‘Bad Education’ star Harry Enfield opens up about his health; says he’s ‘partially deaf’, reveals he developed a condition from swimming

Harry Enfield, the veteran comedian and actor, has revealed that he has been left partially deaf due to his long-standing habit of swimming in freshwater. The actor recently shared that frequent swims in natural waters led to the development of a condition in his ears that has affected his hearing.

Harry Enfield admits he’s gone partially deaf

While appearing on a recent episode of the Off Menu podcast, Enfield opened up about his hearing issues. He revealed that after a recent doctor's visit, he learned that swimming in the Highgate Ponds had caused him to develop bony growths in his ears, commonly known as Surfer’s Ear.

Speaking about the diagnosis, Enfield said, “I’m deaf, partially deaf. They’ve got tiny little hearing aids you can get now, and apparently they’re very good. They cost a fortune, but they’re worth having. So, I went to get them fitted. They said, ‘No, you’ve got big bones – stalactites – that have grown in your ears. Do you do a lot of freshwater swimming?’ I said, ‘Well, yeah’. They said, ‘Ah, that’s what it is’.”

He further shared that while the condition can be treated, doctors warned him that removing the growths could be an extremely painful process.

The actor has been candid about his hearing loss since last year and has spoken openly about how he has been coping with the condition.

What is Surfer’s Ear?

According to the National Institutes of Health, Surfer’s Ear, or external auditory exostoses (EAE), is a slowly progressive condition caused by benign bone growth in the ear canal due to repeated exposure to cold water.

The condition is most commonly associated with surfers but can also affect swimmers, divers, kayakers and sailors who are regularly exposed to cold-water environments. While Surfer’s Ear is often asymptomatic in its early stages, it can lead to hearing loss, recurrent ear infections, ear discharge, a sensation of fullness in the ear and wax build-up.

About Harry Enfield

For the unversed, Harry Enfield is best known for his work in Bad Education, Kevin & Perry Go Large, Spitting Image, Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show and Men Behaving Badly. Over the years, he has become one of the most recognisable faces in British comedy.