Top 3 Questions People Have About Their Ears

By Kathleen Wallace, Au.D.

Through my social media presence, I offer direct access to an audiologist to get any and all of your ear questions answered in a straightforward, simple to understand manner. Here are the three most common questions I’ve received:

Q: Are cotton swabs really that bad for your ears?

A: Unfortunately, yes. I know people love them and it can feel so satisfying but the truth is that your ears are self-cleaning and using cotton swabs like Q-tips disrupts this process. Instead of your earwax migrating naturally out of your ear canal, the swabs tend to push the wax back in and often deeper than intended, which can result in reduced hearing sensitivity, ear pain, or injury. In addition, earwax is actually good for you and is not a sign of poor hygiene! It prevents ear infections by maintaining a specific pH level in the ear and also creates a physical barrier to protect against any bugs or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal.

Q: Why are hearing aids so expensive?

A: The cost stems from a lack of insurance coverage and audiologists not being able to bill for many hearing aid–related services. To overcome this, audiologists have traditionally used a “bundled” model that combines the cost of the hearing aids with the audiologist’s professional services. The patient therefore pays a large lump sum up front, but then is fully covered for all care for however many years are outlined in the purchase agreement. It should be noted, however, that hearing aids truly are expensive, even for audiologists! If you are looking for more wallet-friendly alternatives, talk to your audiologist about options like an unbundled model, alternative technology, and hearing aid funding programs. (As for over-the-counter hearing aids, which are for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, that’s worth an entire future column—stay tuned!)

Q: What exactly is tinnitus?

A: Tinnitus is when you hear a sound that is not actually present in your external environment. It may sound like a ringing, buzzing, chirping, or whooshing sound, or it may sound like the ocean, crickets, or TV static. There are two instances, however, that are particularly concerning and should be checked out by a medical professional: If the tinnitus sounds like your heartbeat or is in only one ear. This might indicate asymmetrical hearing, which could then mean something rare like an acoustic neuroma (a benign tumor).

The leading tinnitus theory is that your brain is expecting to get a certain amount of stimulation from your ears and if it doesn’t, it creates a phantom sound, which you perceive as tinnitus, to keep itself busy. This is why tinnitus often occurs along with hearing loss or after significant noise exposure, such as a concert. While there is no cure for tinnitus, it can be managed. Be sure to talk to an audiologist to learn more, especially if you haven’t had your hearing tested recently.

Have your own ear questions? Find Hearing Health editorial committee member Kathleen Wallace, Au.D., at @EarDocOfTikTok or @DrKathleenWallace on Instagram. She is also at TunedCare, tunedcare. com, and practices in New York City, kathleenwallaceaud.com.

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