Deafness and hearing loss: Ear care
10 February 2023 | Questions and answers
The inside part of the ear is self-cleaning. You should only clean the outer part of the ear with a soft cloth or cotton. No object or fluid should be inserted or instilled into the ears, unless prescribed by a health professional.
Wax is a normal secretion of the ear. It helps to trap dirt, hair and foreign particles that enter the ear. It protects the ear and keeps it clean. Normally, there is NO NEED to remove ear wax unless it is causing hearing loss. It should be removed by a trained person.
Sometimes when wax gets collected in the ear and becomes hard, it may need to be removed. Wax removal should ONLY be done by a trained health worker or doctor.
You should NOT insert Q-tips or cotton buds inside your ears. They may push wax further inside the ear canal and damage the ear drum. Sometimes, the cotton may remain behind and cause infection.
Pain in the ear is commonly caused by:
- hard impacted ear wax
- infection in the ear canal or ear drum
- ear trauma
Go to a doctor or health worker who can check your ears.
DO NOT treat ear pain with home remedies (such as hot or cold oil), or medicines that were not prescribed by a health worker.
Do not take any medicine unless prescribed by your doctor after examination. Go to the doctor or health worker in case of ear pain, discharge, or any difficulty in hearing
Discharge from ears is mostly due to infection. Do not ignore fluid or pus coming from the ear. Ear infections can mostly be treated with medicines or, in some cases, by surgery.
If left untreated, they could lead to serious (and at times, life-threatening) complications.
In case of any discharge from ears, consult a doctor or health worker at the earliest.
If you have a lot of itching or if you have any foreign body or insect in the ear, you should consult a doctor. Using Q-tips or cotton buds can harm the ear canal and ear drum.
Water mostly comes out on its own after a while. If it persists or happens frequently, seek advice from a doctor or health worker. This could happen if there is wax blocking your ear canal, as it can trap water inside. The wax may need to be removed by a doctor or health worker
Most ear and hearing problems can be prevented by taking good care of our ears.
You should:
- use ear plugs in noisy places
- check your hearing regularly
- go to the doctor or health worker in case of ear pain, discharge, or any difficulty in hearing
- wear your hearing aids regularly, if you have been advised to do so
You should not:
- put cotton buds, oil, sticks, or pins inside your ear
- swim or wash in dirty water
- share ear phones or ear plugs with others
- listen to loud sounds or loud music
To know more about this topic, access the FAQs on safe listening https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/deafness-and-hearing-loss-safe-listening