Cleaning your ears

Clean your ears with extra care. Wipe the outer ear with a washcloth or tissue. Do not put anything into your ear smaller than your elbow. Do not use Q-tips, bobby pins or sharp pointed objects to clean your ears. These objects may injure the ear canal or eardrum.
Earwax is the ear's mechanism for self cleaning. If you have a build-up of wax that is blocking your hearing, see your ear physician to have it removed.
If you experience itching or pain in your ears, consult with your ear physician to determine the appropriate treatment.
If you have pierced ears, clean your earrings and earlobes regularly with rubbing alcohol.

Reduce the risk of ear infections by treating upper respiratory infections promptly.
Some illnesses and medical conditions can affect your hearing. If you experience sudden hearing loss or persistent noise in your ears or head, see an ear physician immediately.
Drainage from the ear is not normal and should be evaluated promptly.
Some medications can affect hearing. Take medications only as directed, and consult your physician if you experience unusual hearing, balance symptoms, or ringing in the ears.

At home or work, wear hearing protection during exposure to loud levels of noise. This includes mowing the lawn, leaf blowing or using power tools. By law, a noisy work environment will require the use of hearing protection.
When using stereos and home theater systems, avoid excessive volume. If you think it is too loud, it probably is.
When using personal sound systems, the volume should be comfortable. If someone else can hear what you are listening to, the volume is too high. Remove the headphones from time to time to give your ears a rest.
Wear earplugs at rock concerts, nightclubs and motor sporting events.
Keep automobile sound systems at sensible volumes. This can help you avoid hearing damage and allow you to hear and yield to emergency vehicles.

Always wear a helmet when you bike, ski, and roller blade or in any other activity that puts you at risk for head and ear injuries.
If you scuba dive, learn and practice proper underwater techniques to avoid potentially damaging changes in pressure inside your ears.
When flying in an airplane, swallow and yawn frequently when the plane is ascending and descending to equalize pressure in your ears. If you have an upper respiratory problem such as a cold or sinus infection, take a decongestant a few hours before descending, or use a decongestant spray just prior to descent and on landing.
Earplugs with special filters can be purchased to help equalize air pressure in ears during air travel.

Have your ears checked regularly by your primary care physician and your hearing checked regularly by an audiologist. Consult an ear physician as necessary.
When outdoors in sunny weather, remember to use a sunscreen on your ears.
If you notice unusual bumps or scaly areas on the exterior ear, consult your physician immediately.
Know the warning signs of hearing loss:
- Difficulty hearing conversations, especially in the presence of background noise
- Frequently asking others to repeat what they have said
- Misunderstanding what other people say and answering inappropriately
- Difficulty hearing on the telephone
- Requiring the television or radio volume to be louder than others in the room prefer
- Feeling that people are mumbling or have marbles in their mouth when they talk
- Difficulty hearing environmental sounds, such as birds chirping
- Agreeing, nodding your head, or smiling during conversations when you are not sure what has been said
- Withdrawing from conversations and social situations because it is too difficult to hear
- Reading lips so you can try to follow what people are saying
- Straining to hear or keep up with conversations
- Noise within your ears or head called tinnitus not caused by an external sound source
See an ear physician immediately if you injure your ears, experience ear pain, or notice changes in your ears or hearing.

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