110: ear we are

This is a great little story. It seems to have captured people's hearts and minds worldwide too, since this version of the article comes from Turkish news site 'World Bulletin' though the original was in the UK's Daily Mail... An eleven-year-old boy from Wales, who had been unable to hear in one ear for nine years, suddenly regained his hearing last week - when a wax-laden cotton bud popped out of his ear! Having searched for an explanation for their son's lack of hearing for many years, his parents now believe he pushed the cotton bud down into his ear canal when he was two and then pulled the plastic stick out leaving the bud behind. They are, of course, amazed that none of the doctors or specialists they have consulted were able to find the bud. Sadly, the boy, Jerome Bartens, has struggled with school due to his poor hearing - but thankfully he will now be able to learn and play more easily. And he'll have no excuse for ignoring his parents! (If you have a strong stomach, do go to the linked article and check out the photo of the old cotton bud!)