Our ears are frequently what carry the load of unintentional harm from neglect in our busy day-to-day lives. From the allure of ear candling to the seemingly harmless act of using cotton swabs, our auditory health can suffer from these common yet dangerous practices. What follows are a few strategies you can use to help safeguard the health of your hearing.
Ear candling is a no-no
In spite of the complete lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of trying to remove earwax has recently achieved some popularity. The process involves inserting a hollow candle inside of the ear canal and igniting the opposite end, with the idea that a vacuum is created, pulling out impurities. However, numerous studies have debunked this practice, emphasizing its ineffectiveness and potential risks.
You might be putting your hearing in jeopardy by using a practice that won’t even eliminate any earwax. 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 frequently consists 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 individuals turn to these seemingly harmless tools to clean earwax out of their ears. But there are more risks than benefits to inserting a cotton swab into your ear canal. Impaction and possible injury can be the outcome of using cotton swabs rather than actually cleaning out earwax.
The eardrum is sensitive and objects like cotton swabs can cause significant damage. Injuries, like perforations or abrasions can happen, resulting in pain, infection, and hearing loss. To avoid these complications, it is beneficial to steer clear of inserting any objects into the ear canal and instead depend on the ear’s self-cleaning mechanisms or seek professional help if necessary.
Keep volumes to a minimum
In a progressively noisy world, our ears are constantly bombarded by sounds of differing intensities. Exposure to loud noise is unavoidable, from attending sporting events and concerts to strolling down busy city streets to mowing your lawn. Over-exposure to loud noises like these can have detrimental effects on your hearing health leading to tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
To decrease the risk of hearing damage, it is essential to be mindful of noise levels and take active measures to safeguard your ears. This includes using ear protection, such as earmuffs or earplugs, in noisy environments and limiting exposure to loud sounds whenever possible.
Also, take frequent breaks and moderate the volume when you’re using personal listening devices such as headphones and earpods.
Listen to your ears: act promptly on symptoms
Taking fast action when your ears begin to tell you that you’re starting to encounter some degree of hearing loss is critical to protect your ears from damage. Despite the availability of advanced treatments, including hearing aids, holding off on intervention can worsen hearing loss and complicate management.
If you have symptoms like ringing in the ears, difficulty understanding speech, or pain or pressure in your ears, it’s important that you acknowledge it. If any of these symptoms are encountered, seek evaluation from a qualified hearing specialist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) immediately. Your hearing results as well as your quality of life will be substantially enhanced by early detection and intervention.
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, protecting our ears against loud noise, and recognizing early warning symptoms.
Call us today for an assessment if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.
