In the hectic frenzy of everyday life, our ears often shoulder the burden of neglect and accidental harm. There are a few common but dangerous practices, like making use of cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health in peril. Below, we explore four essential strategies to safeguard your sense of hearing and keep your ears healthy.
Bid farewell to ear candling
In spite of the complete lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of attempting to remove 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 opposite end is lit allegedly drawing impurities out. This practice, however, has been proven in a number of studies to not only be ineffective, but also rather risky.
You may be putting your hearing in jeopardy by employing a practice that won’t even eliminate any earwax. The application of heat near the delicate structures of the ear can result in burns, perforated eardrums, and even exacerbate existing problems. Also, the residue left behind after ear candling frequently is comprised of candle wax and debris as opposed to extracted earwax.
In light of these findings, medical professionals always discourage the use of ear candling. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) warn against this practice, emphasizing safer alternatives for ear hygiene.
No more cotton swabs
It’s true that many individuals turn to these seemingly innocuous tools to clean earwax out of their ears. However, contrary to popular belief, inserting cotton swabs into the ear canal presents more dangers than benefits. Impaction and possible injury can be the result of using cotton swabs rather than actually cleaning out earwax.
The eardrum is delicate and objects such as cotton swabs can cause considerable damage. Pain, infection, and hearing impairment can all be the outcomes of perforations or abrasions of the eardrum. To prevent these complications, it is advisable to steer clear of inserting any objects into the ear canal and instead rely on the ear’s self-cleaning mechanisms or seek professional help if necessary.
Keep volumes to a minimum
In an increasingly noisy world, our ears are constantly inundated by sounds of varying volumes. From busy city streets to leisure activities such as concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud sound is unavoidable. Over-exposure to loud sounds like these can have detrimental effects on your hearing health resulting in tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
To mitigate the risk of hearing damage, it is critical to be mindful of sound levels and take active steps to safeguard your ears. This includes using hearing protection, such as earmuffs or earplugs, in noisy environments and limiting exposure to loud sounds whenever possible.
Additionally, when using personal audio devices, like headphones or earbuds, retaining a moderate volume and taking regular rests can help maintain hearing health.
Listen to your ears: act quickly on symptoms
Taking fast action when your ears begin to tell you that you’re starting to experience some level of hearing loss is essential 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. Schedule an appointment with us right away if you encounter any of these symptoms. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve outcomes and enhance your quality of life.
In conclusion, the health and well-being of our ears are vital in navigating the sensory landscape of our lives. We can preserve our healthy hearing by avoiding cotton swabs and ear candles, safeguarding our ears against loud noise, and recognizing early warning signs.
Call us immediately for an assessment if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.
