The presenter is managing the symptoms of an acoustic neuroma while calling for more awareness of the condition
TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher has revealed she is living with hearing loss and tinnitus caused by an acoustic neuroma, a benign tumour on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain.
In a conversation on The Vanessa Feltz Show, Gallacher discussed the effect the condition has had on her daily life, and her decision to delay treatment for now.
The 49-year-old said that although she has been advised to consider a hearing aid, she is not ready to take that step. “I’m managing it fine,” she said, though she admitted that noisy environments, such as restaurants or social gatherings, can be overwhelming. “I get really upset,” she said, explaining how she now relies heavily on lip-reading to follow conversations.
Diagnosis and treatment decisions
Gallacher first noticed problems during rehearsals at GB News in 2021. After several appointments, she was diagnosed with a small acoustic neuroma. An MRI ruled out anything more serious, but she has chosen not to pursue surgery due to the tumour’s proximity to the brain. She has not ruled out targeted radiotherapy in future.
She also experiences severe tinnitus, particularly at night, which has disrupted her sleep and contributed to her decision to leave GB News. “The 3am starts were too much,” she wrote in a post on Instagram. “The lack of sleep was making the tinnitus worse.”
Gallacher now hosts a show on Gold Radio and says she is grateful to be able to continue working while managing her symptoms. “I’m fine, I just have to be … I’m very lucky and grateful,” she said.
A wider conversation about health and support
Gallacher’s decision to speak publicly comes at a time of increased discussion about how workplaces support people with health conditions – particularly women’s health issues such as menopause. Her experience adds weight to arguments that employers should be more flexible and supportive when staff face ongoing medical challenges.
Tinnitus affects around one in seven adults in the UK. Although not life-threatening, it can have a significant effect on quality of life. Treatments include sound therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and hearing aids.
Tinnitus Care & Modern Hearing Aids
Hearology® has an experienced group of audiologists who can provide advice about any hearing issues, from workplace auditory assessment to addressing individuals’ fears about deafness or having to use hearing aids, which have become a lot less obtrusive than they used to be and are excellent at filtering out noise in busy places.
Talking about Gallacher’s diagnosis, Micaela Stonestreet, a Clinical Audiologist at Hearology® with an interest in tinnitus said: “Tinnitus can be incredibly disruptive, but people often don’t realise how much relief can be found with the right support. We use microsuction and diagnostic tests in regulated clinics to ensure there’s no underlying issue such as wax build-up, middle ear dysfunction or hearing loss. The right intervention at the right time can make a huge difference and, although it’s not possible to treat tinnitus directly, it can be very effectively managed with either hearing aids or cognitive behavioural therapy, or both.”
References
- Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) – NHS overview of acoustic neuroma, including symptoms and treatment options
- What can I do? – British Tinnitus Association resource on support
- “Dear tinnitus…” – Jamie Laing opens up about his battle – The Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing talks about his tinnitus
