Your hearing is one of your main senses. Many of us will take it for granted. But it is so important that we keep on top of our auditory health, along with the other aspects of personal health.
Like every other part of the human body, some endless illnesses and diseases can affect our ears. Inner ear infections like otitis media, outer ear infections like swimmer’s ear (or otitis exterior), excess wax build-up, tinnitus cholesteatoma, and autoimmune ear disease are just a few conditions prove detrimental to numerous individuals’ health every year. That’s not to mention injuries such as perforated eardrums. So how do we take effective care of our ears? Here are a few tips and tricks.
1. Auditory health: It starts with diet
You might be surprised to know that your diet can have a profound effect on your ear health and overall hearing ability. In particular, ensure you consume sufficient levels of these five minerals and vitamins within your diet: Magnesium, Potassium, Folic Acid, Vitamin E, and Zinc.
Magnesium helps to protect the delicate hairs inside your inner ears. You may not have known that these even exist, but they are essential in the process of detecting sound frequencies (or varying pitches).
Potassium is necessary for the production of fluid in the inner ear, which translates sound waves into electrical impulses which can be processed by the brain. Folic Acid helps in the production of new cells and the promotion of good blood circulation, while Vitamin E protects the body from free radicals and other harmful toxins. Last but not least, Zinc helps to dissipate chronic ear infections.
2. Hearing tests
Regular hearing tests provide you with a routine appointment during which a qualified specialist can test your hearing ability and examine the overall health of your ear. Children will generally have hearing tests as part of their routine health checks.
As an adult, you should book one as soon as you notice any significant changes to your hearing ability. A test can help you seek the right support and treatment for any potential condition. So, if you haven’t been checked out in a while, get your hearing tested! There are no painful aspects involved in the procedure, so there’s no reason to wait.
2. Hygiene for good auditory health
You must clean your ears regularly. However, ear cleaning can often end in injury or further problems if not conducted in the right way. There are three main points to remember when cleaning your ears.
Firstly, ear wax will generally work naturally out of your ear. Secondly, you should only use cotton buds (or Q-tips) on the outside of your ear, never inserting one directly into the canal. Finally, there are earwax softeners available, which will help you in the process of cleaning your ears without compromising your health. If you suffer from compaction (physical pain or hearing problems caused by a buildup of excess earwax), seek help from your GP. They can use special instruments to help clear your ear canal.
Top image via Pixabay (CC0 Public Domain)
Great tips! thank you for all your research and info. :D
Your visits here are so appreciated, Resa. I hope your day is as beautiful as you are <3
Likewise dearest Christy! ♡♡
Great post. Very useful information.
You’re very sweet :)
Thank you…
Years ago I got a q-tip stuck in my ear and had to go to a walk-in clinic to get it removed. Embarrassing at the time but I learned my lesson.
Thank you for addressing nutrition when it comes to ear health.
Oh wow I’m glad you’re not risking that any longer – keep up the healthy lifestyle, Susan :) So nice seeing you here xx
Another important post here Christy. I’m glad you emphasized not to stick those Qtips in the ear, so dangerous and also pushes the wax further down. Some people are prone to accumulating ear wax and as you said, using oil based softeners are a good idea once or twice a week. Hard wax can give a plugged ear effect that must be cleared up at a doctor’s office to prevent ear drum damage. :) <3
It’s amazing Debby how few people know about the Q-tips issue – I’m glad you’re on top of it :) Let’s stay health and keep moving forward <3 Thanks for being here!
So true Christy. That’s why it’s important to write about such things. We sometimes think we’re writing about things that are common knowledge when they aren’t necessarily so. <3
Exactly! Sometimes I’ll say “I didn’t know that” to a friend and they’re like “I thought everyone knew it” ~ I get what you’re saying! <3
<2
Auditory health, ignored by many especially youngsters ! Great post, thanks for sharing !
It’s good just to be reminded of some things now and then, right.. Thank you Megala ((hope your kitchen times are lots of fun today))
Yes, of course! :) Have a great week ahead!
Well done, Christy! Because of issues I’ve had with my ears over the years, I was aware of many of these things – but had to learn them the hard way!
Glad to hear the tips here are ones that you’ve found useful, John, but sorry to hear of your ear issues… I want you to still be enjoying those tunes you like ~ Including Jan and Dean ;)
Great info, Christy. I go to my ENT doc twice a year to check and clear my ears before I travel. I have BPV and sometimes the doctor has to do Epley Maneuvers to correct the crystals. Ugh! Not pleasant! 😬
I’m glad you’re getting that done, despite the unpleasantness.. I wish you more wonderful travels ahead too :)
Thanks! 😀
<3
Great post Christy😊Love the tips! Hugs and blessings to you!
You’re a sweetie :) And great to connect over on Twitter too!
Thank you!😊😊
Happy us :)
Nice one, CB… Good tips as to ears care too… I had an issue years ago, which turned out to be a sort of ear infection. Awful… I could feel suddenly dizzy, not to mention that I continuously listen a sort of subtle hum. I would have never guessed the cause, anyway. Thank for sharing!. Sending love! :D :star:
Dizzy.. you poor gal.. I’m glad you’re okay now.. and I wish you a happy night. You’re a sweetie for all of the reads today xx
Great tips for sure, Christy. A healthy diet is really one of the most important things that we can do for ourselves. I am pretty good about it, but I have to discard those two sugar cookies I just ate, ha ha! As a substitute teacher, I’m always harping at kiddos for having their earbud volume turned up way too loud!
Oh that’s good you’re reminding kids of that ;) But… hope they listen!! You’re okay to have things in moderation (pass over a cookie?!)
I hope they listen, too. They will miss their hearing when it diminishes. Just call me the Cookie Monster :-D
Love to see others serious about their health. Great tips, Christy, and thank you for caring enough for posting them! 😘
<3 :)
Good post my darling. xxxxxxx
Many hugs for all you do, Shey xx
Good tips, thanks!
And thank YOU for being here :)
Great post, Christy – maintaining our ability to hear well is an Important thing to think about – and so few of us do until we notice that we are having trouble with it.
A study – years ago now by researchers at the Univ. of Tennessee, postulated that perhaps the *biggest* threat to hearing health was LOUD MUSIC. It damages the cilia inside the ear – that’s how we hear, and they don’t regenerate.
So turning down the sound on our devices and wearing drugstore earplugs in environments where the music is LOUD (along with not sitting directly in front of the speakers) – are some of the most effective preventatives we can employ. You can still hear the music just fine, btw, unless your hearing is *already* damaged.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
Alas I agree with the loud music bit… I listened​ to music in headphones when I was a teenager (not in public, I’m not that inconsiderate) and have tinitis now which my doctor says is not reversible :-( Try telling anyone organising a concert to have the music at a deafening volume though…
My dad had the exact same thing happen to him, Andrea. I gave him a sound machine to help at night when he’s trying to fall asleep.. Sadly it didn’t work for him..
Hi Madelyn, this is great advice. I’m a fan of dancing so I’m sometimes in environments with very loud music. I’ll stay far from the speakers whenever possible xx
I love to dance as well – and the music is almost always loud in dance clubs, where earplugs would be a big nuisance. I do keep them in my purse for concerts, however.
I have a few boomer buddies who are already experiencing hearing loss from earlier exposure, so I’m very grateful that I was at UT when this study came out and have been careful throughout most of my life. (It’s since been replicated, btw)
xx,
mgh
I was at a lunchtime concert yesterday, Madelyn, and noticed a young child (roughly 1 or 2) wearing headphones. I was happy as their ears don’t deserve that beating of loud music. Like your friends, my dad has hearing loss from the days when he was enjoying loud music. I always am thankful for your visits and hope you know that <3
Ditto, Christy. I’m a big fan of your blog and love it that you manage to get over to mine so often in addition to your admirable posting schedule.
xx,
mgh
Terrific post, Christy. I’ve been experiencing some tinnitus, so I think it’s time to up the mag and folic acid. I imagine most people don’t know half of what you’ve covered here. Sharing to help remedy that :) ♥
Tina, I watched a technique just recently that was very simple and cured all of the subjects of tinnitus. They were teary eyed with the results. It was a simple tapping of the fingers on a part of the skull at the base of the neck. Fascinated me. Here is the youtube link. It is amazing. Let me know how it goes.
I tried it, Christy, but it hasn’t worked. Will keep at it. Also found a few other good Tx videos. Thanks so much for the suggestion. Hugs ♥
Apologies for the typo, Les and Christy. I read Les’ name and typed Christy’s. I must still be in formatting mode :) Many thanks for the suggestions, Les ♥
<3 Take care, sweetie :)
Given what I do for a living, with headphones on almost 24/7 I have to get my ears syringed every so often. Hate it.
For me it’s my eyes that suffer, for you it’s your hearing.. our careers.. oh the life of creatives!
So true, Christy. Mind you, until I had my eyes lazered, they used to suffer as well.
Oh George, I had laser surgery too. My eyes regressed since then, hence wearing glasses again. I’m glad you had more success. Hopefully your hayfever isn’t too bad today (and may the spiders be gone!)
So long as I walk the shoreline it’s OK. When I don’t my eyes just water and people ask if there’s been a death in the family – a thing that usually makes me laugh! A shame your eye surgery didn’t work.
Wow! Didn’t know half of this! Great post, Christy! Thanks 😄
Thanks Miss G :) Keep up the healthy vibes in your life!
:)
Hi Christy…
Excellent post and I can still hear my mother telling me as a child I could grow carrots in my ears. Over exaggerated of course but yes hearing is essential. Over the years working around heavy equipment and blasting I have been fortunate to have very sensitive hearing. Many great suggestions here in your post.
Haha your mom said carrots in the ears and I was told potatoes sprouting out of mine ;) Cheers to good hearing… and friendship!