How to Enjoy Movies When You Are Hard of Hearing

Ealing Hearing Centre • September 21, 2022

Everyone enjoys a good movie, but it might not be easy to get equal access to the most recent releases, favourite series, or most-discussed internet videos if you're hard of hearing. Luckily, even hard-of-hearing people can now enjoy the audio section of a video, movie, or TV programme thanks to the inclusion of captions or subtitles.


Captions and Their Types


Captions are words and sentences that describe the audio or sound section of a programme or video. They can appear on a television, mobile device, computer, or movie screen. There are two caption types; "open" and "closed."


Open Captions


Open captions are impossible to turn off because they are constantly visible along with the video. Some people support open captioning advocates in all video content since captioning provides universal design benefits, even if the viewers aren't hard of hearing.


Closed Captions


Unlike open captioning, the viewer can choose to have closed captioning on or off. When you deliver video goods with closed captions, it's up to the user to figure out how to enable them–whether through the TV's set-top box or the media viewer app.


The Problem with Current Subtitling or Captioning Method


Caption availability is a definite improvement from the olden days when hard-of-hearing people had no way of enjoying movies or TV programs. That said, even modern captioning methods are still rather impractical.


Cinema


Captioning is rarely accessible in cinemas. Even if it does, it won't be on weekends or evenings, when most moviegoers are out. To get around this problem, you'll have to rely on closed captioning (CC) add-ons like Captiview, which is often unreliable. Captiview necessitates concentrating on two things at once: the little captioning display unit and the movie screen.


Fortunately, there are other captioning devices, such as the Smart Caption Glasses, that many people consider superior to Captiview. Additionally, there is a rising push to expand the availability of open-captioned (OC) film screenings for hard-of-hearing viewers.


TV


You can often transmit audio directly from your TV to your hearing aid. As a result, you'll be able to watch TV at a volume that suits you. Furthermore, soundbar speakers and wireless headphones are becoming popular options to improve dialogue quality.


Online videos


While Netflix and Hulu caption all their videos, captioning on Youtube and news websites are often inconsistent and inaccurate. Many internet videos are still without subtitles, or creators and distributors rely on automatic captions, which is far from ideal.


Captioning technology advancements are undoubtedly beneficial, but actual change will only come when we reform the mentality and create a society that values accessibility for all. We have so many options here at Ealing Hearing Centre, to help you hear better. Get in touch with Sid, Sukhina and the team today.

Wax in Ears Symptoms: How They Present and Why They’re Often Misread

By Aarti Raicha • December 29, 2025
For many adults, wax-related ear problems show up quietly. Speech may start to sound less clear, one ear may feel slightly fuller than the other, or listening may feel more tiring than usual, without any obvious pain to point to the ear as the cause. When symptoms develop this way, wax is rarely what people think of first. Changes in hearing or comfort are more often blamed on tiredness, sinus pressure, or simply getting older, and the ear canal is not always considered until the problem has been there for a while. Changes in Hearing Clarity Hearing often feels different before it feels reduced. Voices can start to sound flatter or harder to pick out, especially in places with background noise, even when nothing feels obviously quieter. It also tends to vary. Some days, one ear feels more affected than the other, or things seem clearer at one point in the day and less so later on, which makes it easy to assume the problem is temporary rather than ear-related. Because these changes build gradually, many people adapt without realising how much extra effort listening has begun to require. A Feeling of Fullness or Pressure Another change people commonly notice is a sense of fullness in the ear. This is often described as pressure or blockage, similar to the feeling some experience after swimming or during changes in air pressure. The sensation can become more noticeable when chewing, yawning, or lying on one side, and it may shift slightly depending on how the wax sits within the ear canal. As it is rarely painful, it is easy to tolerate for longer than expected. Over time, this constant awareness of the ear can become distracting, even if it never develops into sharp discomfort. Ringing or Internal Sounds

How to Unblock Wax in Ears: What Actually Helps and What Often Makes It Worse

By Aarti Raicha • December 20, 2025
Blocked ears are rarely dramatic at first, and for many adults the sensation builds gradually, with a feeling of fullness, mild muffling, or pressure that comes and goes, often becoming more noticeable in quiet rooms or during conversations where speech suddenly feels less clear than it used to. When this happens, the natural instinct is to “unblock” the ear as quickly as possible. People search for ways to clear wax, assuming it is a simple obstruction that needs to be removed. In practice, ear wax blockage is more complex than it appears, and many attempts to unblock it at home end up making the problem harder to resolve. Why Ear Wax Builds Up in Adults Ear wax is a normal and necessary part of ear health. It protects the ear canal, traps dust and debris, and helps prevent infection. In most people, wax gradually moves out of the ear on its own as the jaw moves during talking and chewing. In adults, however, this process does not always work as smoothly. Wax can become drier with age, ear canals can narrow slightly, and the natural movement that helps wax migrate outward may slow. Hearing aid use, earbud use, and repeated attempts to clean the ears can also interfere with this self-cleaning process. Over time, wax that would normally exit the ear can compact deeper inside the canal, leading to blockage. Misunderstanding Blocked Ears Many people think of blocked ears as similar to a blocked nose, something that can be cleared quickly with the right technique. This comparison is misleading. Ear wax does not dissolve easily, and once it has compacted, it often behaves more like a plug than a soft build-up. Attempts to flush it out, soften it too aggressively, or remove it manually can push it further in rather than clearing it. This is why people often report that their ears feel worse after trying to unblock them themselves, even though they intended to fix the problem. Common Home Methods

What's the Safest Way to Remove Hard Ear Wax?

By Aarti Raicha • November 28, 2025
People, you probably just see earwax as something to remove. But its role is crucial: it’s your ear’s natural defence system against foreign particles and bacteria. The problem only happens when this protective barrier eventually dries up and turns into a blockage. Understanding Hardened Earwax Hardened earwax develops when it dries up and becomes firmly lodged, or impacted, inside the ear canal. This impaction isn't just a physical blockage; it can trigger a range of symptoms that severely impact your well-being: A persistent feeling of blocked ears or fullness Tinnitus (a distracting ringing or buzzing) Occasional dizziness or balance issues Noticeable reduction in hearing or muffled hearing . The hardening is often due to factors outside your control, such as age, genetic predisposition, the unique anatomy of your ear canals, or certain past medical events. Gentle Ways to Soften Wax at Home (Exercise Caution) Before seeking professional intervention, you may try softening the wax yourself. However, we must stress that safety and caution are paramount. 1. Medical-Grade Olive Oil Drops Gently warm some medical-grade olive oil (it should feel lukewarm, never hot) and place a few drops in the affected ear. Leave the oil to work for 10–15 minutes, then tilt your head to drain the excess. Repeating this 3–4 times daily for several days can significantly soften the blockage. 2. Over-the-Counter Drops Ask your local chemist for non-prescription drops designed to help break down earwax. If you prefer a ready-made solution, the pharmacist can guide you. The Absolute Rule of Ear Care This is vital: Never insert objects like cotton swabs, hairpins, or rolled-up tissue into your ear canal. These objects do not remove wax; they inevitably push the wax deeper against the eardrum, worsening the impaction and risking serious injury to the delicate inner ear structures. The Experts' Choice: Professional Ear Wax Removal in Ealing When home remedies prove insufficient, or if you are experiencing worrisome symptoms like pain, persistent ringing, or sudden hearing loss, consulting an expert is the safest course of action. Our professional services guarantee safe, accurate, and hygienic removal.