Most of us tend not to think much about our ears - aside
from their appearance. In fact, they are highly sensitive instruments, which
require looking after in order to protect the delicate hearing mechanism.
The ear is composed of three different areas and each is
susceptible to different types of problems. The outer ear is the visible part;
leading from it is a canal, which extends back to the eardrum. The middle ear,
a cavity in the skull, contains the outer membrane of the eardrum, on which the
sounds are amplified. The small complex inner ear includes organs for hearing
and balance. Cleaning the visible part of the ear is part of normal hygiene,
but you should allow nature to take care of the cleanliness of the inner
regions. Unfortunately, infections are very often caused by putting fingers or
other hard objects into the ear in order to remove wax. In fact, wax, which is
produced by sweat glands in the ear canal, is quite harmless and should be left
alone. If it accumulates in excess, causing temporary deafness, consult your
doctor.
If an object gets stuck in our ear or, as more frequently
happens, your child’s, never try to extract it as you may push I further down
the canal, and perhaps penetrate the drum. Consult your doctor immediately – to
wait may result in an infection – and he or she will extract the object for
you.
Earaches, especially when accompanied by discharging pus or
a loss of hearing, may lead to long-term damage unless early treatment is
given. Among the most common middle ear infections are small boils in the
canal, which can spread to the eardrum, and inflammation of the drum itself.
Often these are associated with a blocked nose from a cold, which affects a
tube in the middle ear. Such infections respond well to antibiotics.
As we get older, even the healthy ear becomes less sensitive
to sound, though the change is very gradual. However, constant assaults of loud
noise can speed up this impairment, and should be avoided. Therefore, if you
work at a job, which involves noisy machinery, you should familiarize yourself
with safety regulations governing noise levels. It may be necessary for you to
wear special plugs or muffs to protect you hearing.
Ear piercing is currently in fashion, but in some cases, it
may give rise to problems. The process is simple - it involves making a hole in
the lobe and inserting a ring or stud to keep the hole open. However, unless
piercing is done hygienically and carefully, it can lead to a painful
infection. For this reason, you should never try to pierce the lobe yourself,
or have an unskilled friend do it for you, instead go to a reputable jeweller
or health clinic.
After your ears have been pierced, you should guard against
infection by frequently cleaning the hole with an antiseptic and a soft cloth
(not cotter wool). Avoid touching the area with unwashed hands, and make sure no traces of soap
remain after washing your ears.
Some people are unaware that they have an allergy to certain
metals, and are surprised when their lobes swell after piercing. As a
precautionary measure, you should have pure gold or silver studs inserted when
you first have hour ears pierced. After a couple of months, you can try other
metals, but watch carefully for any sign of infection. If one occurs, remove the
offending rings or studs immediately and clean the area with an antiseptic.
