In the hectic frenzy of everyday life, our ears often bear the brunt of neglect and accidental harm. There are a few common but hazardous practices, like utilizing cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health in peril. Below, we delve into four essential methods to safeguard your sense of hearing and keep your ears healthy.
Ear candling is a no-no
Despite the complete lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of trying to eliminate earwax has recently achieved 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 a number of studies to not only be ineffective, but also quite risky.
You could be putting your hearing in jeopardy by employing a practice that won’t even eliminate any earwax. The application of heat near the sensitive structures of the ear can result in burns, perforated eardrums, and even exacerbate existing problems. Also, the residue left behind after ear candling often consists of candle wax and debris as opposed to extracted earwax.
In light of these findings, medical professionals universally discourage the use of ear candling. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) caution against this practice, emphasizing safer methods for ear hygiene.
Banish the cotton swabs
It’s true that many people turn to these seemingly innocuous tools to clean earwax out of their ears. However, contrary to public opinion, inserting cotton swabs into the ear canal presents more dangers than benefits. Rather than effectively removing earwax, swabs can accidentally push wax deeper into the ear canal, leading to impaction and potential injury.
The eardrum is delicate and objects like cotton swabs can cause significant damage. Pain, infection, and hearing impairment can all be the outcomes of perforations or abrasions of the eardrum. It would be better to obtain professional assistance if necessary or otherwise rely on your ear’s self-cleaning ability rather than putting any object in the ear.
Mind the volume: protect against loud noise
It’s a noisy world we live in and our ears are constantly being assaulted by sounds of all different volumes. From bustling city streets to leisure activities like concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud sound is ubiquitous. Over-exposure to loud noises like these can have detrimental effects on your hearing health resulting in tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
To mitigate the threat of hearing damage, it is critical to be mindful of noise levels and take active steps to protect your ears. Whenever you can’t avoid very loud noise, protection such as earplugs and earmuffs should be used.
Also, take regular breaks and moderate the volume when you’re utilizing personal listening devices like headphones and earpods.
If you notice any symptoms, act quickly
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of preserving optimal hearing health is being alert to the signals your ears give you and taking prompt action in response to any concerning symptoms. Despite the availability of advanced treatments, including hearing aids, holding off on intervention can worsen hearing loss and complicate management.
It’s essential to recognize common signs of hearing loss, such as difficulty understanding speech, ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus), or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears. If any of these symptoms are experienced, seek evaluation from a qualified hearing specialist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) promptly. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve results and enhance your quality of life.
Your ability to effectively 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 maintain our precious sense of hearing and cherish the symphony of sounds that enrich our existence.
Call us immediately for an assessment if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.