In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, our ears often shoulder the burden of neglect and accidental harm. There are some common but hazardous practices, including using cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health in peril. What follows are a few practices you can use to help safeguard the health of your hearing.
Say good by to ear candling
In spite of the utter lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of trying to eliminate earwax has recently gained some popularity. The process involves inserting a hollow candle inside of the ear canal and igniting the opposite end, with the notion that a vacuum is created, drawing out impurities. 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 eliminate 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 as opposed to extracted earwax.
Medical professionals always discourage ear candling because of these findings. There are safer ways to clean your ears than cotton swabs and the FDA and the Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) advise against using them.
Get rid of the cotton swabs
It’s true that many individuals turn to these apparently innocuous tools to clean earwax out of their ears. But there are more risks than benefits to inserting a cotton swab into your ear canal. Instead of effectively eliminating earwax, swabs can unintentionally jam wax deeper into the ear canal, resulting in impaction and potential injury.
The eardrum is sensitive and objects such as cotton swabs can cause significant damage. Pain, infection, and hearing impairment can all be the outcomes of perforations or abrasions of the eardrum. To prevent these complications, it is advisable to refrain from inserting any objects into the ear canal and instead rely on the ear’s self-cleaning mechanisms or seek professional help if necessary.
Keep volumes to a minimum
It’s a loud world we live in and our ears are continuously being assaulted by noises of all different volumes. Exposure to loud sound is unavoidable, from attending sporting events and concerts to walking down noisy city streets to mowing your lawn. Nonetheless, prolonged or excessive exposure can have harmful effects on hearing health, leading to noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus.
It’s crucial to utilize hearing protection and, if you can, avoid very loud settings in order to prevent damage. This includes wearing ear protection, like earmuffs or earplugs, in noisy settings and restricting exposure to loud sounds whenever you can.
Additionally, when using personal audio devices, like headphones or earbuds, retaining a moderate volume and taking regular breaks can help preserve hearing health.
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 level of hearing loss is essential to protect your ears from damage. In spite of the availability of advanced treatments, including hearing aids, holding off on intervention can exacerbate hearing loss and complicate treatment.
It’s essential 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 significantly 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 maintain our healthy hearing by avoiding cotton swabs and ear candles, safeguarding our ears against loud noise, and identifying early warning signs.
Call us today for an evaluation if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.