In the hectic frenzy of everyday life, our ears often shoulder the burden of neglect and inadvertent harm. There are some common but dangerous practices, including utilizing cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health in peril. What follows are a few strategies you can use to help safeguard the health of your hearing.
Ear candling is a no-no
Despite the total 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 other end is lit supposedly drawing impurities out. However, several studies have debunked this practice, emphasizing its ineffectiveness and potential risks.
You might be putting your hearing in peril by using a practice that won’t even remove any earwax. Burns to the sensitive ear structures, perforated eardrums, and exacerbation of existing issues can all be consequences of this practice. Usually, 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 professionals universally discourage the use of ear candling. There are safer methods of cleaning your ears than cotton swabs and the FDA and the Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) advise against using them.
Get rid of the cotton swabs
The attraction of cotton swabs for ear cleaning is unquestionable, with many individuals turning to these seemingly harmless tools for maintenance. However, contrary to popular belief, inserting cotton swabs into the ear canal presents more risks than advantages. Impaction and potential 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 impairment. To prevent these complications, it is beneficial to steer clear of inserting any objects into the ear canal and instead depend upon the ear’s self-cleaning mechanisms or seek professional assistance if necessary.
Mind the volume: protect against loud noise
It’s a noisy world we live in and our ears are continuously being assaulted by sounds of all different volume levels. From bustling city streets to leisure activities such as concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is ubiquitous. Nonetheless, sustained or excessive exposure can have detrimental effects on hearing health, leading to noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus.
To decrease the threat of hearing damage, it is critical to be aware of noise levels and take proactive measures to safeguard your ears. Whenever you can’t avoid very loud noise, protection such as earplugs and earmuffs should be used.
Also, take regular breaks and moderate the volume when you’re utilizing personal listening devices like headphones and earpods.
Listen to your ears: act quickly on symptoms
Taking fast action when your ears begin to tell you that you’re starting to experience some level of hearing loss is essential to protect your ears from harm. If you hold off on getting your hearing loss treated you will most likely exacerbate the issue.
If you have symptoms like ringing in the ears, difficulty understanding speech, or pain or pressure in your ears, it’s essential 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) immediately. Your hearing outcomes as well as your quality of life will be significantly enhanced by early detection and intervention.
Your ability to successfully navigate the landscape of your life depends on you keeping your hearing as healthy as you can. We can maintain our healthy hearing by avoiding cotton swabs and ear candles, protecting our ears against loud noise, and recognizing early warning symptoms.
If you think that you may be experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, call us today for an appointment.