How Can You Protect Your Ears and Prevent Hearing Loss?
Inside each ear, around 15,000 hair cells convert sound into electrical signals, and none of them regenerate. Here we explain how you hear, why you lose hearing and which specific habits help you protect it.
How You Hear: From Sound to Nerve Signal
The outer ear collects the sound wave. The eardrum moves three tiny bones: the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup. The stirrup pushes against the cochlea, which is filled with fluid.
Inside the cochlea, the hair cells bend and create the nerve signal. These cells do not regenerate. That is why any damage to them is irreversible.
Your Ear Also Controls Your Balance
The inner ear maintains balance thanks to three semicircular canals. When you turn your head, the fluid inside them moves and activates the cells.
An infection or a blow to this area can cause vertigo.
Noise: The Most Preventable Damage
The WHO recommends a maximum of 85 decibels over eight hours. At 100 decibels, the limit drops to just fifteen minutes. Headphones at full volume exceed 100 decibels.
To avoid this, follow the 60/60 rule: set the volume to 60% of the maximum and do not listen for more than 60 minutes a day. This reduces the daily dose of noise your hair cells receive. Every exposure adds irreversible damage.
At concerts or in noisy workplaces, wear foam or silicone earplugs. Insert them by gently twisting until they seal the ear canal. They reduce noise by between 15 and 30 decibels.
Age and Hearing Loss
Hearing is also lost with age. This is known as presbycusis, and it affects high-pitched sounds first.
Untreated hearing loss in older people is associated with social isolation and cognitive decline. Hearing aids are selective amplification, not a failure.
Earwax Is Not Dirt: Don't Use Cotton Swabs
Earwax is an acidic barrier that traps dust and bacteria. The ear cleans itself when you chew, because the jaw pushes the wax outwards.
Cotton swabs pack the wax against the eardrum and can perforate it. Don't put anything inside your ear: just dry the outer ear with a towel after bathing. If you notice a blockage, an ENT specialist can remove it safely.
Ear candles do not create suction. The residue they leave behind is wax from the candle itself. The FDA warns that they can cause burns and perforations. Don't use them.
Warning Signs and Check-Ups
If you hear a constant ringing after a loud noise, that is tinnitus. It is a sign of cochlear damage and can become chronic.
Seek urgent care if you notice any of three signs: sudden hearing loss in one ear, pain with fever or discharge, or severe vertigo that prevents you from walking. Sudden deafness needs treatment within the first few hours. Don't wait until tomorrow.
Get hearing check-ups for children and older people, just as you would for eyesight. Book an appointment with an ENT specialist if you use hearing aids or work in a noisy environment. This information is not a substitute for medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 60/60 rule for headphones?
It means setting the volume to 60% of the maximum and not listening for more than 60 minutes a day. This reduces the daily dose of noise your hair cells receive.
Is it bad to clean your ears with cotton swabs?
Yes. Cotton swabs pack the wax against the eardrum and can perforate it; drying the outer ear with a towel after bathing is enough.
How much protection do earplugs provide?
Properly fitted foam or silicone earplugs reduce noise by between 15 and 30 decibels.
When should you see a doctor about an ear problem?
Urgently if you have sudden hearing loss in one ear, pain with fever or discharge, or severe vertigo that prevents you from walking. Sudden deafness must be treated within the first few hours.
Informative article written with the help of AI tools from the verified script of the video. The video is in Spanish.