Care for your ears by avoiding cotton swabs, taking precautions in loud settings and seeking medical attention if needed.
Your ears are likely a part of your body that you don’t pay much attention to on a daily basis. Unless you have an ear infection, or your ears start ringing, or they start to itch. Then your ears and hearing become top of mind.
Clean your ears the right way
Earwax is an important part of good ear hygiene, but it may not be what you think it is. Earwax is not dirty or unhealthy. On the contrary, it is the other way around.
Earwax protects your ears from fungal and bacterial infections. It also helps to block out small particles that can damage your eardrum, such as dust and hair.
Kilmarnock Hearing Centre recommends only using a washcloth on a finger to clean your ears. Cotton swabbing, bobby pins and sharp pointed objects should be avoided as they can damage the ear canal and ear drum.
What about the ear candling method which claims to remove ‘impurities’ and ‘toxins’ from your ears? Also, steer clear.
If you’re experiencing earwax build-up that’s obstructing your hearing or making your ears sound muffled, see a healthcare professional for earwax removal. Do not attempt to remove earwax yourself.
If your ears are pierced, clean them with rubbing alcohol on a regular basis.
Protect your ears from loud sounds
You know that annoying ringing in your ears after leaving a concert? Well, it goes away, but the truth is, it’s a sign of hearing loss. And loud noises can seriously damage your hearing.
Exposure to loud noises damages the inner ear and can cause permanent hearing loss. It’s essential to protect your hearing from loud noises in order to preserve your hearing for life. In other words, turn down the volume. Don’t risk your hearing.
Recognise the signs of hearing loss
Hearing loss can affect your relationships and quality of life. It can also increase your risk of dementia.
Fortunately, early detection of changes in your hearing can help preserve the hearing you still have. However, too often, people do not seek help until they are experiencing more serious hearing loss.
When hearing loss develops slowly, it is easy to miss the signs that your hearing is getting worse. However, it is important to speak to a healthcare provider about your hearing loss.