Many people don't realize that some behaviors we think of as caring for our ears are actually quietly, bit by bit, stealing our hearing. What's more alarming is that this damage is often irreversible. Today we list three common ones:

1. Ear picking

Many people are addicted to the tingling sensation after ear cleaning, even treating it as a way to relieve stress. But let me give you one piece of advice: you may not be able to afford the cost of that pleasure.

Destroying the natural protective layer: earwax (scientific name cerumen) is not waste; it lubricates the ear canal, has antibacterial properties, and traps dust. Frequent digging destroys this protective film, causing the ear canal to become dry and itchy, creating a vicious cycle of the more you pick, the itchier it gets, and the itchier it gets, the more you pick.

Causing infection & blockage: this can push earwax that should be naturally expelled deep into the ear canal, accumulating into a hard cerumen plug, leading to sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, and inflammation.

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Causing permanent damage: the skin deep in the ear canal is as thin as cicada wings, and the tympanic membrane is even more delicate. An accidental cough or being bumped can cause an ear-cleaning tool to perforate the eardrum, resulting in permanent hearing loss.

2. Wearing headphones

Used improperly, they become an invisible hearing harvester.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that about 1.1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of irreversible hearing loss, and excessive volume from personal audio devices is a major risk factor.

There are tens of thousands of hair cells in our inner ear that transmit sound signals to the brain. These cells are very fragile; once damaged by excessive sound, they cannot regenerate, like a trampled lawn.

3. Blowing Your Nose Forcefully

When you have a cold and a stuffy nose, do you habitually pinch both nostrils and then blow hard? Stop it! This action is extremely harmful to the ears.

There is a passage between the nasopharynx and the ears called the eustachian tube. When you pinch both nostrils and blow forcefully, the high-pressure airflow in the nasal cavity can instantly rush through the eustachian tube into the middle ear. This may cause:

Acute otitis media — the powerful pressure can drive bacteria and viruses from the nasal cavity into the middle ear, causing infection, severe pain, and purulent discharge.

A tympanic membrane perforation: in extreme cases, instantaneous pressure changes can even cause the eardrum to rupture.

Worsened discomfort: when you have a cold the Eustachian tube may already be edematous, and this action will further increase the feeling of ear fullness and hearing loss.

Hearing is an important link between us and the world, but it is far more fragile than we imagine. Many injuries are not easily noticed in the early stages, and by the time you truly become aware of a problem, it is often too late.