Everyone knows that our ears are awesome for hearing. They’re also prone to getting dirty and smelly. This is because of the fact that they’re outside, exposed to the elements almost all day long. And when you add in the fact that we spend most of our time indoors listening to music, talking on the phone, or gaming, it doesn’t take much for dirt and odors to build up and get trapped inside those little holes too. 

If you’re anything like us, then you’ve probably noticed that your hearing has started to get a little less sharp since you were younger. Maybe it’s just us, but we have been noticing a gradual decrease in our ability to hear things over time. This is especially noticeable if you go outside often or spend a lot of time in noisy places like nightclubs or construction sites where there’s noise from other machinery as well as things like exhaust or chemical smells from chemicals used in construction or industry.

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What Causes Ears To Get Dirty?

So now we know that ear dirt builds up over time, but what causes it? Well, the truth is that there are a few factors that contribute to your ears getting dirty, but one that sticks out like a sore thumb is the level of noise that you expose them to. If you go outside often and are exposed to a lot of loud noises like construction sites, motorcycles, or even loud music, then you’re more likely to get dirt stuck in your ears. 

Ears are very similar to your skin, so when you expose them to a lot of dust, dirt, and bacteria, they get dirty easily. The same goes if you work in an industry where there’s a lot of noise. You can also add other factors like wind, humidity, and temperature to the mix, as well as wearing earbuds or headphones that are too small or slightly too big in order to block out some of the noise.

What Are The Signs of Dull Hearings?

When you notice that your hearing has started to get less sharp, the first thing you should do is to pay attention to the signs that your ears have become dirty. They might be a little harder to hear, or you might have to be closer to something to hear it. If you spend a lot of time outside or in noisy places, you’re more likely to notice this. You might also find it harder to hear conversations or music when you’re in a crowd. 

This is because more of them are competing for your attention since the levels have risen! You might also notice that it’s a little harder to hear things that are very close to you. This can be especially frustrating if you have bilateral hearing loss, or if you have trouble hearing certain frequencies. Entrust your hearing to an expert audiologist in Abilene, TX. Contact Abilene Audiology to schedule a consultation!

How to Take Care of Your Ears

When you notice that your hearing has gotten dull, you’ll want to make sure you take care of your ears. Using a pair of earbuds that are slightly too big will usually stop them from collecting too much dust and dirt. Avoid excessive noise, especially if you spend a lot of time in noisy places, wear earbuds that are slightly too big, or if you wear glasses. Keep your earphones and earbuds away from your face when you’re not using them. Use a cotton swab to get rid of debris and crumbs inside your ear. 

However, you should never stick a cotton bud all the way down your ear, you should only use it to clean the outside areas of your ear. This is because earbuds can actually push ear wax further back into your ear canal, which can become blocked and lead to hearing loss and tinnitus. 

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Check for signs of ear infection

If your child has ear pain, itching, or an ache in one or both ears, they may have an ear infection. Ear infections are common in children and can be difficult to diagnose. Check if the following signs point to an ear infection:

  • Your Child Is Itching Around Their Ears 
  • Children usually develop waxy buildup in their ears during their first year of life. 

This prevents excess dirt from entering the ear canal and keeps moisture inside. However, if your child is persistently itching around their ears, this may be a sign that they have an ear infection. You may be wondering, are ear infections contagious? The answer is no, but that does not mean that ear infections are not serious matters, as if left unattended they can result in serious illness, or even death. So, it is always important to see your GP straight away if you think you have an ear infection.

Keep your ears clean with olive oil

Cleaning your ears with olive oil is one of the many natural home remedies for ear problems available. You should no longer let dirt build up in there and let it seep into your other organs and systems. The sooner you start keeping them clear from all the gunk, the better chance you have at getting rid of that buildup so that it doesn’t come back later on as worse again.

Conclusion

We hope that after reading this article, you’ll feel a little more prepared to take care of your ears. If you notice that they’ve gotten a little dirty, you can take a few simple steps to clean them off and make them nice and clean again. 

We don’t want to run too deep down the rabbit hole of ear health as we’re not doctors or biologists (although if you’re reading this, we’re assuming you are at least one of those things), but we’re hoping that this article provides a good general overview of the topics that you’ll want to pay attention to. 

We’re also hoping that it gives you some helpful tips for taking care of your ears and protecting them from the dust, dirt, and noise that can cause them to become dirty. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below and we’ll do our best to answer them!