{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/660d43477ce84c0017b907ba/6741f582ec59709ba550fff1?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Charmain Leek ","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/660d43477ce84c0017b907ba/1732375882680-42b42f92-28db-4535-9387-7c477e968c07.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Audiology clinic owner and clinical audiologist Charmain Leek was diagnosed with MS 17 years ago. But that doesn’t stop her working a 55-60-hour week. Charmain is an example of a hard-working business owner who is spinning many different plates in her personal and professional lives, battling many different challenges and coping with stresses from the various demands on her time – by working long hours and neglecting some aspects of a healthier lifestyle. Two nearly grown-up daughters, a husband not in the best of health, her own diagnosis of MS, plus the demands of 2 pets, dog walking at 6.30am before she chases to the office – all add up to a super-busy life as she runs her own audiology business in Worcester.</p><p><br></p><p>Charmain believes the Covid pandemic created extra hearing issues for patients. Post-Covid, many patients think they have wax problems, but on inspection, there’s none. She believes fluid in the middle ear is often Covid-induced. There’s been a Tinnitus rise since the pandemic, she says. She caught Covid herself and now maintains a busy workload with the influx of patients. What about taking breaks for lunch? “I never take a lunch break,” she replies, “but there are a lot of eaten apple cores in my car.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>","author_name":"Dr Ben Sinclair"}