Ear Care Tips to Remember on National Ear Care Day March 3

Author: Zhengzhou Minsheng Hospital Reviewers: N/A Curator: Zhengzhou Minsheng Hospital Production Information: Zhengzhou Minsheng Hospital Date: March 3, 2026 It is the 27th National Ear Day. The theme for this year is "Everyone loves science and cares for ear health, together protecting hearing health." This festival aims to raise awareness about ear health.

The ears are important organs for perceiving the world around us. They not only allow us to listen to beautiful sounds but also help us maintain balance and coordination. Therefore, protecting the health of your ears is crucial, and we must take good care of them. First, it is essential to understand the structure and function of the ear.

Understanding Our Ears: The ear is composed of three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. These three parts work together in coordination to accomplish the functions of sound collection, transmission, perception, and balance regulation. The outer ear is responsible for collecting sound, while the middle ear transmits sound waves. The inner ear converts sound signals into nerve signals and manages the body's balance.

Hearing loss is not only about "not being able to hear." It is a general term for various degrees of hearing impairment caused by qualitative or functional lesions in the auditory conduction pathways. Common types of hearing loss can be categorized into several types based on their causes and locations, including conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, presbycusis (age-related hearing loss), noise-induced hearing loss, and drug-induced hearing loss.

Once hearing damage progresses to a permanent and irreversible state, recovery is often challenging. Therefore, early recognition, prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation are particularly important.

Sudden Deafness: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss refers to a rapid and unexplained decline in hearing that occurs within 72 hours. Many patients may wake up to find they cannot hear clearly, often accompanied by symptoms like a feeling of fullness in the ear, tinnitus, dizziness, and nausea.

Sudden deafness has a strict "golden treatment period of 72 hours." During this period, timely and standardized treatment significantly increases the chances of hearing recovery. Delays can likely lead to permanent hearing loss with long-term tinnitus, hearing decline, and other sequelae.

Common triggers for sudden deafness include staying up late, overexertion, extreme mental stress, emotional fluctuations, viral infections, and noise stimuli. If you suddenly experience hearing difficulties, persistent tinnitus, a feeling of ear fullness, or dizziness, seek immediate medical attention from an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

Please avoid these behaviors: Prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels (such as in KTV venues, construction sites, or noisy areas) without protection can cause chronic and irreversible hearing damage. The misuse of aminoglycoside antibiotics and other ototoxic drugs can irreversibly damage auditory hair cells.

Long-term smoking, excessive drinking, staying up late, and high stress can negatively impact blood circulation and nerve function in the ears, increasing the risk of hearing loss. Using sharp objects to clean ears, exposure to dirty water, and forceful nose blowing can lead to otitis media or external otitis, potentially causing indirect hearing damage.

Please keep these points in mind: Headphones should adhere to the World Health Organization's "60-60-60" principle: keep the volume at a maximum of 60% for no more than 60 minutes at a time, and avoid usage in environments where external noise exceeds 60 decibels. For minors, strictly limiting wearing time is particularly important.

Do not share personal items: Avoid sharing headphones or earplugs to prevent cross-infection that can lead to ear canal inflammation. When cleaning, only wipe the outer ear and avoid digging inside, as it may damage the eardrum.

Stay away from noisy environments: Try to avoid loud surroundings, and when it is unavoidable, use protective tools such as noise-canceling earplugs.

Prioritize physical protection: Prevent water from entering your ears while swimming or bathing; maintain a safe distance from fireworks, and protect your ears timely to avoid sudden air pressure changes that may harm your eardrum.

Live a healthy lifestyle: Maintain a regular schedule, eat a balanced diet, stabilize your emotions, avoid smoking and alcohol, and care for the health of your ear microcirculation.

Timely medical examination: If you experience tinnitus, ear pain, a feeling of fullness, or hearing loss, seek medical attention promptly for early detection and treatment.

Scientific fitting of hearing aids: Individuals who have experienced hearing loss affecting communication should consult for proper fitting of hearing aids as soon as possible to protect remaining hearing and slow down further hearing loss.

Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine to Support Rehabilitation: Zhengzhou Minsheng Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital utilizes the "Dong's 8+1 Comprehensive Hearing Recovery Therapy" for common hearing issues such as tinnitus and sudden deafness. This approach integrates traditional Chinese and Western medicine, combining multiple techniques for individualized diagnosis and treatment.

This therapy integrates nine core technologies: multi-dimensional approaches from both Chinese and Western medicine, acupuncture therapy, targeted drug delivery through acupuncture, herbal steam treatment, "one-needle hearing" therapy, physical stimulation therapy, tympanic drug injection, Canadian tinnitus masking therapy, and hearing aid assistance therapy. This fundamentally improves microcirculation in the ear, repairs damaged auditory nerves, systematically enhances hearing, alleviates tinnitus, and supports many patients in returning to a normal life.

Protecting our ears is crucial not only on Ear Care Day but every day. Health is the best New Year's gift. Let us collectively establish the concept of scientifically caring for our ears, avoid hearing loss, and attentively enjoy every beautiful sound in the world, embracing a vibrant and healthy life.