Ear Maintenance

[cassembler]

Was thinking about this in another thread (about the blind self-testing), and I'm wondering if you guys have thoughts or best practices to how to maintain the ears...

Example, Qtip or no Qtip? Ear cleaning? Hair plucking? Ear candles? Pickle juice and liquid nitrogen?

I'm at the point now where every concert = earplugs, mowing lawn = earplugs, I have an SPL meter in the car (to check if I'm jamming out a bit too hard), and I'm trying to wean off the Qtips whilst keeping my ears clean... That's about the extent of my bag of tricks.

Anyone else?

[clepsydrae]

Originally Posted by cassembler

Example, Qtip or no Qtip? Ear cleaning? Hair plucking? Ear candles? Pickle juice and liquid nitrogen?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but all expert advice I've read on the subject urges everyone to not use anything in their ears at all -- no "cleaning", no q-tips, etc. Unless you have some kind of skin disorder or doctor's orders, etc, it's apparently not a good idea to mess around in there.

Wax buildup/blockages can happen -- I had one once -- but apparently use of q-tips just increases the chance of those. I would let your doc take care of it.

Maybe just have the doc scope out your ears when you're in for whatever other reasons.

I've used one of those bulbous squirter things to (very gently) flush the ear canals with warm water in the shower, but I think that's advised against as well.

Ear wax is supposed to be in there, after all.

I'm at the point now where every concert = earplugs, mowing lawn = earplugs, I have an SPL meter in the car (to check if I'm jamming out a bit too hard)

I think this is wise. I have tinnitus and it sucks. I'm not convinced that mine came from excessive noise, but excessive noise can obviously cause it (as well as gradual hearing loss). Most venues are far too loud (not just because I'm an "old man"). Many urban areas are very loud as well. IIRC, C-weighting is more representative for hearing loss prevention than A or B.

People need to understand that one's ability to tolerate a loud sound and one's experience right after being exposed to loud sounds sometimes do not correlate whatsoever to the damage done. Meaning, just because it doesn't bother them and doesn't seem to cause any harm in the short term doesn't mean they haven't done any damage. I wish someone had driven that into me as a young person. Similarly, short sharp sounds (e.g. hammering, drumming) are the worst, because the acoustic reflex doesn't have time to take effect. (And cheaper SPL meters don't always react fast enough to represent these sounds accurately.)

My young brother was listening to music on his headphones once, and it was obviously crazy loud. To check it out, I pulled one of the phones an inch off one of his ears, with my own ear maybe 8 inches away, and the sound was way too loud to tolerate -- for my ear. (I don't have hyperacusis.) I gave him a little lecture, but it probably fell on literally deaf ears. :-)

I've read some advice about giving the ears a 'rest' as well -- e.g. not being in loud environments every night of the week. Not sure how much science there is behind that.

[DrKev]

I had a sad phone call this very week with a buddy of mine, one of the best musicians I have ever had the pleasure of working with, who announced he is quitting gigging for the forseeable future because of tinnitis. Producing and studio sessions only where he controls the volume.

I use q-tips perhaps two or three times per month just to get rid of excess wax but it goes no deeper than where a finger can gently fit. But your ears will look after themselves there is no need to do anything more. There is no "bag of tricks". And no hygiene regime (or lack thereof) can protect you in any way from hearing loss. Protection and volume reduction is all there is. Any hearing loss or tinnitis you already have is there forever.

[Jack Ruston]

Wax is important. It’s produced to bind up and carry dirt and stuff out of your ear. Clean your outer ear but don’t shove anything at all into the ear canal itself.

Sometimes the wax hardens in a layer on the eardrum. You get funny noises. Use olive oil or ear drops from the chemist to break it down so that it can come out as normal. No need to dig around.

No need to routinely indulge in any sort of maintenance.

If your wear cans a lot you will produce more wax. If you wear in ears you will pack that wax down a bit more. If you wear in ears you might possibly risk transferring dirt into your ear. You’re more likely to get a little spot than an ear infection. If you swim regularly you’re going to possibly be prone to problems.

If you surf you can get this closure of the ear canal. Surfers ear. Be aware.

Obviously loud sounds esp LF are a problem.

Vast numbers of people develop some sort of tinnitus. There are lots of types and lots of causes. Some of them are firmly the realm of specialists. Some are mundane. Eg very common is inflammation in the tubes causing fluid to get stuck in there and resulting tinnitus and discomfort. ESP after a cold for example. It can last for months. The solution is incredibly simple. Eat a ketogenic diet possibly with avoidance of dairy on top. Hey I said simple not easy! But seriously there are so so many people that assume they have hearing damage, but all they need to do is stop eating grains, sugars, wheat, alcohol etc. A related effect of this is that when you get a cold your nose no longer blocks.

J

[bladerunner]

Don't do anything at all to your ears - period. If you develop something seriously hampering your hearing or you get pain go to your doctors. That's it.

[RDBOIS]

Originally Posted by bladerunner

Don't do anything at all to your ears - period. If you develop something seriously hampering your hearing or you get pain go to your doctors. That's it.

+1 Nothing unless...

[michael diemer]

Agree with advice to avoid sticking anything smaller than your elbow in there. Tinnitus truly does suck. Another cause is Tylenonl and Nsaids. Use sparingly. Finally, if you have to use headphones, keep the volume down!

[Goldreap]

Cover your ears with your hands when you hear an am*****ce or police siren coming (seems obvious but I've never seen anyone else do it).
Cover your ears with your hands if in the vicinity of an am*****ce or police car (the siren might suddenly fire up and scare the shit out of you and your ears).
Never go clubbing (and avoid people who do).
Carry a large hammer in your car so that when a wise guy pulls up next to you at the lights with his sub bass letting you know what a cool guy he is, you can quietly sneak up on him, pull his door open and deliver a well aimed blow to his expensive system (well at least imagine doing that, very therapeutic).
EDIT: Weird how ambu-lance got censored here.

[martifingers]

Originally Posted by Jack Ruston

But seriously there are so so many people that assume they have hearing damage, but all they need to do is stop eating grains, sugars, wheat, alcohol etc. A related effect of this is that when you get a cold your nose no longer blocks.

J

Hi Jack. This is interesting but can you tell me where the scientific research for this has been published?

[Tomm]

I use hydrogen peroxide to soften wax them flush it with warm water.

I had a doctor do it once to remove probably years worth of backed-up wax... the nurses had a ball watching it as it was like a endless poop

grains, sugars, wheat, alcohol... yea stay away from those for sure, they can cause inflammation shutting your ear canal closed and increase chance of infection and the higher blood ph levels mean your chance of a normal recovery is diminished... poor health = poor ears, no doubt...

[Tomm]

Originally Posted by bladerunner

Don't do anything at all to your ears - period.

what if you have a gf who enjoys licking them... I see other animals do this all the time, maybe they are hungry, but I think the saliva does help ward off infection and keeps the wax from becoming too dry and compacted...

[thequietroom]

Originally Posted by Tomm

I use hydrogen peroxide to soften wax them flush it with warm water.

I had a doctor do it once to remove probably years worth of backed-up wax... the nurses had a ball watching it as it was like a endless poop

grains, sugars, wheat, alcohol... yea stay away from those for sure, they can cause inflammation shutting your ear canal closed and increase chance of infection and the higher blood ph levels mean your chance of a normal recovery is diminished... poor health = poor ears, no doubt...

Irrigation.. yep. I get excess earwax and occasional ear infections. I've had this done a couple times.

In both cases, I had tried to remove the wax with a qtip... and just packed it in worse.


No qtips!!.. gentle wash with soap and warm water in the shower can help with earwax.

No candling, no Qtips.. Tinitis sucks!!! take my word for it

[thequietroom]

Originally Posted by Tomm

what if you have a gf who enjoys licking them... I see other animals do this all the time, maybe they are hungry, but I think the saliva does help ward off infection and keeps the wax from becoming too dry and compacted...

that should be fine. As long as shes not a smoker. It'd be a hell of a thing getting ear cancer from your gal smoking and abusing your earhole.

[Jeffsounds]

It seems like wax builds up in the lower part of my ear and when I clean it out with a Q-Tip CAREFULLY but just pulling it out, my hearing seems to clear up quite a bit.

[michael diemer]

I have a nasty time when I go to the dump and deposit my glass jars in the bin. I have to drop them one by one or the noise is hellacious. In the wintertime I can wear ear muffs!