Ear Care - Amazing facts, problems, properly care and hearing

Amazing facts about the ears

The ear is not the only hearing organ. It is a complex system of parts that not only allows humans to hear, but also makes it possible for humans to walk.
There are two main functions of the ear - hearing and balance:
Hearing :- Sound waves, which are really vibrations in the air around us, are collected by the pinna on each side of our head and are funnelled into the ear canals. These sound waves make the eardrum vibrate. The eardrum is so sensitive to sound vibrations in the ear canal that it can detect even the faintest sound as well as replicating even the most complex of sound vibration patterns.
Balance :- There are three loops in your inner ear, called semicircular canals. One canal senses up-and-down movement. Another canal senses side-to-side movement. The third canal senses tilting movements. Each canal has hair cells and fluid inside. When you move, the fluid and hair cells move. The hair cells send messages to your brain through the acoustic nerve. Your brain uses this information to help you know where you are in space.

The ear is divided into three parts:

Your ear has three main parts: outer, middle and inner. You use all of them in hearing.

1. Outer ear :-The outer ear is the external part of the ear, which collects sound waves and directs them into the ear. The outer ear parts :-

• The pinna :-The pinna is the only visible part of the ear (the auricle) with its special helical shape. It is the first part of the ear that reacts with sound. The function of the pinna is to act as a kind of funnel which assists in directing the sound further into the ear.
• The ear canal – the auditory canal :- Once the sound waves have passed the pinna, they move two to three centimetres into the auditory canal before hitting the eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane. The function of the ear canal is to transmit sound from the pinna to the eardrum.
• The eardrum :- The eardrum (tympanic membrane), is a membrane at the end of the auditory canal and marks the beginning of the middle ear. The eardrum is extremely sensitive and pressure from sound waves makes the eardrum vibrate. In order to protect the eardrum, the auditory canal is slightly curved making it more difficult for insects, for example, to reach the eardrum. At the same time, earwax (cerumen) in the auditory canal also helps to keep unwanted materials like dirt, dust and insects out of the ear.

2. The middle ear :- The middle (tympanic cavity) ear is the between part of ear. The middle ear transmits sound from the outer ear to the inner ear.

• Ossicles :- Three small bones that are connected and transmit the sound waves to the inner ear. The bones are called Malleus, Incus, Stapes.
• Eustachian tube :- A canal that links the middle ear with the back of the nose. The eustachian tube helps to equalize the pressure in the middle ear. Equalized pressure is needed for the proper transfer of sound waves. The eustachian tube is lined with mucous, just like the inside of the nose and throat.

3. The inner ear :- The inner ear (auris interna) is the innermost part of the human ear. It comprises the snail shaped cochlea (from Greek: kochlias = snail), which is our organ of hearing, and the vestibular system, which is our our organ of balance. The inner ear is located deep in the skull, and surrounded almost entirely by bone.
The cochlea is a tiny (about the size of a fingernail), yet very powerful sensory organ. Its function is to convert sound energy into neural signals which are carried to the brain. Sound pressure that enters the cochlea creates waves in the perilymph fluid inside. This motion is sensed by the stereocilia of hair cells and transduced by inner hair cells via neurotransmitters, primarily glutamate, into excitation of the auditory nerve.
At the time of birth, every human being with full auditory capabilities disposes of approximately 3,500 inner hair cells, 13,000 outer hair cells and 30,000 neurons per cochlea. Damage or loss of hair cells, neurons, nerve fibers or other structures in the cochlea from injury or other sources (e.g. ageing) can lead to impairment of the cochlea's function. Such cochlear dysfunction may manifest itself through symptoms such as hearing loss, sound intolerance, or tinnitus.

Common Ear Problems:

There are many different types of ear problems. For example, Hearing Loss, Infections, Tinnitus and Your ears can be become inflamed from excess ear wax, bacteria, viruses and fungi. The ear can easily suffer from ear problems caused from foreign objects being inserted into the ear canal. An example would be a finger or a cotton swabs.
Ear problems tend to be more common with children and the elderly, anyone at any age can experience an ear problem. Some common ear problems include:
1. Hearing Loss :- Hearing loss is a decrease in how well you can hear. It can occur suddenly or gradually depending on the cause. And while hearing loss can affect anyone at any time, it is most commonly related to the aging process.
2. Earwax buildup :- Earwax lubricates, cleans, and protects the lining of the ear canal. It does this by repelling water, trapping dirt, and ensuring that insects, fungi, and bacteria do not get through the ear canal and harm the eardrum. If too much earwax builds up and becomes hard, it can form a plug that blocks the ear. A blocked ear may be painful and can affect hearing.
3. Ear Infections :- Chronic ear infection is fluid, swelling, or an infection behind the eardrum that does not go away or keeps coming back. It causes long-term or permanent damage to the ear. It most often involves a hole in the eardrum that does not heal.
4. Glue Ear :- Glue ear (also known as otitis media with effusion, or OME) is a condition in which fluid accumulates in the middle ear: the area behind the ear drum. The fluid impairs the movements of the ear drum and therefore reduces the conduction of sound from the ear drum to the hearing organ (inner ear), resulting in reduced hearing.
It is the commonest cause of partial deafness in young children. It is estimated that one in four children are affected with glue ear at some stage of their lives.
5. Itchy Ears :- Itchy ears are a very common problem. For some people the problem is so bad that they stick various objects into the ears, causing trauma to the ear canal. The most common causes of itching are a nervous habit, fungal infection or the beginning of an infection. Other causes can be skin diseases such as psoriasis or dermatitis. Some people with allergies complain of Itchy ears.
6. Tinnitus :- Tinnitus, commonly called ringing in the ears, is the sensation of hearing a sound in the ears when no such sound exists. This sound, which comes from inside the head, typically is described as a ringing, but it also can take the form of an annoying hiss, whistle or buzz. Tinnitus can be constant or can come and go.
7. Swimmers Ear :- Swimmer's ear is an infection in the outer ear canal. It's often brought on by water in the ear canal that remains after swimming, creating a moist environment where bacteria can grow. While it can affect anyone, swimmer's ear is most common in children (because their ear canals are narrow) and during the summer months (because of the increased use of swimming pools and lakes). Swimmer's ear is not the same as a middle ear infection, which occurs behind the eardrum and is most often caused by a viral infection.

How to Clean Your Ears

Do your ears feel blocked up? Excess wax can accumulate sometimes and make hearing difficult. Ear wax is a natural substance that protects the ears and the ear canal, it needs to be cleaned when accumulated as it might cause hearing difficulties. It is important to clean the ear keeping in mind the safety, so as not to damage the sensitive parts of the ear. There are many tips you can use to clean your ears without difficulty.
1. Visit your nearest doctor :- It might look different but this is one of the most trusted ways that you can use to clean your ears. The doctors have better know-how of cleaning ears and so that they will easily remove the earwax from your ears within some really quick time by using better supportive tools and equipment.
2. Earwax softener drops :- Nowadays, thousands of pharmacies or special earwax softener drops are available in the market that you can use to clean the excess earwax quickly. By using such trusted things, you can make sure that you will clean your ears without facing some pain or problems.
3. Salt Water :- Salt water is one of the best ear wax removal solution that can be used at home. It softens the wax accumulated inside the ear making it easy to clean. Mix a teaspoon of salt in half a cup of warm water until the salt gets completely dissolved. Soak a cotton ball in the solution. Tilt the affected ear upwards towards the sky. Squeeze the cotton ball to put a few drops of the saline water into the ear and stay in the same position for three to five minutes. Next, tilt your head in the opposite direction to allow the saline water to drain out. Clean the outer part of your ear with a clean cloth to remove the softened wax.
4. Olive Oil :- Olive oil is said to be a common remedy for removing ear wax. It helps line the ear membranes, protecting your ear from water-causing infections. Olive oil also helps soften the ear wax and makes it easier to come out. With its antiseptic properties, it also aids in fighting ear infection. Slightly warm up the olive oil and using a dropper, pour three to four drops in the ear. Allow it to settle for ten minutes so that the ear wax becomes soft. Tilt your head sideways and remove the oil and wax using ear buds. You can also use mustard oil.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide :- It is the most effective remedy for ear wax accumulation. Due to its effervescent property, it can remove the earwax and debris from the ear canal very easily. Mix water and hydrogen peroxide (3%) in equal quantities. Use a dropper to drop this solution into the ears. Leave it for some time, and then tilt your head towards the opposite side to drain out the solution. Further wipe away the earwax using a clean cloth.
6. Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol :- Vinegar and rubbing alcohol solution is an age-old remedy to remove ear wax. This mixture helps in dissolving the ear wax. Alcohol acts as a drying agent and the vinegar fights bacteria and fungi, which further helps in preventing ear infection. Mix the two ingredients equally in a bowl. Soak the cotton ball in the solution. Then tilt the ear towards the sky and pour two to three drops of the solution from the cotton ball. Wait for five minutes and then tilt your head to the opposite direction so that gravity can pull out the solution as well as the wax.
7.Cotton swabs are also very useful :- For cleaning your ears from the outside part, the idea of using cotton swabs could become the best. You need to understand that, it can be dangerous to use to cotton swabs deeply in your ears. Instead of using in inside of your ears, you should use cotton swabs to clean the outside part of your ears. One should not insert cotton swabs deep into the ears because it could be risky.
8. Your hearing professional can always help :- The best recommendation is to always consult with a hearing professional if you are concerned about earwax. It’s important to note that people who have diabetes, who are prone to ear infections, who might have a perforation in the eardrum, who have tubes, or who have compromised immune systems should exercise additional caution and consult with a professional before trying any treatment at home.