Hear this! March 3 is the “International Ear Care Day”. It has been observed every year to raise public awareness on the importance of self-ear care and safe listening as a means of maintaining good hearing across the life course and to avoid deafness and hearing impairment.
As we advance in the use of our digital technology most especially during this time of the pandemic, we also increase our vulnerability to developing hearing loss due to unsafe use of personal audio devices such as smartphones, MP3 players, laptops, etc. for a long duration; exposure to damaging levels of sound at entertainment venues including nightclubs, bars, pubs, and sporting events; frequent listening at high volume during virtual meetings, classes, webinars and etc., and most importantly, due to improper ear hygiene care.
Excessive exposure to noise for a long duration poses a serious threat to one’s hearing that may lead to permanent hearing loss. Also, frequent cleaning of the ear using a cotton swab may lead to infection and further complications. To prevent this, here are some TIPS and WAYS on how to take care of your ears.
Ear Care Tips:
- Turn down the volume of the TV, radio, music, etc.
- Move or stay far away from the loud noise-producing sources such as loudspeakers or cannons.
- Take breaks from the noise, if listening to loud music, etc.
- Avoid loud, noisy activities and places.
- Use adequate hearing protection, if you can’t avoid the noise such as earplugs and ear muffs.
- Keep children away from loud music or equipment that causes noise at home.
- Limit the length of time of exposure to loud sounds.
The Right Way to Clean your Ears:
- Clean your ears with extra care.
- Use a warm damp washcloth to clean/wipe the outside of your ears but if you choose to use a cotton swab, don’t insert them inside the ear canal but only use this to clean the outside area of your ear.
- For an easier removal method, you can try using baby oil, hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil, or glycerin. Just put a few drops of any of these to your ear to soften the wax, and then drain or rinse out your ear. Take note to follow correctly the instruction of the package.
- You may also use an over-the-counter wax removal kit, but it is important to read carefully the instructions given in the kit to avoid damaging the ear.
- You can also use a syringe to irrigate your ears using normal saline solution.
- But the best way to clean or the safest way to remove wax buildup from your ears is to visit and consult a doctor for your concern on your ear and for better treatment.
By observing this day, we can all help create a global movement that is devoted to taking care for our ears. Disseminate information and encourage people to take steps to avoid hearing loss and enhance hearing care. This will compel others to give ear and hearing care the attention it deserves and to show the persons with hearing loss their due respect.
AA VI Angelyn P. Intal, RND
References:
- WHO. website: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2022
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
website:https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/how_do_i_prevent_hearing_loss.html
