Linking Foods and Nutrients to Hearing Losses

September 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The majority of us have been advised to eat our carrots for excellent eye sight. Chances are that you didn’t hear any similar tips about what foods were good for your ears and hearing. Now we can tell our little ones what to eat for healthy ears and hearing, and also sensible for us to follow our own advice!

Several things may cause hearing impairment, including infections, age and noise. Nutrients that may help prevent certain of hearing loss are contained in the food described below.

Surprisingly, fish like trout or salmon which contains vitamin D and omega 3 fats, has been demonstrated in studies to reduce age-related hearing loss. Other good vitamin D and omega 3 sources are the anchovies on your pizza and the tuna fish probably sitting in your cupboard. For a hearing boost in old age, eat any one of these at least two times per week.

Workers subjected to loud noise at work, for example music artists or heavy equipment operators, are at a elevated risk for ear damage. People with a job or pastime exposing them to intense noise, can help protect their hearing with bananas, potatoes, artichokes, or any other foods abundant in magnesium. Scientific studies have found that foods rich in magnesium help defend against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The mechanism for how the magnesium does this is not known, but the end result has been seen in animals and humans.

Noise exposure can provoke the generation of destructive free radicals which are linked to the demise of delicate inner ear hair cells. Reduce free radical damage with folic acid and antioxidants. Common foods that are rich in both folic acid and antioxidants include spinach, eggs, asparagus and nuts.

You’ll be pleased to learn that dark chocolate is beneficial to your hearing health! The zinc contained in dark chocolate aids in preventing zinc deficiencies which are connected to age-related hearing loss. If you don’t enjoy dark chocolate, eat some oysters on the half shell; any foods that contain zinc will work!

Along with encouraging our children to consume carrots for good eye sight, now we can teach them to protect their hearing and minimize possible hearing problems with specific food suggestions.

Filed Under: Hearing Loss Tagged With: , , , ,

Tips for Cleaning Your Own Ears and Dissolving Ear Wax the Right Way

September 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Having trouble hearing? Probably the most common cause of short-term hearing loss is an accumulation of ear wax within the ear canal. If you’re reasonably certain that ear wax is the resource for your short-term hearing loss, you most likely want to clean your ears. The question is how to do this safely, and without causing damage to the delicate tissues of your ear or your ability to hear.

It is best to get started with a few reminders on what not to do when cleaning your ears. Never stick any physical objects in your ear. Whether it’s a cotton swab or other tool, you’re more likely to make the problem worse by further compressing the ear wax if you go poking around in your ear. One more thing you should never do is attempt to use any product that shoots water under pressure directly into your ears; to do this risks rupturing your eardrums. Last but not least, if you know that you have a ruptured eardrum, leave cleaning your ears to a hearing specialist. The same holds true if you think you have an ear infection. Indications of ear infections include ear pain, fever, fluid draining from the ears and vomiting or diarrhea.

To clean your own ears safely and gently in your own home, all you need is a syringe or bulb, available from any drug store, and a rinse solution. You can buy a carbamide peroxide solution at the local drugstore, or make your own solution by combining equal measures of 3-4%, mineral oil and glycerin.

To make use of the carbamide peroxide solution, carefully squeeze the solution into the ear with the bulb or syringe. It works best to lay on your side and have a towel readily available to catch drips. Try to avoid touching the ear with the syringe or bulb if you can. Keep the solution in each ear for a few minutes allowing it time to work on dissolving the wax.

After this rinse solution has softened and loosened the ear wax, flush your ears with lukewarm water, and then dry your ears thoroughly with a towel, being careful not to stick it into the ear canal. You can repeat this procedure twice daily for 2-3 days if your ears still feel obstructed. If the situation continues, speak with an audiologist or hearing specialist for assistance.

Filed Under: Common Conditions of the Ear Tagged With: , , , ,

An Overview of Ruptured Eardrums: Prevention, Symptoms and Treatment

August 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Eardrums are important, playing two vitally important roles in hearing. First they vibrate in response to sound waves. Second they create a barrier that safeguards the inner ear from infection. If your eardrum is fully intact, your inner ear is a safe and sterile environment; but once it has been punctured or torn, microbes can enter and cause a serious infection generally known as otitis media.

The terms ruptured eardrum and perforated eardrum mean the same thing. They both reference a condition whose technical name is a tympanic membrane perforation where there is a puncture or tear in the very thin membrane we know as the ear drum. There a variety of ways that an eardrum may become perforated, the most common of which is an ear infection where the resulting buildup of fluid pushes against the eardrum until it tears. Some people perforate their own eardrums by inserting foreign objects into the ears, for example the use of cotton swabs to remove ear wax. Barotrauma is yet another potential cause of a punctured ear drum. When the pressure inside the ear is very different than the pressure outside the ear – lower or higher – the eardrum may not be able to withstand the pressure difference and ruptures. Flying and scuba diving are a couple of occasions where this is prone to occur. Loud noises and explosions can also cause perforated ear drums. This phenomenon is known as acoustic trauma.

Indications of perforated eardrums include:

  • Pain in the ear
  • Loss of hearing in the affected ear
  • Vertigo or dizziness
  • Fluid draining from the ear

If you encounter any of these signs and symptoms, see a hearing health provider, because if the eardrum is ruptured, immediate and correct treatment is important to prevent hearing damage and infection. Untreated, a ruptured eardrum can result in middle and inner ear infections, middle ear cysts (cholesteatoma), and permanent hearing loss.

At your appointment the specialist will view the eardrum with an instrument called an otoscope. Because of its internal light, the otoscope gives the doctor a clear look at the eardrum. Perforated eardrums generally heal on their own in 8 to 12 weeks. During this time period, your healthcare provider will most likely advise you to avoid diving and swimming and to refrain from blowing your nose as much as possible. It’s also advisable to avoid any non-essential medications. If the puncture or tear is close to the edge of the eardrum, the health care provider can help the healing process by placing a temporary dam or patch to help reduce the risk of infection, or even propose surgery.

Any remaining pain or discomfort can be handled using over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Not every perforated eardrum can be prevented, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk. Always get immediate treatment for any ear infections and never put any foreign objects into your ear (even for cleaning).

Filed Under: Common Conditions of the Ear Tagged With: , , ,

Swimmer’s Ear Prevention and Treatment

June 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Swimmer’s ear, officially known as acute external otitis, is an infection of the outer ear canal (the area outside your eardrum). It was given the name “swimmer’s ear” because it is frequently a result of water remaining in the outer ear after swimming, which creates a damp environment which promotes the growth of bacteria. Swimmer’s ear can also be triggered by putting your fingers, cotton swabs, or other foreign objects into the ears, because they can scuff or injure the delicate ear canal lining, leaving it open to an opportunistic infection. Luckily for us swimmer’s ear is easily treated. If untreated, swimmer’s ear can cause severe complications so it is important to identify the signs and symptoms of the infection.

Swimmer’s ear develops due to the ear’s natural protection mechanisms (which include the glands that secrete ear wax or cerumen) becoming overloaded. Moisture in the ears, sensitivity reactions, and scrapes to the ear canal lining can all encourage bacterial growth, and cause infection. Specific activities will increase your likelihood of getting swimmer’s ear. Swimming (obviously), use of inside-the-ear devices (including hearing aids or ear buds), overly aggressive cleaning of the ear canal and allergies all increase your risk of infection.

Itching inside the ear, slight discomfort or pain which is worsened by pulling on the ear, redness and an odorless, clear liquid draining from the ear are typical signs of a mild swimmer’s ear infection. Severe itching, heightened pain and discharge of pus indicate a moderate case of swimmer’s ear. Extreme symptoms include severe pain (occasionally extending to other regions of the face, neck and head), fever, redness or swelling of the outer ear or lymph nodes, and actual blockage of the ear canal. If left untreated, complications from swimmer’s ear can be very serious. Complications might include short-term hearing loss, long-term ear infections, deep tissue infections which may spread to other parts of the body, and cartilage or bone loss. Therefore if you experience even the milder indicators of swimmer’s ear, it’s a wise decision to visit your doctor immediately.

Doctors usually diagnose swimmer’s ear after a visual exam with a lighted instrument called an otoscope. They will also check at the same time to see if there is any damage to the eardrum itself. Physicians usually treat swimmer’s ear by first cleaning the ears thoroughly, and then by prescribing eardrops to fight the infection. If the infection is serious, your physician may also prescribe oral antibiotics to help combat it.

To avoid swimmer’s ear, dry your ears completely after showering or swimming, avoid swimming in untreated water resources, and do not insert foreign objects into your ears to clean them.

Filed Under: Common Conditions of the Ear Tagged With: , , ,

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