We Need to Talk About Your Ears: A Chat with Shannon

Ever wondered what someone can tell about you just by looking inside your ears? Whether you're a surfer, a gym regular, or someone who's been quietly using the end of their glasses as a makeshift ear scoop (yes, really), your ears are apparently giving away more than you'd think.

We sat down with Shannon Nelkowski - CQC registered nurse, ear care specialist, and self-confessed "nosey parker" -- to talk wax, weird discoveries, and why you should probably put the cotton buds down. Shannon runs Auricle Ear Health and Microsuction here in Exmouth, and she's been looking after people's ears for nearly five years. But as she told us, ears weren't exactly part of the plan.

So Shannon, tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.

"I'm Shannon Nelkowski. I'm a registered nurse and I specialise in all things ears- ear care, ear microsuction, ear wax removal, anything you want about your ears."

What drew you to ears in the first place?

"If I'm honest, it wasn't my own desire that drew me to ears. I was a haematology nurse. That was my love. That was my passion. I love cancer services, never really wanted to leave. However, I had a daughter and she was very young, and working nights and 12-hour shifts doesn't really work."

"So someone approached me about doing ears. I thought, oh, I don't know, but it did fit with my family life. Did it, trained in it, and I've been doing it for nearly five years. So, kind of fell in love with it."

It's one of those brilliant career stories where a practical compromise turned into a genuine calling. Nearly five years in, Shannon's passion for ear health is clear.

What's the best thing about treating ears?

"You can change someone's whole life in the space of 30 minutes."

Shannon's had four or five patients over the years who genuinely believed they were deaf- only to find out it was a wax blockage all along.

"I've had people cry being like, 'I can't believe it was just that.' That's the best thing. That's the highest, I would say."

Think about that. Someone walks in thinking they've lost their hearing for good, and walks out 30 minutes later with the world turned back up to full volume.

She also loves the detective side of the job- seeing things nobody else can.

"People always question, 'What can you see?' And I'm like, surely you can't see that much. But actually, when you've got the right equipment, I can see every single part of the ear, which I love."

So basically, Shannon, you're a nosey parker?

"I'm a nosey parker, yeah, basically."

People are obsessed with ear wax removal videos online. Why do you think that is?

"Because people are drawn to things that they shouldn't do. Putting things in your ears is a big no-no. We don't like it. And I think that's why people want to watch it. And also because you can't just generally do it yourself. It's one of those videos where you're like, I can't really try that because I can't actually do it."

And Shannon is no exception.

"I'm obsessed with them. I love them. I spend hours. I find it highly satisfying removing ear wax, which most people find disgusting. But it's the same with, you know, back in nursing, dressing an oozy wound or something like that. Absolutely love it."

What's the weirdest thing you've ever found in someone's ear?

Shannon didn't even have to think about this one.

"You know Babybels? The cheese wrapped in a wax. I've had a patient's daughter stuff that down her ear. So a waxy ear, but the wrong kind off wax."

The wrong kind of ear wax, in the wrong place. You couldn't make it up.

"I've taken out half of a shell from a child's ear when they fell off a bodyboard. And lots of hearing aid parts -- the little batteries that come in hearing aids, the little round ones? There's a little white paper that you have to peel off before you put it in. I've taken one of those out of an ear."

Any insects?

"No insects. I've not had any insects."

We told her she has to call us when she gets her first one. And does she keep a straight face through all this?

"Always. Always. The height of professionalism."

We'll take her word for it.

Cotton buds or ear candling: which one is worse?

"Oh, that's a tough question. Realistically, cotton buds are worse because you can actually do a lot of damage. I've seen people go through eardrums with cotton buds."

That's worth repeating. Perforated eardrums - from cotton buds. The little fluffy things sitting in your bathroom right now.

Ear candles are less likely to cause physical damage, but Shannon's problem with them is different.

"The concept that they actually do anything is far worse. People are promoting, 'Oh my God, I'm going to clear your whole ear,' and it doesn't do a thing. People are charging to do absolutely nothing to your ear."

Cotton buds win the "most dangerous" award; ear candles take home "most pointless." And then came possibly the most relatable moment of the interview.

"However, I hold my hands up and say that I use a cotton bud sometimes."

We appreciate the honesty, Shannon.

What's the worst DIY ear cleaning attempt you've ever heard of?

"Someone uses the end of their glasses, puts it in and kind of scoops, and then just wipes it off their glasses."

We pointed out that was more disgusting than disastrous - so what about the most disastrous?

"I've had someone let a relative clear their ear - and perforate their own eardrum."

Names have been withheld. The takeaway? Leave it to a professional - no matter how careful your loved ones think they can be!

Can you tell anything about a person from their ear canal?

"Technically yes, but not solely from their ear canal."

Shannon explained that hormonal changes -like those during menopause can affect the ear canal and change the type of wax produced. But the most fascinating example is something called "surfer's ear."

"When cold water, really cold water, repetitively hits the inside of your ear canal, it creates this reaction where it goes, 'I don't like this. I need to protect the eardrum.' So the bone in the canal starts growing inwards."

In some cases the canal can close over almost entirely Shannon's seen two that were completely closed.

"You can normally look at an ear canal and go, 'Were you a cold water swimmer? Do you surf? Are you a windsurfer?' And nine times out of ten they'll go, 'Oh yeah, I've done that for 40 years.'"

Living in Exmouth, that's probably one she sees quite a lot.

She can also tell how active you are from your wax alone. Our ears sweat just like the rest of us, and more active people produce softer, more plentiful wax.

"You can tell by their wax, the colour, how much they've got, how much of a sweaty person they are. More wax, more sweat."

So next time someone looks in your ears they might be judging your gym attendance.

What do people say the moment they can hear properly again?

"What?"

That's not Shannon being cheeky that's genuinely the most common response. The classic joke, right on cue, every time.

"Most people will say, 'Oh my God, was I that loud?'"

But one reaction has always stuck with her.

"One person -I don't know why I always remember this- he was like, 'Is that what it sounds like when your coat rubs against itself?' He couldn't hear that before. He would walk and wouldn't hear anything. But now he can hear the texture rubbing. And he was like, 'It's actually quite annoying.'"

"Well, we can't put the wax back."

There's something genuinely moving about someone rediscovering a sound as simple as their own coat rustling. Those are the moments that remind you why this kind of care matters.

What's your parting gift of wisdom?

"You only get one pair of ears, just like you're going to get one set of eyes. Take care of them. Because when you get older and think, 'Oh my God, I can't hear,' or think, 'Something's happened here, I've done something wrong'- there's no going back. Once you can't hear, you can't hear. Once you've damaged something, you've damaged something. So look after them now to reap the benefits in the future."

If you’ve got questions, get in touch today. Whether you're worried about a blockage, curious about your ear health, or you've been turning the telly up a bit more than usual, she'd love to hear from you. You can contact Shannon through her website or look out for her other free ear check pop-up events coming soon. She’s promised to do one right here at the clinic, so keep an eye (and an ear) out for dates on her facebook page.

"Even if you just want to chat about your ears, book in. You can pop down and see me."

Because as Shannon says: you only get one pair of ears. Look after them.