If you want healthy ears, listen carefully.
Healthy hearing is vital to overall well-being and if hearing loss is not prevented or treated, it can lead to feelings of social isolation, depression, anxiety and loss of confidence. It is also linked to changes in cognition, including an increased risk of dementia in older adults.
Read on to learn more about expert tips for preventing and treating damage to your ears.
Always wear earplugs
“We can’t turn back the clock, but we can protect our ears from the excessive noise that can accelerate hearing loss,” Dr. Daniel Jethanamest, associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and director of the Division of Otology, Neurotology., and Skull Base Surgery at NYU Langone told The Post. “If you’re going to be around very loud sounds for a long time, such as at a music venue, you should wear ear protection.”
While many people would consider bringing earplugs to a concert or sporting event, experts agree that keeping them handy can prevent damage in less obvious or unplanned situations.
“If you are using power tools or lawn equipment, or if you have to raise your voice to be heard by someone nearby, you should wear ear protection in the form of moldable or fitted inserts (earplugs) or earmuffs muffs,” Jethanamest said.
Never fly overloaded
Dr. Bradley B. Block, an otolaryngologist and host of the “Physician’s Guide to Medication” podcast, told HuffPost that he never flies when he’s full.
Block recommends using a decongestant to improve nasal function if air travel is unavoidable. He also urges patients to buy travel-specific earplugs that help the ear adjust to changes in air pressure.
Address hearing loss as soon as it occurs
“Multiple studies have linked untreated hearing loss to higher risk of depression, anxiety, social isolation and increased risk of falling,” said otolaryngologist Dr. Sreekant Cherukuri for HuffPost.
Whether you experience gradual hearing loss or a sudden change, it is imperative to seek medical attention, “bbecause hearing loss tends to be an invisible illness.”
Do not listen to loud music through headphones
Dr. Robert Sataloff, professor and chairman of the department of otolaryngology head and neck surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine, told HuffPost that personal hearing devices have caused hearing problems since the advent of the Sony Walkman.
“Some of the newer devices have sound limiters so they can’t hurt our ears. However, if you’re listening through headphones and the music is so loud that the person next to you knows what you’re listening to, it’s potentially dangerous.”
Do not clean the ears
Block puts a solid X on top of the Q and explained that removing that protective wax can lead to otitis externa or swimmer’s ear.
“The ears clean themselves. The body has a system for making wax and expelling it, and wax usually doesn’t build up if left alone. The purpose of the wax is to protect the ears from water, so removing it will leave the ears vulnerable to water damage.”
Dr. Tonia L. Farmer, who says Dr. Nose Best, said in a TikTok that cotton buds “aren’t really made to clean your ears — all they do is just push the wax deeper into your ear canal, and that causes an impact.” Changing the cotton can also scratch the ear canal or damage the ear drum.
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Image Source : nypost.com