Our ears are one of the most vital and complex sensory organs, allowing us to experience the world through sound. But like any other part of our body, they require proper care to function at their best and stay healthy throughout our lives.
Taking care of our ears is crucial to maintaining good hearing health. Proper ear care involves keeping the ears clean and protected from damage.
In an interview with Manila Standard Lifestyle, otorhinolaryngologist Dr. Laurence Michael Vera Cruz shared the right ways to keep our ears clean and protect them from harm.
The expert emphasized that the first thing we need about our ears is to know what kind of earwax we produce – dry, moist, or a combination of dry and moist, some may have little while others have too much earwax.
“There are people whom we call ‘wax-formers’. They are those who produce earwax yet they cannot remove them completely. Sometimes, they would feel like there is a clog in their ears, so they have to go to an ENT specialist to remove them,” explained Vera Cruz.
Secondly, Vera Cruz pointed out that we should learn that our pair of ears is a self-cleaning organ and that there are movements that our ears are capable of doing on their own, like removing our earwax. So, how often should we clean our ears? What are the ways to properly clean them?
According to the health expert, cleaning the outer part of our ears once a week with cotton buds is fine. He added that we should also remember how delicate the skin in our ears unlike in other parts of our body.
“Our ears have bacteria and earwax in them. Both of them provide acidity. Imagine if you remove them and clean them every day, you will wonder, ‘Why is my ear always itchy?’ Because fungal infections are opportunistic organisms. They do not thrive in an acidic environment. Meaning, if bacteria and wax produce acidity in the ear when you clean it, our ears become alkaline,” he continued.
On the other hand, when asked about how the different ways of cleaning the ears that are trending online, Vera Cruz also reminded everyone that it’s on a “case-to-case basis.”
“If you know what you are doing, then you can try. But if you’re not sure, don’t attempt. Because we have a lot of patients who got injured, the skin of the ear was peeled, the eardrum was punctured which is the worst-case scenario,” Vera Cruz stated.
He suggested that using oils like baby oil, mineral oil, and virgin coconut oil to clean ears is fine. He said to avoid doing ear candling as it may leave residues of candle wax that can result in loss of hearing.
Meanwhile, for ear irrigation or flushing, the otorhinolaryngologist explained that they also use the process in cleaning but it also depends on the case.
When asked about DIY ear irrigation, Vera Cruz said, “What we advise is that it’s better if we can actually see it. Because first of all, you can’t see how deep you have inserted the suction. You can actually injure yourself by doing it yourself because you can’t actually see it.”
Vera Cruz also advised those who are experiencing sudden or even a total loss of hearing, it’s better to consult an expert if a hearing aid is already needed.
Speaking quality-made hearing aids, Manila Hearing Aid (MHA) partnered with Phonak to provide lifestyle-centric hearing aids with the Luminity Series.
“Many Filipinos tend to downplay hearing loss or even consider it as unnoticeable. That’s why our main goal is to send a message that hearing wellness is just as important and should be considered as part of one’s overall health,” said MHA President Dr. Liza Abaño-Robles.
“Phonak’s Lumity Shine prioritizes speech understanding and background noise to deliver a top-quality product dedicated to improving the daily lives of people with hearing impairments. With exclusive rechargeable models and cutting-edge features like auto-scans, speech sensors, and steer-zoom features, Phonak’s commitment to enhancing hearing experience is evident in this new product line,” she added.
The Lumity series has positioned itself as an all-around hearing care solution by effectively addressing the diverse quality of life needs and varying degrees of hearing loss experienced by consumers.
Specifically tailored to navigate the intricate challenges that individuals encounter in their daily lives, Lumity shines with its distinctive feature: an ability to have a much-improved speech understanding, especially in noisy environments. Seamlessly integrating improved hearing into daily activities and conversations is the central ideology of an effortless auditory experience.
The Lumity line features innovative hearing aid products, including the award-winning Phonak Slim Lumity with a sleek design and the Phonak Naida Lumity for moderate to severe hearing loss. The series also includes the Phonak Audéo Life Lumity, known for being waterproof and rechargeable, and the Phonak CROS Lumity designed for individuals with hearing loss in one ear. These devices combine style, functionality, and advanced technology to cater to diverse consumer needs.
Whether engaging in meaningful conversations or amidst ambient noise, Phonak Lumity empowers its users to concentrate on the sounds that truly matter, contributing significantly to an improved quality of life.