Our ears are frequently what carry the load of unintentional harm from neglect in our busy daily lives. There are a few common but dangerous practices, like making use of cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health at risk. Below, we delve into four essential methods to safeguard your sense of hearing and keep your ears healthy.
Bid farewell to ear candling
In spite of the total lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of attempting to eliminate earwax has recently gained some popularity. It’s believed that a vacuum is produced when a hollow ear candle is inserted into your ear canal and the wick at the other end is lit theoretically pulling impurities out. This practice, however, has been proven in several studies to not only be ineffective, but also rather risky.
You may be putting your hearing in jeopardy by using a practice that won’t even remove any earwax. The application of heat near the delicate structures of the ear can lead to burns, perforated eardrums, and even aggravate existing issues. Normally, if you notice any wax after ear candling, it will be from the candle itself rather than your ears.
Medical professionals always warn against ear candling because of these findings. There are safer methods of cleaning your ears than cotton swabs and the FDA and the Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) warn against using them.
Banish the cotton swabs
The allure of cotton swabs for ear cleaning is undeniable, with many individuals turning to these apparently innocuous tools for maintenance. But there are more dangers than advantages to inserting a cotton swab into your ear canal. Rather than effectively eliminating earwax, swabs can accidentally jam wax deeper into the ear canal, leading to impaction and potential injury.
The eardrum is sensitive and objects such as cotton swabs can cause considerable damage. Injuries, such as perforations or abrasions can occur, leading to pain, infection, and hearing loss. It would be better to seek professional assistance if necessary or otherwise depend on your ear’s self-cleaning ability instead of putting any object in the ear.
Keep volumes to a minimum
In a progressively noisy world, our ears are continuously inundated by sounds of varying volumes. From busy city streets to recreational activities like concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is unavoidable. Over-exposure to loud noises like these can have negative effects on your hearing health leading to tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
It’s crucial to utilize hearing protection and, if you can, avoid very loud settings in order to prevent damage. This includes using ear protection, including earmuffs or earplugs, in loud environments and limiting exposure to loud sounds whenever you can.
In addition, when using personal audio devices, such as headphones or earbuds, retaining a moderate volume and taking regular breaks can help maintain hearing health.
Listen to your ears: act quickly on symptoms
Taking quick action when your ears begin to tell you that you’re starting to encounter some level of hearing loss is critical to protect your ears from harm. If you wait to get your hearing loss treated you will probably worsen the problem.
If you have symptoms like ringing in the ears, difficulty understanding speech, or pain or pressure in your ears, it’s essential that you recognize it. If any of these symptoms are encountered, seek assessment from a qualified hearing specialist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) immediately. Your hearing results as well as your quality of life will be significantly enhanced by early detection and intervention.
Your ability to successfully navigate the landscape of your life depends on you keeping your hearing as healthy as you can. By adopting these four practices, avoiding ear candling and cotton swabs, protecting against loud noise, and understanding early warning signs, we can preserve our precious sense of hearing and cherish the symphony of sounds that enhance our existence.
If you suspect that you may be experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, call us today for an appointment.