In the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, our ears frequently shoulder the burden of neglect and inadvertent harm. From the allure of ear candling to the apparently harmless act of utilizing cotton swabs, our auditory health can suffer from these common yet hazardous practices. 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 achieved some popularity. It’s believed that a vacuum is produced when a hollow ear candle is inserted into your ear canal and the wick at the opposite end is lit supposedly drawing impurities out. However, several studies have debunked this practice, showcasing its ineffectiveness and potential risks.
Not only does ear candling fail to remove earwax efficiently, but it also poses considerable risks. The application of heat near the sensitive structures of the ear can result in burns, perforated eardrums, and even exacerbate existing issues. Also, the residue left behind after ear candling frequently is comprised of candle wax and debris rather than extracted earwax.
Medical professionals always discourage ear candling because of these findings. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) warn against this practice, emphasizing safer methods for ear hygiene.
No more cotton swabs
It’s true that many individuals turn to these apparently harmless 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. Instead of effectively removing earwax, swabs can accidentally jam wax deeper into the ear canal, leading to impaction and potential injury.
The sensitive nature of the eardrum makes it vulnerable to damage from foreign objects, including cotton swabs. Injuries, like perforations or abrasions can happen, creating pain, infection, and hearing loss. It would be better to obtain 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
In a progressively noisy world, our ears are constantly bombarded by sounds of varying intensities. From busy city streets to leisure activities such as 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 resulting in tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
To decrease the risk of hearing damage, it is critical to be mindful of sound levels and take proactive steps to safeguard your ears. This includes using hearing protection, such as earmuffs or earplugs, in loud settings and restricting exposure to loud sounds whenever possible.
Also, take frequent breaks and moderate the volume when you’re using personal listening devices like headphones and earpods.
If you detect any symptoms, act quickly
Taking quick action when your ears begin to tell you that you’re starting to encounter some degree of hearing loss is essential to protect your ears from harm. Despite the availability of advanced treatments, including hearing aids, holding off on intervention can exacerbate hearing loss and complicate treatment.
If you have symptoms like ringing in the ears, trouble understanding speech, or pain or pressure in your ears, it’s essential that you recognize it. If any of these symptoms are experienced, seek evaluation from a qualified hearing specialist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) immediately. Your hearing results as well as your quality of life will be substantially increased 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 preserve our healthy hearing by avoiding cotton swabs and ear candles, safeguarding our ears against loud noise, and recognizing early warning signs.
If you suspect that you may be experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, call us today for an appointment.