The Ear is a Delicate Sensory Mechanism ... that supplies important information about the external environment to our brain. Ears need to be cared for and protected from harm. Your ear produces wax (called cerumen) to protect itself. Wax and tiny hairs inside the ear canal prevent small objects getting down inside the ear. The ear has a clever mechanism for cleaning itself. There is a natural movement of old skin, wax and dirt away from the eardrum toward the outer end of the ear canal. This means that all you need to do to clean your ears is to regularly wipe around the outside of the ear with a damp cloth. If a build up of wax blocks the ear canal, special ear drops (available from a pharmacy) may soften the wax. Sometimes a visit to your doctor may be necessary in order to physically remove the blockage. Click here for the archived article on Ear Syringing. The old saying that you should never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow is true! That's because placing anything into the ear has the potential to cause damage. However, if something does somehow become lodged in the ear, seek expert advice about having it removed. You, a parent or well meaning friends should never attempt to remove it. So the rule is don't poke around in your ear yourself. If there's a problem, see your doctor.
Noise is vibration that causes a response in the human ear. Scientifically speaking, noise and sound are the same thing. One person's noise can be another person's symphony. Excessive exposure to loud noise can damage the delicate mechanism of the ear. In a short time you can develop a temporary loss of hearing which can become permanent over an extended period of noise exposure. You could be damaging your hearing if it's so noisy that you need to shout to talk to someone an arm's length away, or if your hearing seems dull or your ears are ringing after leaving a noisy situation. The best action to take if you are exposed to loud noise is to either remove the noise or remove yourself from the noise. The use of earplugs or ear muffs is not the best solution, although they can reduce the risk of hearing damage. If you use hearing protectors, be sure to follow all instructions carefully to ensure best protection. Sources of loud noise can be:
If you have grommets (vibration tubes), a perforated eardrum or an ear infection, you will need to keep water out of your ears when swimming or bathing. The doctor will advise you about what precautions you should take.
Some medications have the potential to harm hearing if used over an extended period of time or in high doses. Tell your doctor immediately if, on taking prescribed drugs, your ears start to ring. If you use chemicals at work or for a hobby at home, take a few minutes to study the Material Safety Data Sheet that should be supplied with the chemical. Some chemicals interact with noise to make the overall effect worse.
Ear infection is very common in young children and can cause considerable pain and temporary hearing loss. The outer ear can easily pick up infection while swimming, particularly in unclean water, while the middle ear can become infected as a result of upper respiratory tract infections, colds or flu. If there is any sign of infection in or around the ear, do not try and treat it yourself: see your doctor.
There are many diseases that can result in a hearing loss such as measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), meningitis and sometimes even a bad case of the flu. If rubella is contracted during the first three months of pregnancy, the unborn baby has a 90% chance of having significant hearing loss (and many other complications). This is why rubella immunisation is very important.
Some physical injuries have the potential to cause a hearing loss, such as a blow to the head while playing football, damage to the neck in a car crash, or damage to the eardrum while scuba diving.
If you are concerned about your hearing, discuss them with your family doctor, or seek the advice of a hearing professional such as an audiologist who can assess your hearing and offer you advice. Reprinted from "Australian Hearing"
Hearing Specialists Audiologists are university trained professionals who specialise in the assessment, prevention and non-medical management of hearing impairment and associated disorders of communication. Audiologists are university graduates who have extensive specialist knowledge and clinical training in areas such as:
Australian Hearing - helping people hear Australian Hearing's clinical services are provided by audiologists who have received advanced training in developing individual hearing improvement programmes, and in fitting devices to meet each person's needs and preferences. Go to the 'Links' page for other hearing web sites. Children under 21, most pensioners, war widows and veterans are eligible to be seen by Australian Hearing. Helping Children Hear Australian Hearing's Pediatric Programme aims to support hearing impaired children and their families to optimise each child's speech, education and communication development. This national programme is funded by the Federal Government and there is no charge for our services to children. If a child is fitted with hearing aids, families are required only to pay a small fee each year for maintenance and batteries. Helping People with complex hearing needs Australian Hearing's Audiologists also provide special assistance to clients with complex hearing and rehabilitation needs with the aim of improving their quality of life. Ring 13 17 97 for more information, or visit the web site at www.hearing.com.au.
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