Our ears are often what carry the load of unintentional harm from neglect in our hectic daily lives. From the allure of ear candling to the seemingly harmless act of using cotton swabs, our auditory health can suffer from these prevalent yet dangerous practices. Below, we explore four important strategies to safeguard your sense of hearing and keep your ears protected.
Ear candling is a no-no
Ear candling, an ancient technique supposed to remove earwax and improve 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 opposite end is lit supposedly drawing impurities out. However, several studies have debunked this practice, emphasizing its ineffectiveness and potential risks.
Not only does ear candling fail to clear away earwax efficiently, but it also poses considerable hazards. Burns to the delicate 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.
Medical professionals always warn against 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) warn against using them.
No more cotton swabs
It’s true that lots of individuals turn to these apparently harmless tools to clean earwax out of their ears. But there are more dangers than advantages to inserting a cotton swab into your ear canal. Impaction and potential injury can be the outcome of using cotton swabs rather than actually cleaning out earwax.
The eardrum is sensitive and objects like cotton swabs can cause significant damage. Injuries, such as perforations or abrasions can occur, 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 rely on the ear’s self-cleaning systems or seek professional help if necessary.
Be mindful of the volume: protect against loud noise
In a progressively noisy world, our ears are continuously inundated by sounds of differing volumes. From busy city streets to recreational activities like concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud noise is unavoidable. Nonetheless, sustained or excessive exposure can have detrimental effects on auditory health, resulting in noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus.
To mitigate the threat of hearing damage, it is essential to be mindful of sound levels and take proactive measures to safeguard your ears. This includes wearing ear protection, like earmuffs or earplugs, in noisy environments and limiting exposure to loud noises whenever you can.
Also, take regular breaks and moderate the volume when you’re utilizing personal listening devices like headphones and earpods.
If you observe 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 crucial to protect your ears from harm. If you hold off on getting your hearing loss treated you will probably worsen the issue.
It is crucial to identify 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. If any of these symptoms are experienced, seek assessment from a qualified hearing specialist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) immediately. Early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve results and improve your quality of life.
Your ability to successfully navigate the landscape of your life is dependent on you keeping your hearing as healthy as possible. We can preserve our healthy hearing by avoiding cotton swabs and ear candles, protecting our ears against loud noise, and identifying early warning signs.
Call us immediately for an evaluation if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.