Our ears are often what carry the load of unintentional harm from neglect in our hectic day-to-day lives. There are some common but hazardous practices, including making use of cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health at risk. Below, we delve into four important ways to safeguard your sense of hearing and keep your ears protected.
Say good by to ear candling
Ear candling, an ancient technique purported to extract earwax and improve ear health, has gained popularity in spite of 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 theoretically drawing impurities out. This practice, however, has been proven in a number of studies to not only be ineffective, but also extremely risky.
Not only does ear candling fail to remove earwax efficiently, but it also poses significant hazards. Burns to the delicate ear structures, perforated eardrums, and aggravation of existing issues can all be consequences of this practice. Also, the residue left behind after ear candling often consists of candle wax and debris rather than extracted earwax.
Medical professionals always warn against ear candling because of these findings. There are safer methods of cleaning 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 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 advantages. Impaction and possible injury can be the outcome of using cotton swabs rather than actually cleaning out earwax.
The eardrum is sensitive and objects such as cotton swabs can cause significant damage. Injuries, such as perforations or abrasions can happen, creating pain, infection, and hearing impairment. It would be better to obtain professional assistance if necessary or otherwise rely on your ear’s self-cleaning ability instead of 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 busy city streets to recreational activities such as concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is unavoidable. However, prolonged or excessive exposure can have harmful effects on hearing health, resulting in noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus.
It’s essential to use ear protection and, if you can, avoid overly loud settings in order to avoid damage. Whenever you can’t steer clear of really loud noise, protection such as earplugs and earmuffs should be used.
Also, take regular breaks and moderate the volume when you’re using personal listening devices such as headphones and earpods.
If you observe any symptoms, act promptly
Taking fast action when your ears begin to tell you that you’re starting to experience some degree of hearing loss is essential to protect your ears from damage. If you hold off on getting your hearing loss treated you will probably worsen the problem.
If you have symptoms like ringing in the ears, trouble understanding speech, or pain or pressure in your ears, it’s important that you acknowledge it. If any of these symptoms are encountered, seek assessment from a qualified hearing specialist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) promptly. Your hearing results as well as your quality of life will be substantially enhanced by early detection and intervention.
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 enhance our existence.
Call us immediately for an assessment if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.