[zzze]

Assalamu alaykum

A boy who has been partially deaf for nine years was suddenly cured - when a cotton wool bud popped out of his ear.

Jerome Bartens was diagnosed as deaf in his right ear when he was just two and has struggled at school ever since.


But Jerome, now 11, was suddenly able to hear clearly again as he played with friends in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.



He said he heard a popping sound, then found the tip of a cotton wool bud in his ear.

His family believe Jerome must have put the bud in his ear as a toddler and the centimetre-long cotton tip came off the plastic stem.

Jerome's father Carsten, 45, said: "It was just incredible - his hearing returned to normal in an instant.

"He was cured as suddenly as he became deaf. I had always suspected Jerome had stuck something in his ear when he was little and that was causing the problem.

Now he has 100% hearing and he's just a normal boy again

Carsten Bartens, father

"But the doctors and hearing specialists said it was wax and he would probably grow out of it.

"I am amazed they didn't spot something as obvious as a cotton wool bud."

Jerome has kept the waxy bud as a souvenir.

His family believe that as he grew the bud has been forced out - and finally came out nine years later.

He is due to be examined by hearing experts later this week - and his father is taking along the cotton wool bud as proof of his "miracle cure".

Single father Mr Bartens has now complained to his GP and hearing specialists who examined Jerome over the years.

He said: "It has held Jerome back in school and caused him problems in communicating with his friends."

Lorry driver Mr Bartens - who has two older daughters Takita, 16, and Tiffany, 14, - says he is "thrilled" Jerome's hearing has come back.

He said: "If he was playing down the garden I would have to shout for him eight or nine times before he would respond.

"But now he has 100% hearing and he's just a normal boy again."

Jerome said: "I can hear much better now and I think I'll be much happier at school now my ear does not ache all the time.

"I was just playing pool in the church hall when my ear made a popping noise. It was very strange at first to be able to hear everything.

"But now I'm getting used to it - it's great that people don't have to shout to me or that I don't have to turn my head all the time."

BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | South West Wales | Deaf boy's cotton wool bud 'cure'
surely that's the father's fault lol, why is he going to the doctors?

[Aida]

Originally Posted by zzze

Assalamu alaykum

surely that's the father's fault lol, why is he going to the doctors?

Waliykum as'salam.

The doctors didn't catch the problem in 9 years and wrote it off as ear wax.

[zakk]

ew that's one gross pic in the link there.

[zzze]

assalamu alaykum

aida - yes but how did the cottonbud get there in the first place? the father of course.

it is a very gross picture, i tried to upload it without looking at it

[PhDGirl]

Originally Posted by zzze

assalamu alaykum

aida - yes but how did the cottonbud get there in the first place? the father of course.

Not necessarily - toddlers get into all kinds of things. Even a very vigilant parent can't watch them like a hawk every second.

[zzze]

asslamau alaykum

that's true, i assumed the father cleaned the kids ears in a disorderly fashion

[zakk]

I think a parent would notice if the bud came off the q-tip. We're quite fascinated with examining things that come out of our children's bodies, because we feel the need to make sure that there's nothing weird going on.

[zzze]

assalamu alaykum

no.