Our ears are frequently what carry the load of unintentional harm from neglect in our hectic day-to-day lives. There are some common but dangerous practices, including utilizing cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health at risk. Below, we explore four essential methods to safeguard your sense of hearing and keep your ears healthy.
Say good by to ear candling
Ear candling, an ancient practice purported to extract earwax and promote ear health, has gained popularity in spite of lacking scientific merit. 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 allegedly drawing impurities out. However, several studies have debunked this practice, highlighting its ineffectiveness and potential risks.
You might be putting your hearing in peril by employing 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. Furthermore, the residue left behind after ear candling often consists 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) advise against using them.
Get rid of the cotton swabs
The allure of cotton swabs for ear cleaning is undeniable, with many people turning to these apparently innocuous tools for maintenance. But there are more dangers than advantages to inserting a cotton swab into your ear canal. Impaction and potential injury can be the result of using cotton swabs rather than actually cleaning out earwax.
The delicate nature of the eardrum makes it susceptible to damage from outside objects, including cotton swabs. Injuries, such as perforations or abrasions can occur, leading to pain, infection, and hearing impairment. To prevent these complications, it is beneficial 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
In a progressively noisy world, our ears are continuously bombarded by sounds of differing volumes. From bustling city streets to leisure activities such as concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is unavoidable. Over-exposure to loud sounds like these can have detrimental effects on your hearing health leading to tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
To decrease the risk of hearing damage, it is critical to be aware of sound levels and take proactive steps to protect your ears. This includes using hearing protection, including earmuffs or earplugs, in loud settings and restricting exposure to loud sounds whenever you can.
Also, take frequent breaks and moderate the volume when you’re using personal listening devices like headphones and earpods.
Listen to your ears: act quickly on symptoms
Taking quick action when your ears begin to tell you that you’re starting to experience some degree of hearing loss is crucial to protect your ears from damage. If you wait to get your hearing loss treated you will probably exacerbate the issue.
It’s crucial to recognize common signs of hearing impairment, 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 as soon as possible if you encounter any of these symptoms. Your hearing results as well as your quality of life will be significantly enhanced by early detection and intervention.
Your ability to effectively navigate the landscape of your life depends on you keeping your hearing as healthy as you can. By embracing these four practices, avoiding ear candling and cotton swabs, protecting against loud noise, and understanding early warning signs, we can maintain our precious sense of hearing and cherish the symphony of sounds that enrich our existence.
If you think that you might be experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, call us today for an appointment.