Showbiz

Kirsty Gallacher, 49, stuns in a blue jumpsuit as she leaves The Vanessa Feltz show after opening up about hearing loss and ‘severe tinnitus’

Kirsty Gallacher, 49, stuns in a blue jumpsuit as she leaves The Vanessa Feltz show after opening up about hearing loss and ‘severe tinnitus’

Kirsty Gallacher looked sensational on Wednesday as she stepped out in London following her appearance on The Vanessa Feltz Show, where she opened up about her hearing loss and battle with severe tinnitus.

The presenter, 49, stunned in a striking deep blue jumpsuit, featuring a smart collar and a tie belt that accentuated her waistline.

She added a touch of glamour with a pair of golden wedge heels and styled her brunette tresses into a sleek up-do.

Kirsty carried a navy tweed jacket over one arm and held a chic leather handbag along with a garment bag.

The TV star appeared in high spirits as she beamed for the cameras whilst walking down the street. 

It comes just moments after she opened up about her ongoing battle with tinnitus and hearing loss, stemming from a benign tumour in her right ear.

Kirsty Gallacher looked sensational on Wednesday as she stepped out in London following her appearance on the Vanessa Feltz Show

Kirsty Gallacher looked sensational on Wednesday as she stepped out in London following her appearance on the Vanessa Feltz Show

During her appeared on Vanessa's show, the 49-year-old presenter discussed the challenges she faces in noisy environments (pictured Vanessa)

During her appeared on Vanessa’s show, the 49-year-old presenter discussed the challenges she faces in noisy environments (pictured Vanessa)

The presenter, 49, stunned in a striking deep blue jumpsuit, featuring a smart collar and a tie belt that accentuated her waistline

The presenter, 49, stunned in a striking deep blue jumpsuit, featuring a smart collar and a tie belt that accentuated her waistline

Speaking on The Vanessa Feltz Show alongside audiologist Dr Gladys Sanda, the presenter discussed the challenges she faces in noisy environments.

She said: ‘They have suggested a hearing aid. I’m not there yet, I don’t think. I’m managing it fine.

‘I do find it upsetting and I sympathise… it’s management and sometimes if I’m in an acoustically difficult environment, say I was out for dinner last night, noisy environment, I have to leave sometimes. I get really upset.

‘I can’t cope with it because I can’t hear anyone… I now look at people’s lips because my hearing loss is pretty bad in my right ear.’

Kirsty was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma – a benign tumour in the inner ear canal – after experiencing hearing difficulties during rehearsals for GB News in 2021.

Initially fearing a brain tumour, the mother-of-two underwent an MRI scan which confirmed the diagnosis.

Speaking candidly on Loose Women in 2022, she recalled: ‘I woke up in the summer one morning and I couldn’t hear very well in my right ear. I thought ‘it will pop at some point’. It didn’t pop. I went on a plane the next week, it didn’t pop.

‘I went to the doctor and she said ‘how long has this been going on?’ and I said ‘two weeks’. She checked and said you’re very healthy, this is an emergency.

She added a touch of glamour with a pair of golden wedge heels and styled her brunette tresses into a sleek updo

She added a touch of glamour with a pair of golden wedge heels and styled her brunette tresses into a sleek updo

Kirsty carried a navy tweed jacket over one arm and held a chic leather handbag along with a garment bag

Kirsty carried a navy tweed jacket over one arm and held a chic leather handbag along with a garment bag

The TV star appeared in high spirits as she beamed for the cameras whilst walking down the street

The TV star appeared in high spirits as she beamed for the cameras whilst walking down the street

‘I said ‘could it be a tumour?’ and she said ‘listen, it probably isn’t, but you’re going to see a consultant tomorrow’.’

‘He said ‘I’m gonna give you a steroid injection into your eardrum.’ I went back the week after, he said it was an MRI scan. They found I had a very small tumour right in the inner ear canal.’

Read More Kirsty Gallacher reveals impact of severe tinnitus as she opens up about hearing loss article image

‘I had to have an MRI and doctors discovered I had an acoustic neuroma,’ she previously said.

‘We have to monitor it as I don’t want them to operate on it as it’s so close to the brain. I have to have targeted radiotherapy for it, so I’m having to think about that and when I will do it.’

The condition has led to severe tinnitus, affecting her sleep and prompting her to step back from her role at GB News.

She wrote on Instagram at the time: ‘During the summer I discovered I have a tumour in the inner canal of my right ear. Thankfully, it’s benign and not hugely detrimental to my normal life.

‘However, the tumour has caused severe tinnitus which makes it very difficult to sleep. Sadly my 3am starts at GB News, compounded by sleep deprivation, are exacerbating my symptoms.’

Despite these challenges, Kirsty remains optimistic.

‘I’m fine, I just have to be… I’m very lucky and grateful,’ she said. She continues to manage her condition while maintaining her career, including her current role as a presenter on Gold Radio.​

WHAT IS TINNITUS?

Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises, such as ringing, buzzing or hissing, that are not caused by an outside source, according to the NHS.

It occurs due to damage to the cochlear hair cells in the inner ear, which stretch and contract in accordance with sound-induced vibrations.

Very loud noises – at a nightclub or played over headphones – can overload these cells, leaving them temporarily or permanently damages.

The damage forces other parts of the ear to overwork to compensate for the loss of function, which leads to tinnitus and eventually chronic hearing loss. 

According to RNID, around one in 7 UK adults has tinnitus. 

Treatment focuses on counselling and therapies to help people find ways of coping with their condition and reducing any anxiety it causes. 

Tinnitus retraining therapy uses sound therapy to retrain the brain to tune out and be less aware of ringing and buzzing noises.

Deep breathing, yoga and joining support groups can also help. 

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