It is indeed true that if you have never encountered an unfortunate situation, you will never know how it feels. Today, I want to share my experience with you about how I temporarily lost my hearing and gained a better understanding of the challenges faced by those who are deaf. Until I began experiencing hearing loss, I didn’t realize how difficult life could be without sound. Our ears are delicate and essential, yet many of us take our hearing for granted and do not protect our ears from potential harm.
About three days ago, my left ear stopped hearing. I was confused because I had never experienced anything like it before. In the past, I had experienced my ear getting “clogged with water after bathing, but this time, my ear felt blocked, and I couldn’t hear anything. On the first day of this experience, I thought it might resolve itself, but by 6:00 p.m., my left ear still wasn’t hearing properly. I did some research and discovered that ear wax, insects, or foreign objects could cause ear blockage. I couldn’t believe that ear wax could be the cause, as my ears felt “heavy” and uncomfortable. I suspected an insect had entered my left ear. After further research, I found numerous solutions to remove whatever was blocking my ears, but since I am not an ear specialist or audiologist, I didn’t want to risk tampering with my own ears. Additionally, I wasn’t hearing properly and didn’t want to worsen the situation, so I went to the hospital that evening. Unfortunately, the ear specialist had already left for the day, so I was asked to return the following day. When I returned the next day, I met with the ear specialist. She explained that the wax in my ears had dried up, and I needed to soften it with olive oil before she could wash my ears. She instructed me to go home and use olive oil to soften the ear wax and return the following week for a cleaning. I followed her instructions, using olive oil morning, afternoon, and evening. However, the more I used the oil, the heavier and more clogged my ears felt. This made me uncomfortable because, as a musician, I rely heavily on my hearing. Although I was supposed to meet the ear specialist the following week (Tuesday, January 11, 2021), I decided to return to the hospital sooner, on Friday, January 8, 2021, to have my ears washed. When I arrived at the hospital, the ear specialist was unavailable, so I went to a different hospital where I had previously completed an internship. The ear specialist there was friendly and knowledgeable. She explained how delicate our ears are and why they should be handled with care. After she finished washing my ears, I could hear very clearly, and I was grateful. Afterward, I asked her about the causes of ear clogging, and she took her time to explain them to me in detail. She spent about 40 minutes providing me with valuable information about ear health.
I had a great time with her and learned many things I hadn’t known before, such as what should and shouldn’t enter the ears. While I can’t reiterate everything she said, I recommend watching these videos to understand how delicate our ears are.
Note: The only thing that should enter the ears is oil prescribed by a pharmacist or recommended by a doctor. In my case, I was advised to use olive oil. It is not advisable to use water to wash your ears, as water can create a moist environment that promotes microbial growth. Ear wax is oily and serves a purpose in the ear.
Do not put any objects in your ears, as you don’t know how contaminated they might be. The ears are connected to the Eustachian tube, the nose, and even the brain. Contaminating the ear increases the risk of brain damage. Your ears and health are important, so let’s take care of them together.
video on what happens when cotton swab is used in the ear
If you experience any issues with your ears, visit a hospital. It can take just a few seconds to compromise your health. The future is bright! You have great things to achieve! Stay healthy.
Thank you.
