PROTECTING your ears isn't something that might be at the forefront of your mind when it comes to your health.
But they are part of a key sense and without them working properly, you'd struggle to hear.
In most cases, many people don't take notice of their ears before it's too late.
Now one expert has warned that many Brits are unaware that their everyday habits could be compromising the future quality of their hearing.
Audiologist Katie Ogden said there are six key things you should be mindful of when it comes to audiological health.
1. Taking out the wax
Katie said that you should avoid cleaning the wax out of your ears with fad trends – adding that they are actually self-cleaning.
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The guru, who is the training manager at hearing aid provider ReSound said the most common tool people use is a cotton bud.
However, she said most of the time, they can actually do more harm than good.
She explained that they can actually push earwax deeper into the ear- causing it to build up further inside the ear canal.
"In more serious cases, the cotton bud can also cause damage to the structures of the inner ear causing vertigo, deafness and even facial paralysis," she added.
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Other trends that have seen a rise in popularity, she said, are ear candles and hydrogen peroxide.
Katie said that using ear candles can burn the ears and can even cause you to temporarily lose your hearing.
"The method unapproved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has also been reported to have previously caused punctured eardrums," she said.
As well as this, Katie explained that the overuse of hydrogen peroxide to soften earwax and remove it, can not only cause irritation to the skin inside of the ear and be abrasive but it can even lead to unwanted effects like inflammation of the inner ear and earaches.
2. Headphones
Most of us now wear headphones on a daily basis, whether it's to answer calls or to listen to our favourite artists.
Katie said that any level of sounds over 85dB can be harmful to the ears, especially if the ears are exposed to it for a long period of time.
"An individual listening to music through headphones at a maximum volume is 100 to 110dB, and doing this for long periods of time can lead to significant hearing loss.
"It is advised not to listen with headphones for more than an hour at a time and ensure that 15-minute breaks are taken," she said.
3. Smoking and drinking
Around 70 per cent of smokers have a greater risk of developing hearing loss.
Alongside this, Katie said that overtime, alcohol consumption in large quantitates, over a long period of time can also contribute to a hearing impairment, as damage to the central auditory cortex of the brain can occur.
4. Being inactive
Exercise is important in order to keep the blood flowing around the human body and that includes a person’s ears, Katie highlighted.
"Having good circulation keeps oxygen levels up and keeps the internal parts of the ears healthy, which is why being inactive can be detrimental to an individual's ear health."
5. Stress
Stress affects us in lots of different ways, and you might be surprised to know that it can also impact your hearing.
Katie explained that this is because high levels of stress cause the body to go into fight or flight mode.
"This fills the body with adrenaline and increases the pressure on your nerves, blood flow and body heat which can travel up to the ears.
"Stress can also heighten tinnitus symptoms which can be very distracting for those experiencing it."
This, she said, can result in further stress creating a cycle that needs to be broken in order for the tinnitus to be managed.
6. Ear protections
If you work in a noisy place, then you will usually have to use some form of protection such as ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones.
Katie added: "Anyone working in construction, music, on airline grounds, nightclubs, driving ambulances or on railways, should be extremely conscious of their ears and wear sufficient protection."
In order to keep track of your hearing, Katie recommended making sure you get your ears checked.
One way to do that is with an online test that can provide an evaluation in just three minutes.
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The ReSound Online Hearing Test checks an individual’s ability to distinguish between a variety of words and numbers, in a noisy environment.
The test can be done through headphones or through your device's speakers.
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