In the hectic frenzy of everyday life, our ears frequently bear the brunt of neglect and inadvertent harm. There are some common but dangerous practices, like using cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health in peril. What follows are a few strategies you can use to help safeguard the health of your hearing.
Say good by to ear candling
In spite of the complete lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of attempting 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 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 using a practice that won’t even remove any earwax. Burns to the delicate ear structures, perforated eardrums, and exacerbation of existing problems can all be consequences of this practice. Usually, 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 discourage the use of ear candling. There are safer methods of cleaning your ears than cotton swabs and the FDA and the Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) advise against using them.
Get rid of the cotton swabs
It’s true that many people turn to these seemingly 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. Impaction and potential injury can be the outcome of using cotton swabs rather than actually cleaning out earwax.
The delicate nature of the eardrum makes it susceptible to damage from foreign objects, including cotton swabs. Injuries, like perforations or abrasions can occur, leading to pain, infection, and hearing impairment. It would be better to seek professional assistance if necessary or otherwise rely on your ear’s self-cleaning ability rather than putting any object in the ear.
Be mindful of the volume: protect against loud noise
It’s a noisy world we live in and our ears are constantly being assaulted by noises of all different volume levels. From bustling city streets to leisure activities such as concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is unavoidable. Over-exposure to loud sounds like these can have negative effects on your hearing health leading to tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
It’s essential to use hearing protection and, if possible, avoid excessively loud settings in order to prevent damage. This includes using ear protection, like earmuffs or earplugs, in loud settings and limiting exposure to loud sounds whenever possible.
Also, take frequent breaks and moderate the volume when you’re utilizing personal listening devices such as headphones and earpods.
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 harm. Despite the availability of advanced treatments, such as hearing aids, delaying intervention can exacerbate hearing loss and complicate management.
It’s essential to identify common signs of hearing impairment, such as difficulty understanding speech, ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus), or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears. Make an appointment with us as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve outcomes 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 possible. We can preserve our healthy hearing by avoiding cotton swabs and ear candles, protecting 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.
