In the hectic frenzy of everyday life, our ears often bear the brunt of neglect and accidental harm. From the allure of ear candling to the seemingly harmless act of utilizing cotton swabs, our hearing health can suffer from these prevalent yet hazardous practices. What follows are a few practices you can use to help protect the health of your hearing.
Ear candling is a no-no
In spite of the complete lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of attempting 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 opposite end is lit supposedly pulling impurities out. However, numerous studies have debunked this practice, highlighting its ineffectiveness and potential risks.
Not only does ear candling fail to eliminate earwax effectively, but it also poses substantial hazards. Burns to the delicate ear structures, perforated eardrums, and exacerbation of existing issues can all be consequences of this practice. Normally, if you notice any wax after ear candling, it will be from the candle itself rather than your ears.
In light of these findings, medical experts always warn against the use of ear candling. There are safer ways to clean your ears than cotton swabs and the FDA and the Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) advise against using them.
No more cotton swabs
The attraction of cotton swabs for ear cleaning is indisputable, with many people turning to these seemingly harmless tools for maintenance. But there are more dangers than advantages 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 such as cotton swabs can cause substantial damage. Injuries, like perforations or abrasions can happen, resulting in pain, infection, and hearing loss. It would be better to seek professional help if necessary or otherwise rely on your ear’s self-cleaning ability rather than 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 noises of all different volume levels. From bustling city streets to leisure activities like concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is ubiquitous. Over-exposure to loud noises like these can have detrimental effects on your hearing health leading to tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
It’s crucial to utilize hearing protection and, if you can, avoid very loud settings in order to avoid damage. Whenever you can’t steer clear of very loud noise, protection like earplugs and earmuffs should be utilized.
Also, take frequent breaks and moderate the volume when you’re utilizing personal listening devices like headphones and earpods.
If you detect any symptoms, act promptly
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of sustaining optimal hearing health is being attentive to the signals your ears provide and taking quick action in response to any concerning symptoms. If you wait to get your hearing loss treated you will probably worsen the issue.
It’s imperative to recognize common signs of hearing impairment, such as trouble understanding speech, ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus), or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears. Schedule an appointment with us right away if you encounter 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.
