluetooth hearing aids explained: streaming, TV and phone calls
How Bluetooth streaming works, the difference between Made for iPhone, Android ASHA and universal Bluetooth LE Audio, and how all six major brands compare.
Hearing aids
How much do hearing aids cost in the UK? A 2026 price guide
What private hearing aids really cost, what drives the price, what a package should include, and how private compares with the NHS.
Ear health
Ear wax impaction: symptoms, causes and how it's safely removed
What ear wax impaction actually is, the symptoms to look for, why home remedies often make it worse, and how microsuction removes it safely in clinic.
Hearing aids
Best hearing aid brands 2026 compared: Starkey, Phonak, ReSound, Oticon, Widex & Signia
An independent London audiologist compares the six major hearing aid brands in 2026 — with clear category winners, honest trade-offs and an overall pick.
Ear health
What is earwax? Why we have it, and when it needs removing
Scott Drummond explains what earwax actually is, why it's usually a good thing, and when — and how — it should be removed.
Ear health
Ear wax removal aftercare: what to expect after microsuction
A short guide to what's normal in the hours and days after microsuction ear wax removal — and when you should get back in touch.
Hearing aids
Getting used to hearing aids: what to expect in your first 6 months
New hearing aids take time to settle. A week-by-week and month-by-month guide to the adjustment period, the problems people hit early on, and how to fix them.
Hearing health
What happens at a hearing test — and how to read your results
A beginner's guide to a private hearing test in Kensington and Chelsea: what each test involves, how to read your audiogram and tympanogram, and what happens next.
Clinic news
Drummond Hearing opens at Visit Health in Kensington
We are delighted to welcome patients at our new clinic within Visit Health in Kensington — the same independent, patient-centred audiology, in a modern London setting.
Hearing health
Ears plugged after flying: why it happens and how to relieve the pressure
Blocked ears after a flight are common and usually harmless. Here's what's happening in your ears — and safe steps to get relief.
Ear health
Ear pain and sensitivity after microsuction: what's normal and what isn't
Mild soreness for a day after ear wax removal is common — severe or worsening pain isn't. How long discomfort should last, what helps, and when to get checked.
Ear health
Audiological diagnosis and management of glue ear
Scott Drummond on how glue ear (otitis media with effusion) is diagnosed and managed — the signs to look for, the tests we use, and the treatment options for children.
Ear health
Crackling or popping in your ear: common causes and how to stop it
Crackling in one ear is usually the Eustachian tube or ear wax, not damage. The common causes, what to try at home, and when it needs examining.
Hearing aids
AI hearing aids explained: are they really better?
AI is being built into today's premium hearing aids. Here's what it actually does, when it helps, and when a simpler device is enough.
Hearing aids
Are invisible hearing aids really invisible? Who can wear them
How invisible-in-canal (IIC) and CIC hearing aids work, the hearing losses and ear canals they suit, and when a slim behind-the-ear device is the better choice.
Hearing health
Hearing loss and dementia: what the latest evidence shows
Hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for dementia. What the Lancet Commission and ACHIEVE trial found, and why ACHIEVE did not establish dementia prevention.
Hearing health
Tinnitus: why your ears ring, and what actually helps
Ringing in the ears is a symptom, not a disease. The common causes, why wax and hearing loss are the most treatable, what genuinely helps, and when one-sided ringing needs checking.
Hearing health
Signs you may have hearing loss — and when to get tested
The early signs of hearing loss are easy to miss. What to look for, what needs urgent attention, and when a hearing test is worth booking.
Hearing health
Sudden hearing loss: when to seek urgent medical help
Sudden hearing loss needs urgent medical assessment. The warning signs, where to seek help, and why you should not assume the cause is ear wax.
Hearing aids
Hearing aids for tinnitus: do they actually help?
Most people with tinnitus also have a hearing loss — and that is why hearing aids help. How they work, what the brands offer, and when they are not the answer.
Hearing aids
NHS vs private hearing aids: what's the real difference?
An honest comparison of cost, waiting times, styles, technology, aftercare and warranty — and how to work out which route suits you.