Wear Hearing Protection

To keep your hearing safe, it’s important to wear

earplugs or custom made hearing protection whenever

you are exposed to loud noise. Any noise above 80 dB

(decibels) is too loud and can cause serious harm to

your hearing. Whenever you attend a concert, are

working with power tools, or are watching fireworks, it’s

important to protect your hearing with earplugs. Learn

more about the decibels of certain sounds and when a

sound is too loud.

Don’t Use Cotton Swabs

Our ears are naturally self-cleaning. Cerumen (earwax)

produces in the ear and works its way out naturally

through the ear canal, cleansing the ear of any dirt and

debris. Many people believe earwax is “dirty” or “gross”

but it actually keeps your ears clean and healthy.

When you try to remove earwax with a cotton swab,

you are pushing the wax along with other debris further
into your ear canal. Cotton swabs can also scratch the

inside of your ears, causing infections and damage to

the eardrum. Never use cotton swabs to clean the

inside of your ears. If you suspect you have too much

earwax, then see an EarQ provider so they can safely

remove the earwax and help you hear clearly.

Limit Loud Music

Listening to music at loud volumes can be detrimental

to your ears and hearing, especially when you listen

through earbuds. To keep your hearing safe, listen to

music under 80 dB, as anything over this can result in

serious damage to your hearing. When you wear

earbuds and listen to music too loudly, you’re at risk of

rupturing your eardrum or experiencing noise-induced

hearing loss. Listening to music at safe levels can help

ensure you keep your ears healthy and hearing their

best.

Annual Hearing Exams

Regardless of whether you have hearing loss or not,

it’s important to receive annual hearing exams to

ensure your hearing is healthy. Just like you go to the

doctor every year for a physical, you should visit an

EarQ provider regularly as well. Being proactive

against hearing loss will increase your chances of

protecting your hearing and overall ear health.