9 tips for protecting and caring for your hearing
TIPS FOR GOOD HEARING
Hearing is one of the most important sensory organs and is in use around the clock. Once the fine hair cells are destroyed, they do not grow back. To maintain hearing (and the associated quality of life), it is important to give your ears attention and care.
It is important to remember that our body already takes good care of itself. Excessive cleaning, for example with cotton buds, is not recommended as it can lead to irreparable damage in the worst case. Especially as cotton buds usually only push the secretion deeper into the ear instead of removing it effectively.
1.
Lukewarm water, soap and a nourishing cream are sufficient for cleaning and care. A high sun protection factor is recommended in summer. This is because the ears are particularly sensitive to the sun's rays.
2.
The ear canal does not require any additional cleaning. When we talk about cleaning the ears, we are actually always referring to the removal of earwax. However, this serves as a natural protective shield for our ears and performs several important functions: It keeps the ear canal moist and repels bacteria. In addition, earwax protects against foreign bodies such as dust and dirt particles. If you have the feeling that it is blocked, leave the cleaning to your trusted ENT specialist.
3.
The same applies to objects in children's ears. Accidentally stuck objects should only be removed by an ENT specialist in order to avoid more serious injuries.
4.
Water in the ear canal is unpleasant after bathing or showering. No question about it. By tilting your head and moving or gently pulling the pinna, you can ensure that the water drains out of the ear.
5.
Music makes the soul dance, gets the blood pumping and the heart beating. But whether through amplifiers and speakers or headphones: not so loud! Avoid noise in any form. Pay particular attention to your children's exposure to noise.
6.
If noise is to be expected, for example when working in a workshop or garden, use hearing protection. There is intelligent hearing protection that suppresses noise, but warning signals, music and radio instructions can still be heard thanks to special technology.
7.
Sometimes we experience pressure on our ears and the ear feels "blocked". For example, when we take a train through a tunnel or take off and land in an airplane. The eardrum bulges uncomfortably due to the positive or negative pressure in the ear. The eustachian tube is then responsible for equalizing the pressure in the ear. Chewing gum is a good tip for equalizing the pressure in the ear. However, opening your mouth wide and moving your jaw until you hear a soft cracking sound in your ear or deliberately yawning can often be enough to equalize the pressure. If the feeling of pressure in the ear occurs without external influences, an infection is usually the cause. In this case, consult an ENT specialist.
8.
Have annual check-ups carried out by an ENT specialist. Especially if you are exposed to increased noise, e.g. for professional reasons.
9.
Your local audiologist offers free hearing tests, which should also be carried out once a year. They are used for early diagnosis and, if necessary, for fitting hearing systems.