In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, our ears often bear the brunt of neglect and accidental harm. From the allure of ear candling to the apparently harmless act of using cotton swabs, our hearing health can suffer from these common yet hazardous practices. What follows are a few practices you can use to help protect the health of your hearing.
Bid farewell to ear candling
Ear candling, an ancient practice supposed to draw out earwax and improve ear health, has gained popularity despite lacking scientific merit. It’s believed that a vacuum is created when a hollow ear candle is inserted into your ear canal and the wick at the opposite end is lit supposedly pulling impurities out. This practice, however, has been proven in several studies to not only be ineffective, but also quite risky.
You may be putting your hearing in peril by using a practice that won’t even eliminate any earwax. The application of heat near the delicate structures of the ear can lead to burns, perforated eardrums, and even aggravate existing issues. Furthermore, the residue left behind after ear candling frequently is comprised of candle wax and debris rather than extracted earwax.
In light of these findings, medical professionals always warn against the use of ear candling. There are safer ways to clean your ears than cotton swabs and the FDA and the Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) warn against using them.
No more cotton swabs
It’s true that many people turn to these apparently harmless tools to clean earwax out of their ears. But there are more dangers than advantages to inserting a cotton swab into your ear canal. Rather than effectively eliminating earwax, swabs can accidentally pack wax deeper into the ear canal, resulting in impaction and potential injury.
The delicate nature of the eardrum makes it susceptible to damage from outside objects, including cotton swabs. Pain, infection, and hearing loss 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.
Keep volumes to a minimum
It’s a noisy world we live in and our ears are constantly being assaulted by sounds of all different volume levels. From bustling city streets to recreational activities like concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is ubiquitous. Over-exposure to loud noises like these can have negative effects on your hearing health leading to tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
To mitigate the risk of hearing damage, it is critical to be aware of noise levels and take active steps to safeguard your ears. This includes using ear protection, like earmuffs or earplugs, in loud settings and limiting exposure to loud noises whenever you can.
In addition, when utilizing personal audio devices, such as headphones or earbuds, retaining a moderate volume and taking regular breaks can help preserve hearing health.
Listen to your ears: act promptly on symptoms
Taking quick action when your ears begin to tell you that you’re starting to encounter some level of hearing loss is essential to protect your ears from damage. In spite of the availability of advanced treatments, such as hearing aids, delaying intervention can exacerbate hearing loss and complicate treatment.
It’s essential to recognize common signs of hearing loss, such as trouble 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 encountered, seek assessment from a qualified hearing specialist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) immediately. Early diagnosis and intervention can substantially improve results and enhance your quality of life.
Your ability to effectively navigate the landscape of your life is dependent on you keeping your hearing as healthy as you can. By adopting these four strategies, 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 enrich our existence.
Call us today for an assessment if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.
