In the hectic frenzy of everyday life, our ears often shoulder the burden of neglect and inadvertent harm. There are a few common but dangerous practices, including making use of cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health at risk. What follows are a few strategies you can use to help protect the health of your hearing.
Say good by to ear candling
Despite the complete lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of trying to clear away earwax has recently achieved some popularity. The process involves inserting a hollow candle into the ear canal and igniting the opposite end, with the idea that a vacuum is created, drawing out impurities. This practice, however, has been proven in several studies to not only be ineffective, but also extremely risky.
Not only does ear candling fail to remove earwax effectively, but it also poses significant risks. Burns to the delicate ear structures, perforated eardrums, and aggravation of existing issues can all be consequences of this practice. Furthermore, the residue left behind after ear candling often is comprised of candle wax and debris rather than extracted earwax.
Medical professionals always discourage 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) advise against using them.
No more 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 possible injury can be the result 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, leading to pain, infection, and hearing loss. It would be better to obtain professional help if necessary or otherwise rely on your ear’s self-cleaning ability instead of putting any object in the ear.
Mind the volume: safeguard against loud noise
In an increasingly noisy world, our ears are constantly inundated by sounds of varying volumes. Exposure to loud sound is unavoidable, from going to sporting events and concerts to walking down noisy city streets to mowing your lawn. However, prolonged or excessive exposure can have harmful effects on auditory health, resulting in noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus.
It’s crucial to utilize ear protection and, if you can, avoid overly loud settings in order to prevent damage. Whenever you can’t steer clear of extremely loud noise, protection such as earplugs and earmuffs should be used.
In addition, 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 promptly on symptoms
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of sustaining optimal hearing health is being attentive to the signals your ears give you and taking prompt action in response to any concerning symptoms. If you wait to get your hearing loss treated you will probably exacerbate the issue.
It is imperative to recognize common signs of hearing loss, 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 right away if you experience any of these symptoms. Your hearing outcomes as well as your quality of life will be substantially increased by early detection and intervention.
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 identifying early warning symptoms.
Call us today for an evaluation if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.