5 tips to keep your hearing sound

As human beings, we rely on five senses that help us navigate life with ease and connect emotionally with others. These five senses are vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Each of them plays a vital role in our daily lives. However, some people face challenges such as hearing loss or vision impairment, which can lead to difficulties in communication or increase the risk of accidents. Even those born with all five senses may experience a gradual decline in one or more of them over time due to various factors.

One of the most important senses is hearing. It allows us to listen and communicate effectively with others. Unfortunately, many people neglect proper ear care, which can lead to hearing loss or even deafness. To prevent hearing problems, there are certain steps one should take—and some habits to avoid—for better ear care and long-term hearing health.

1. Wear earplugs

Loud noises that are part of everyday life have become one of the leading causes of hearing loss among young people. Exposure to sounds over 85 decibels such as traffic, concerts, and loudspeakers can lead to long-term hearing damage.

Many young people enjoy going to clubs, concerts, or events where loud music is played. While these gatherings are fun and exciting, most don’t take precautions to protect their ears. It's common to leave a concert with a ringing sensation in the ears, which may last for hours or even days, a clear sign that the ears have been exposed to damaging levels of noise.

The best way to protect your hearing is to avoid extremely loud environments when possible. But if avoiding them isn’t realistic, taking simple steps like protecting your ears can make a big difference. One effective solution is wearing earplugs at live music events. They help reduce the volume without affecting the sound quality too much. However, it’s important to use earplugs that fit properly to ensure they provide the right protection.

Taking care of your ears now can help prevent serious hearing issues in the future.

2. Don’t use cotton buds

Avoid using cotton buds if you want to protect your ears. Instead, allow your ears to maintain their natural oils, which help protect the ear canal from dryness and infections. Dry skin inside the ear is more likely to crack, and even something as small as a fingernail can cause irritation or lead to an infection.

After a shower or swim, it’s a good idea to gently dry your ears, as moisture can feel uncomfortable. However, using cotton buds is not the solution. In fact, they can do more harm than good. Cotton buds often push earwax deeper into the ear canal, which can lead to blockages and even affect your hearing. Additionally, they can damage the delicate skin inside the ear, increasing the risk of irritation, infection, or even eardrum perforation.

It's important to understand that the ear has a natural self-cleaning system. In most cases, earwax will make its way out on its own. If you’re experiencing discomfort, blockage, or hearing issues, it’s best to consult a doctor or audiologist for safe and proper earwax removal rather than trying to clean your ears yourself with cotton buds.

3. During flights, have a drink or blow your nose

Sometimes when you're on an airplane, especially during takeoff or landing, your ears might feel blocked or even hurt. This happens because of sudden changes in air pressure and is known as airplane ear or ear barotrauma.

To relieve this discomfort, you can try a few simple tricks. Yawning, swallowing, or chewing gum can help balance the pressure in your ears. Drinking a glass of water or juice, or sucking on a sweet, can also help. These actions create positive pressure inside your ears, which can ease the blockage.

There’s even a special balloon you can blow up using your nose (instead of your mouth), which is designed to help with this problem. Blowing your nose gently can also be helpful.

However, if the pain is severe or doesn’t go away, seek medical help.

4. Be careful about exposure to noise

Many young people today are experiencing hearing problems, and one major reason is the rapid advancement in sound technology. Back in the 1980s, people used cassette players, which had a limit on how loud the volume could go. But today, modern devices can produce much louder and clearer sound, which significantly increases the risk of hearing damage.

In the past, the main cause of hearing loss was loud noise from workplaces especially in heavy industries with large machines and factories. However, nowadays, young people often listen to music through earphones or headphones at very high volumes. This kind of constant exposure to loud recreational noise is leading to a rise in cases of noise-induced hearing loss worldwide.

5. Get your hearing tested

Hearing loss often develops gradually and may go unnoticed for years. Early detection is key to preventing further damage. Simple, accessible tools like the WHO hearing app or the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) online test allow you to check your hearing in just three minutes using a phone or computer. These tests can indicate whether your hearing is within a normal range or if further evaluation is needed.

For those frequently exposed to loud environments (e.g., musicians or construction workers), regular hearing tests are especially important. If you experience sudden hearing loss, particularly in one ear overnight, seek medical attention immediately, as it could indicate inner ear inflammation requiring urgent treatment, such as steroids. Repeated ear infections also warrant a doctor’s visit to address potential underlying issues. [Rh-VP]