In the hustle and bustle of day-to-day 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 auditory health can suffer from these common yet dangerous practices. Below, we explore four important ways to safeguard your sense of hearing and keep your ears protected.
Say good by to ear candling
In spite of the utter lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of trying to remove 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 opposite end is lit theoretically drawing impurities out. This practice, however, has been proven in several studies to not only be ineffective, but also quite risky.
You might be putting your hearing in peril by using 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. Normally, if you see any wax after ear candling, it will be from the candle itself rather than your ears.
In light of these findings, medical experts universally 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) advise against using them.
No more cotton swabs
It’s true that lots of people turn to these apparently 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 potential injury can be the outcome of using cotton swabs rather than actually cleaning out earwax.
The sensitive nature of the eardrum makes it susceptible to damage from outside objects, including cotton swabs. Injuries, like perforations or abrasions can happen, leading to pain, infection, and hearing impairment. It would be better to obtain professional help 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 loud world we live in and our ears are continuously being assaulted by sounds of all different volume levels. Exposure to loud noise is inevitable, from attending sporting events and concerts to strolling down noisy city streets to mowing your lawn. 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 aware of sound levels and take active measures to protect your ears. Whenever you can’t avoid very loud noise, protection such as earplugs and earmuffs should be utilized.
Additionally, when using personal audio devices, like headphones or earbuds, maintaining a moderate volume and taking regular breaks can help maintain hearing health.
If you detect any symptoms, act promptly
Taking fast action when your ears begin to tell you that you’re starting to experience some level of hearing loss is crucial to protect your ears from damage. In spite of the availability of advanced treatments, including hearing aids, delaying intervention can exacerbate hearing loss and complicate treatment.
If you have symptoms like ringing in the ears, difficulty understanding speech, or pain or pressure in your ears, it’s important that you recognize it. Schedule an appointment with us right away if you experience any of these symptoms. Early detection and intervention can substantially improve results and enhance your quality of life.
Your ability to successfully navigate the landscape of your life is dependent on you keeping your hearing as healthy as possible. We can maintain our healthy hearing by avoiding cotton swabs and ear candles, safeguarding our ears against loud noise, and identifying early warning symptoms.
If you think that you might be experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, call us today for an appointment.