The hearing system is not well understood in general, and they are several myths that have grown up around ear protection. Some myths state that ear protection causes ear infections or that ears can toughen up against noise. Read on to separate the facts from the fiction when it comes to ear protection.
Ear Protection Causes Infections
The myth says that ear protection – in particular inner ear protection – can cause ear infections. The reason infections happen is because there is harmful bacteria on the earplugs that enters the inner ear and harms the eardrum. There is some guidance to use a special type of earplug.
This is quite a convincing idea, but there is no hard evidence to suggest that people who wear inner ear protection have any additional incidences of ear infections. It’s more likely that someone will contract an ear infection by swimming in water that is contaminated with bacteria.
Ear Protection Damages Ears
The eardrum is a very important aspect of a very complex hearing system, the function of the eardrum is to vibrate the soundwaves coming in and send them into the tiny bones surrounding it and onto the cochlea. It’s unlikely anyone has touched the eardrum.
The eardrum is located around 35 millimeters into the ear canal, which is deeper than the longest earplugs on the market. The eardrum is also extremely sensitive and is surrounded by a sensitive area.
Ear Protection Prevents Hearing
Construction workers, factory workers and music workers try to avoid wearing ear protection for a variety of reasons, but these professions are the most important ones to protect. The reasons for not wearing ear protection are that it prevents hearing, communication and job performance.
In fact, ear protection actually improves hearing, communication and job performance, by reducing the background noise and increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. It’s important to get the message through to workers operating in some of the highest risk locations for hearing damage.
Some Ears are Tougher Than Others
There might be many reasons for not wearing ear protection in high-risk areas, but there are just as many excuses. In an attempt to avoid wearing ear protection, some workers announce that their ears have toughened up to the noise of their working environment and they should be fine.
This excuse is a myth that needs to be dispelled to protect workers from long-term hearing damage. Ears are not like muscles; they don’t become stronger by flexing them or exposing them to noise. What happens is that the cilia are unprotected and start to disappear over time.
Hearing is Easy to Fix
Don’t worry, if your ears are damaged, they can be easily fixed, this is another common myth and excuse by workers to avoid wearing ear protection. The hearing system is complex, and everyone is different. Hearing devices might be an option for you, but that is not guaranteed.
