HEALTH: Millions of people admit they know nothing about how their ears work

 

Despite 45 per cent of those surveyed in this new study having suffered from a health condition related to their ears in the past, the research reveals just how poor our ear knowledge is.

 

Two in five have had earache, and over a third have felt the sensation of their ears being plugged with wax.

 

Thirty five per cent are familiar with the sound of ringing in their ears and one in five have experienced hearing sensitivity where sounds feel too loud or distressing to them.

 

Almost half could only confidently name the ear drum when asked about the anatomy of the ear, and a baffled one in six thought ‘the eartrumpet’ was a vital mechanism in their inner ear, despite being fictitious.

 

Unsurprisingly, one in five would consider their own knowledge on ears and ear health to be below average.

 

Furthermore, a third of those surveyed still thought it was safe to clean your ears with cotton buds, despite the potential damage they can cause to your eardrum.

 

And, one in five have never cleaned their ears before. Commenting on the Earex study Dr Roger Henderson, a leading GP and ear expert said: “The golden rule is that you should never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.

 

”Your ears are very sensitive so when you put anything inside you are at risk of damaging its sensitive lining.

 

“Cotton bud use can push wax further into the ear, impacting it and making ear problems worse.

 

“It is well known that when using headphones with a high volume for a long period of time, you risk potential damage.

 

“However, a lesser known issue is the impact of physically pushing something into your ear. “Extensive use of in-ear headphones can act as a ‘stopper’, preventing the wax from dispelling naturally.

 

“Likewise, in just one hour of wearing bud headphones, the number of bacteria in the ear increases by 700 times.”

 

Additionally, only 30 per cent of those surveyed knew an unhealthy diet contributes to poor ear health, and three in four were unaware smoking can have an adverse effect on your ears too.

 

With unhealthy eating, smoking and in-ear headphones all contributing to our overall ear health, it’s unsurprising the new findings from Earex reveal 26 is the age when Brits think hearing tests should start being factored into regular health check-ups.

 

Despite the call for hearing tests from a younger age, two in five Brits believe the quality and clarity of their hearing has diminished as they have got older, with the average age of 57 experiencing hearing loss.

 

Dr Henderson added: “The number one cause of earache is earwax build-up, which affects over one third of ear pain sufferers.

 

“Earwax is important for ear health as it helps to protect the lining of the ears.

 

“However, too much wax can sometimes build up, causing mild hearing loss, known as conductive deafness, as sounds can’t pass freely through the ear canal because of a blockage.”