Finding sound solutions to stop the most common hearing problems
0 Comments | Western Morning News, The, Aug 17, 2010 | by LISA SALMON
When the World Cup kicked off, there was one sound which dominated the tournament: the vuvuzelas.
Some clubs in Britain have banned these trumpets, while others are being urged to follow suit by campaigners, who claim their noise could lead to tinnitus, a painful ringing in the ears, or long-term loss of hearing for fans.
“These tuneless trumpets can emit sounds in excess of 130 decibels, equivalent to a jumbo jet taking off,” Vivienne Michael, chief executive of the charity Deafness Research UK, has warned.
Considering that 41.7 per cent of us will have some kind of hearing loss by the time we’re 50, how do you make sure you’re looking after your ears, and those of your loved ones? ITV’s This Morning GP, Dr Rob Hicks, gives some sound advice… GIVE EARS THE ELBOW Problem: My ears feel blocked with wax, my hearing doesn’t feel normal, and cleaning them out with a cotton bud hasn’t helped.
Dr Hicks says: “Wax is usually the cause of blocked ears and dulled hearing.
Generally, wax should be left alone because it’s made as the ears clean themselves naturally.
“Don’t try to remove wax from your ears yourself. There’s a well known saying in medicine ‘never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear’.
“Never push cotton buds, fingers or anything else into your ears, as you could push any wax further into the ear and compact it. This can make it hard for the ear to get rid of it, and could cause pain and infection.”
What to do: If ears feel blocked, try applying oil on a teaspoon or dropper into the ear twice a day to help soften and clear wax. If, after a couple of days, there’s no improvement, seek a GP’s advice. He may prescribe ear drops or syringe your ears to remove wax.
DON’T STOP THE MUSIC Problem: My teenager listens to her MP3 player and goes regularly to music concerts but is complaining of ringing and buzzing sounds in her ears.
Dr Hicks says: “It’s estimated that millions of young people may be risking premature hearing damage by regularly listening to music at top volume for long periods through headphones.”
Research by RNID (Royal National Institute for the Deaf) found that more than one in five blast their ears with sound levels of 100 decibels or more – the equivalent of hearing a pneumatic drill ten feet away.
At a concert, noise can be the equivalent of standing near a jet plane taking off, potentially harming hearing and possibly triggering tinnitus. What to do: Turn down the volume on your personal music player if it feels uncomfortable or you can hear only music and no external sounds. Wear ear protection at concerts. Seek medical advice if the ringing doesn’t clear in a few days. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (www.rnid.org.uk) offers a range of ear protectors including Alpine Party Ear plugs, Pounds 11.49.
PIERCE WITH CARE Problem: I’ve got lots of ear studs but since I had the latest one put in, the skin around it has become swollen, red and sore.
Dr Hicks says: “Any piercing of the skin runs the risk of allowing infection in, and this can happen if the skin isn’t cared for properly during or after the piercing.
“Piercing the soft lobe is usually the least painful and heals the quickest.
A piercing in another part of the ear is likely to go through less flesh and more cartilage, which is thicker. The area needs higher levels of care for longer to keep it clean and sterile.
“Many people are allergic to certain inexpensive metals, such as nickel, which can make the outside of the ear swell and feel uncomfortable.”
What to do: Seek medical advice straight away if the area becomes swollen, red and sore as treatment with antibiotics may be needed. KIDS STICKY EAR Problem: My child’s had lots of ear infections, and the doctor thinks he may have ‘glue ear’? What’s that? Dr Hicks says: “Glue ear’s a condition in which a sticky glue-like fluid builds up behind the eardrum.
“Many children, particularly those aged between two and five, can get it because of a cold or an ear infection.
“It’s more common in winter and in homes where people smoke. It can interfere with a child’s hearing, although this is often temporary.” What to do: About half of all bouts of glue ear get better on their own within three months, so doctors are often reluctant to treat unless the glue ear goes on for longer. If it does a child may be referred to a specialist
stop ringing ears
