Our ears are frequently what carry the load of accidental harm from neglect in our hectic daily lives. There are a few common but dangerous practices, including making use of cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health in peril. What follows are a few practices you can use to help protect the health of your hearing.
Bid farewell to ear candling
Despite the utter lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of trying to remove earwax has recently gained some popularity. It’s believed that a vacuum is created when a hollow ear candle is inserted into your ear canal and the wick at the other end is lit supposedly drawing impurities out. This practice, however, has been proven in a number of studies to not only be ineffective, but also quite risky.
Not only does ear candling fail to clear away earwax efficiently, but it also poses considerable risks. Burns to the delicate ear structures, perforated eardrums, and exacerbation of existing problems can all be consequences of this practice. Normally, if you see any wax after ear candling, it will be from the candle itself rather than your ears.
Medical professionals always warn against ear candling because of these findings. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) warn against this practice, emphasizing safer options for ear hygiene.
No more cotton swabs
It’s true that many 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 advantages. Impaction and possible injury can be the outcome of using cotton swabs rather than actually cleaning out earwax.
The eardrum is delicate and objects such as cotton swabs can cause considerable damage. Pain, infection, and hearing impairment can all be the outcomes of perforations or abrasions of the eardrum. It would be better to obtain professional assistance if necessary or otherwise depend on your ear’s self-cleaning ability instead of putting any object in the ear.
Keep volumes to a minimum
In an increasingly noisy world, our ears are constantly bombarded by sounds of varying intensities. From busy city streets to leisure activities such as concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is ubiquitous. Nonetheless, prolonged or excessive exposure can have detrimental effects on auditory health, resulting in noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus.
To mitigate the risk of hearing damage, it is essential to be conscious of sound levels and take active steps to safeguard your ears. Whenever you can’t avoid very loud noise, protection such as earplugs and earmuffs should be utilized.
Also, take regular breaks and moderate the volume when you’re utilizing personal listening devices like headphones and earpods.
If you observe any symptoms, act promptly
Taking quick 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 harm. Despite the availability of advanced treatments, including hearing aids, holding off on intervention can exacerbate hearing loss and complicate management.
If you have symptoms like ringing in the ears, trouble understanding speech, or pain or pressure in your ears, it’s important that you recognize it. If any of these symptoms are experienced, seek evaluation from a qualified hearing specialist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) promptly. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve results and improve your quality of life.
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, safeguarding our ears against loud noise, and identifying early warning signs.
If you think that you may be experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, call us today for an appointment.