In the hectic frenzy of everyday life, our ears often shoulder the burden of neglect and inadvertent harm. From the allure of ear candling to the apparently harmless act of using cotton swabs, our hearing health can suffer from these common yet perilous practices. What follows are a few strategies you can use to help safeguard the health of your hearing.
Bid farewell to ear candling
In spite of the total lack of scientific merit, the ancient practice of trying to remove earwax has recently achieved 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 theoretically drawing impurities out. This practice, however, has been proven in a number of studies to not only be ineffective, but also rather risky.
Not only does ear candling fail to clear away earwax efficiently, but it also poses significant hazards. Burns to the sensitive ear structures, perforated eardrums, and exacerbation of existing issues can all be consequences of this practice. Moreover, the residue left behind after ear candling often is comprised of candle wax and debris rather than extracted earwax.
Medical professionals always warn against 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) warn against using them.
No more cotton swabs
It’s true that lots of individuals turn to these seemingly 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 benefits. Impaction and possible injury can be the outcome of using cotton swabs rather than actually cleaning out earwax.
The delicate nature of the eardrum makes it vulnerable to damage from foreign objects, including cotton swabs. Injuries, like perforations or abrasions can occur, resulting in pain, infection, and hearing loss. It would be better to seek professional assistance if necessary or otherwise depend on your ear’s self-cleaning ability instead of putting any object in the ear.
Mind the volume: safeguard against loud noise
It’s a loud world we live in and our ears are continuously being assaulted by noises of all different volumes. From bustling city streets to recreational activities like concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is ubiquitous. Over-exposure to loud sounds like these can have negative effects on your hearing health leading to tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
It’s crucial to utilize ear protection and, if you can, avoid very loud settings in order to prevent damage. This includes using hearing protection, such as earmuffs or earplugs, in loud environments and restricting exposure to loud noises whenever possible.
In addition, when using personal audio devices, like headphones or earbuds, retaining a moderate volume and taking regular rests can help preserve hearing health.
Listen to your ears: act quickly on symptoms
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of sustaining optimal hearing health is being attentive to the signals your ears give you and taking prompt action in response to any concerning symptoms. In spite of the availability of advanced treatments, such as hearing aids, delaying intervention can exacerbate hearing loss and complicate management.
It is essential to identify common signs of hearing loss, such as difficulty understanding speech, ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus), or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears. Make an appointment with us right away if you encounter any of these symptoms. Your hearing results as well as your quality of life will be significantly increased by early detection and intervention.
Your ability to successfully navigate the landscape of your life is dependent on you keeping your hearing as healthy as possible. We can maintain our healthy hearing by avoiding cotton swabs and ear candles, safeguarding our ears against loud noise, and recognizing early warning signs.
Call us immediately for an assessment if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.