Our ears are often what carry the load of accidental harm from neglect in our busy day-to-day lives. There are some common but dangerous practices, including using cotton swabs and ear candling, that will put your hearing health in peril. Below, we explore four essential ways to safeguard your sense of hearing and keep your ears healthy.
Ear candling is a no-no
Ear candling, an ancient practice supposed to extract earwax and promote ear health, has gained popularity in spite of lacking scientific merit. It’s believed that a vacuum is produced 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, emphasizing its ineffectiveness and potential risks.
Not only does ear candling fail to eliminate earwax efficiently, but it also poses significant risks. Burns to the sensitive ear structures, perforated eardrums, and aggravation of existing problems can all be consequences of this practice. Normally, if you see any wax after ear candling, it will be from the candle itself rather than your ears.
In light of these findings, medical professionals always warn against the use of ear candling. 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 innocuous tools to clean earwax out of their ears. But there are more risks than advantages to inserting a cotton swab into your ear canal. Instead of effectively eliminating 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 susceptible to damage from foreign objects, including cotton swabs. Injuries, such as perforations or abrasions can occur, creating pain, infection, and hearing impairment. It would be better to obtain professional assistance if necessary or otherwise rely 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 volume levels. From bustling city streets to recreational activities such as concerts and sporting events, exposure to loud sound is ubiquitous. Over-exposure to loud noises like these can have negative effects on your hearing health leading to tinnitus and noise-related hearing loss.
It’s essential to use hearing protection and, if you can, avoid excessively loud settings in order to avoid damage. This includes wearing ear protection, like earmuffs or earplugs, in noisy settings and restricting exposure to loud noises whenever possible.
Also, take frequent breaks and moderate the volume when you’re using personal listening devices such as headphones and earpods.
Listen to your ears: act quickly on symptoms
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of maintaining optimal hearing health is being alert to the signals your ears provide and taking prompt action in response to any concerning symptoms. In spite of the availability of advanced treatments, such as hearing aids, holding off on intervention can worsen 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. Schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms. Early diagnosis and intervention can substantially improve outcomes and enhance your quality of life.
Your ability to effectively 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 symptoms.
Call us today for an assessment if you are suffering from ear damage or hearing loss.
