Do you know that hearing loss development is so gradual that you may never know it’s developing until the hearing is lost?
Our audiologist; Patience Oyeme Olaiya shares the following health tips on Ear care to help you prevent hearing loss.
Tips on how to Care for the ear:
- Use earplugs/earmuffs around loud noise especially if you work about a polluted environment.
- Turn down the volume. If you like to enjoy music through headphones or earbuds, you can protect your ears by following the 60/60 rule. The suggestion is to listen with headphones at no more than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes a day.
Earbuds are especially dangerous, as they fit directly next to the eardrum. If possible, opt for over-the-ear headphones.
Don’t forget that any loud music, not just music played through headphones, presents a risk for noise-induced hearing loss. If you’re hosting a social event, keep the music at a volume which won’t force people to shout to hold a conversation
- Give your ear time to recover. If you are exposed to loud noises for a prolonged time, like at a concert or a bar, your ears need time to recover. If you can, step outside for five minutes every so often to let them rest.
What’s more, researchers have found that your ears need an average of 16 hours of quiet to recover from one loud night out.
- Do not use cotton buds/swabs. It’s common for people to use cotton swabs to clean wax out of their ear canal, but this is definitely not advisable. A little bit of wax in your ears is not only normal, but it’s also important. The ears are self-cleaning organs, and wax stops dust and other harmful particles from entering the canal. Plus, inserting anything inside your ear canals risks damaging sensitive organs like your eardrum.
If you have excess wax, you can clean around the canal with a damp towel—gently. You could also use an ear wax removal solution over the course of a few nights. This softens the wax so that it will eventually flow out on its own. The best solution is always to seek a professional opinion and care when possible.
- Take medication only as directed. Certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can sometimes contribute to hearing loss while some classes of antibiotics named aminoglycosides can cause hearing loss if taken in large doses. Discuss medications with your doctor if you’re concerned that they’ll impact your hearing ability and take them only as directed.
- Keep your ears dry. Excess moisture can allow bacteria to enter and attack the ear canal. This can cause swimmer’s ear or other types of ear infections, which can be dangerous for your hearing ability. Be sure you gently towel-dry your ears after bathing or swimming. If you can feel the water in the ear, tilt your head to the side and tug lightly on the ear lobe to coax the water out.
You can also ensure that your ears stay dry and healthy by using custom-fit swimmers’ earplugs, which block water from entering the ear canal. They’re great for adults and kids alike, and they work wonders in preventing swimmer’s ear
- Exercise. Did you know that exercise is good for your ears? It’s true. Cardio exercises like walking, running, or cycling gets the blood pumping to all parts of your body, including the ears. This helps the ears’ internal parts stay healthy and working to their maximum potential.
Make sure to stay safe! When cycling, always wear a helmet. If you fall and hit your head, a concussion can harm your hearing.
- Manage stress levels. Stress and anxiety have been linked to both temporary and permanent tinnitus (a phantom ringing in the ears). High levels of stress cause your body to go into fight or flight mode, which is an instinctual reaction that fills your body with adrenaline to help you either fight or flee from danger. This process puts a lot of pressure on your nerves, blood flow, body heat, and more. It’s commonly thought that this pressure and stress can travel up into your inner ear and contribute to tinnitus symptoms.
- Get regular checkups. Ask your primary care physician to incorporate hearing screenings into your regular checkups. Because hearing loss develops gradually, it’s also recommended that you have annual hearing consultations with a hearing healthcare professional. That way, you’ll be more likely to recognize signs of hearing loss and take action as soon as you do.
Taking action is important because untreated hearing loss, besides detracting from the quality of life and the strength of relationships, has been linked to other health concerns like depression, dementia, and heart diseases.
Patience Oyeme Olaiya. Audiologist for RUCOMEF