Hearing and The Ear
The Shower Diva's theme this month is music, which brings up the topic of hearing, and how to take care of our precious sense of hearing, as well as our ears. While the information I've included here is certainly not 'all there is to know,' I think it will give you some simple, common-sense rules and suggestions to keep your hearing in top form.
The auditory nerves are very delicate and sensitive, and can easily be damaged, as anyone who has stood too close to the speakers at a concert can attest. A good friend of mine did that once, and was partially deaf for almost a week! She swears she still has occasional tinnitus (ringing in the ears) from that incident, and it happened almost 20 years ago.
I won't go into the anatomy of the ear (you can easily look it up here if you are curious), but there are a few issues that are important to discuss from the health viewpoint, if you want to maintain good hearing for as long as possible.
Did your mother ever tell you not to put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear? She was right! The ear drum is not all that far back in the ear, and can be damaged - or even ruptured - by something as seemingly innocent as a cotton-tipped swab, if it is used too vigorously. Some people will tell you not to even clean around the opening of the auditory canal, but I have to confess that I do that regularly, with a wash cloth only. The ear actually has a very clever way of cleaning itself. The natural movement of tiny hairs and muscles on the canal tends to move old skin, wax (cerumen) and dirt away from the eardrum and outward toward the opening of the canal.
Should you ever have a problem with build-up inside the ear, there are ear drops available in any pharmacy, or if you prefer (or the blockage is severe) allow your MD to do the honors. Resist the urge to go after that waxy stuff yourself! Most of the time, all you will do it push the worst of it back against your eardrum, where it can eventually cause pain or even infection.
Speaking of infections, there are a number of precipitating causes of 'Otitis Media' (aka middle ear infections). Something as simple as a bad cold can introduce nasty bacteria or other germs into the canal, so treat colds as soon as they surface. In addition, some medications can lower your immune response (such as Prednisone), which can increase your susceptibility to ear infections.
"Swimmer's Ear" is another common infection, usually due to bacteria or fungus, and not always picked up in a pool. The bacteria only needs a moist, warm cozy home to set up housekeeping, and you can even get that from your shower, or (horrors!) poking around with a bobby pin or cotton-tipped swab. You can decrease your chances of 'Otitis Externa' (swimmers' ear) by avoiding dirty water, wearing a swimming cap or ear plugs, or just getting the water out of your ears after a shower. It usually starts with an itching sensation, or tingly feeling in the ear, and can get so bad that it causes swelling that will close the ear canal. If you experience those symptoms and they don't go away in a day, or get worse, give your Doctor a call. Most of the time, a short course of antibiotics is all it takes to put things back to right again. One other concern – if you are diabetic you really cannot wait with this issue. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Back to my friend and her temporary deafness! Loud noise can damage your hearing, and even moderate noise, if it is continuous and goes on for a long period of time, can lead to hearing loss, and sometimes it can be permanent. If you work around loud machinery (including power tools, lawn mowers, engines, etc.) you would be really smart to wear ear plugs or other hearing protectors. Most employers whose work exposes you to such thins are required by OSHA to see that you have protection and use it. But even a walkman or other headphones can do damage, if the sound is too loud. The best rule of thumb is, if you think it sounds loud, or you have to ask others to speak loudly to be heard over the din, your hearing is in jeopardy.
Finally, if you are at all concerned about your hearing, discuss your concerns with a medical professional such as an audiologist. They can perform simple, easy tests (they don't hurt, honest!) to assess the situation and make recommendations as to what – if anything – you need to do.
Nancy Miller, RN, BA Psych, CHyT
Nancy Miller got her RN degree in 1975 and went on to earn a BA in Humanistic Psychology from Goucher College in 2002. She's also a certified hypnotherapist and an ordained minister. Nancy is the mother of one child, her 24 year old son Eric, of whom she is extremely proud.
Looking for more Nurse Nancy? Read her feature column on "Protecting Your Vision".
