If your ears are still ringing from the T-Pain concert this weekend, or going through cotton swabs by the box, then you may be contributing to an aural affliction later in life.
Loud music seems to be a defining feature of the millennial generation – we are all guilty of cranking up favorite tunes to noxious levels. Unfortunately, repetitive, long-term exposure to loud music will gradually degrade the tiny, finger-like projections that align the ear canal.
These projections, known as stereocilia, are largely responsible for sending signals to the brain based on vibration patterns. Higher brain centers will then encode these signals and interpret them as sound. Hearing acuity decreases as these stereocilia begin to decrease in large numbers.
When you pull the earbuds out, you may notice the waxy buildup in your ears. However, beware when cleaning – most abuse the true purpose of cotton swabs and use these cosmetic products to eradicate the yellow earwax.
Over time, ears accumulate a waxy substance predominantly composed of shed skin layers and small amounts of fatty acids.While it may seem to be an inconvenience, it serves an important purpose – it protects and lubricates the ear canal, warding off bacteria, fungi, insects and water.
To a certain extent, earwax does cause mild hearing impairment. However, the wax should not be cleansed each day, nor should a cotton swab be employed to do the job. Earwax may look unsightly, but the use of cotton swabs increases the risk of damaging the ear drum or pushing the wax deeper into the canal.
Earwax can simply be removed with a wash cloth, although the ear naturally clears itself out. In extreme cases, doctors will use earwax softeners such as carbamide peroxide, or will flush the ear using a syringe filled with warm water.
Hearing is a sense that, if lost, is nearly impossible to get back. Be conscious of the volume when you’re jamming out and resist the temptation to dig out earwax. Otherwise, your eavesdropping skills will be compromised or you’ll be missing sweet nothings whispered in your ear.
Be good to your ears, or you’ll never hear the end of it – literally.
