1. Health Tips

 

Ears are precious: Take good care

 

“The ears also need pure food. This means we should listen only to sacred words and to accounts relating to the Divine. Let us always hear good and pleasant things about others. In this way, we must safeguard the ears from being polluted by hearing bad things. Only thus can we ensure consuming satvic food through the ears”…Sathya Sai Baba¹

“May my ears be healthy to listen to divine sounds… May I listen abundantly with my ears so that I may learn.” (a Vedic prayer)²

1. Know your ears

1.1 Ears are powerful and sensitive. They gauge the pitch, loudness, the direction of the sound, and nuances of voiced emotion. Even before birth, infants respond to sound. Ears can catch sound in sleep, are self-cleaners (through earwax), transmit taste signals to the brain⁴ (the facial nerve for taste runs through the middle ear), and help in keeping the body balance.^3-6

The funnel-shaped outer ear (pinna) is the receiver of sound that travels down the auditory canal to the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and vibrates it. Resting against it are three tiny delicate bones (ossicles) that work like amplifiers. The eustachian tube connects the air-filled middle ear to the back of the throat equalizes pressure and drains mucus. A spiral tube (cochlea) in the inner ear, with the help of three fluid-filled semi-circular canals (labyrinth), transmits the sound waves and the information on balance and head position to the brain.⁶

1.2 Normal hearing range: A healthy human ear can hear a wide range of frequencies from a very low 20 Hz (lowest pedal on a pipe organ) to a very high 20 kHz (ability to hear upper frequencies starts to wane with age). Our hearing is most sensitive to sounds in the range of 1.5 to 5.0 kHz, the frequency range of most human speech. This means sound in this range is perceived louder than that at 0.5 kHz or 10 kHz.^3,7-9 

 

1.3 Safe and unsafe decibel (dB) levels: The normal audible range for loudness is from 0 to 180 dB. A sound is harmful if it hurts the ears or causes ringing. Some safe sounds are - normal breathing (10 dB), birdsong and leaves rustling, ticking watch (20 dB), soft whisper (30 dB), refrigerator hum (40 dB), normal conversations (60 dB), and washing machine (70 dB). Undesirable ones are - heavy city traffic (80-85 dB inside the car), power tools, hairdryers (90dB), car horns, sporting events, (100-110 dB), ambulance siren (120-130 dB), live rock band (130 dB), airplanes taking off, firecrackers (130-160 dB), and rocket launch (180 dB). Above 85 dB is considered damaging, sustained exposure between 80-90 dB for years or 90 dB for an hour may also cause damage. Exposure above 110 dB for less than a minute, or above 130 dB for less than a second, is enough to cause irreparable damage.^{3, 8-12}

2. Ear disorders 

2.1 Hearing loss: Apart from age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), one of the most common causes is an obstruction in the external ear canal because of wax (cerumen) build-up, haematoma, or foreign body, and this is generally treatable.¹² Other causes could be acoustic trauma, barotrauma (air pressure changes) common in divers, head injury, ear infection, congenital, Meniere’s disease, tumour in the auditory nerve, chronic diseases, or drugs.^10,12

Some indicators of the onset of hearing loss are: difficulty in hearing over the telephone, need to strain to understand conversations or asking people to repeat themselves, trouble hearing in a noisy background, or need to turn the volume of TV higher or feeling tired easily (perceived to be due to age but could be due to hearing difficulty). If a child does not respond to sound, has delayed speech development, stumbles a lot, or has trouble paying attention in school, it could be hearing loss.^13-14 

Research reveals that right and left ears handle sound differently. The right one responds more to speech and logic processed in the left hemisphere of the brain. The left ear is more tuned to music, emotion, and intuition processed in the right hemisphere. So, those with greater hearing loss in the left ear may have problems in understanding emotional issues, and those with right ear hearing loss may lose some of their ability to sort things out.¹⁵

2.2 Meniere’s disease: It is a disorder of the inner ear which usually begins with a feeling of pressure or congestion in the ear. This is followed by tinnitus (a ringing sound like hissing, roaring, pulsing, whooshing, chirping, whistling, or clicking), fluctuating hearing loss, and vertigo (sudden dizzy spells, spinning - like a horizontal merry-go-round type sensation, or being pushed over by an invisible hand). Some people may lose their balance and fall and may also have nausea, vomiting, and acute reduction in hearing. As the disease progresses, tinnitus and hearing loss may increase; in later stages, imbalance may worsen. Though not fatal, this disease can be incapacitating. The underlying cause is unknown but generally attributed to migraine, viral infections of the inner ear, head injury, hereditary predisposition, or allergy. 

Perilymph fistula, sometimes mistaken for Meniere’s disease, is a rare condition caused by oozing of liquid from the inner ear into air-filled middle ear.^16-20

3. Ear infections

3.1 Eustachian tube dysfunction: This tube becomes swollen or blocked, generally due to cold, flu, sinus infection, or allergies, and fluid builds up in the middle ear; this results in a feeling of fullness in the ear, muffled sound, pain, fever etc. Exercises like swallowing, chewing, yawning, or deep breathing will help open up the tube. Normally it gets settled without any treatment. In severe cases, it may cause a middle ear infection. As eustachian tube is short, narrow, and horizontal in childhood and grows with age, ear infection is common in young children but it passes off quickly. Adult ear infection may indicate health problems!^21,22

3.2 Ear infections of outer, middle, and inner ear:^22-30

a. otitis externa (swimmer’s ear): Usually a bacterial infection of the outer ear canal, it is caused by dry skin or eczema, scratching, over-usage of finger or cotton swab to clean the ear, or excessive water exposure or water trapped in the ear. Typical symptoms are itchy rashes, tenderness, redness, swelling, mild fever, and pain. Sometimes infected pus from the middle ear can drain into the ear canal through a hole in the eardrum. Rarely, the infection could be due to fungus or virus.^22,23,24

Infectious myringitis: mostly bacterial, it is an inflammation of the eardrum with symptoms of small blisters and intense pain.²⁵

b. acute otitis media: Middle ear gets inflamed or infected due to virus or bacteria and fluid gets trapped behind the eardrum. Normally, the infection arises from a respiratory problem. After an acute otitis media in children, fluid builds up in the middle ear, inhibiting vibration of the eardrum and subsequent transmission of sound into the inner ear. Symptoms include earache, redness or swelling in the ear, headache, fever, persistent feeling of pressure inside the ear, and hearing loss. If there is discharge with inflammation (otorrhoea), it can be clear, pus-filled or bloody. In case of excessive build-up of phlegm or mucus, usually in the sinuses, and sometimes in the ears and throat, it is “middle ear catarrh”. If the bone behind the ear gets infected and swollen it is “mastoiditis”.^26-28

c. Infections of inner ear: Vestibular neuronitis (inflammation of the vestibular nerve of the inner ear), caused mostly by viral infection, starts with sudden and dramatic vertigo. Other prominent symptoms are dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Labyrinthitis (inflammation of both vestibular and cochlear nerve) can be caused by either virus or bacteria and has additional symptoms of ear pain, tinnitus, and loss of hearing.

Herpes zoster of the ear is a viral infection of the cochlear nerve with symptoms of pain, vertigo, and blisters on the ear, face, and neck.^24,25,29,30

Infections of the outer and middle are milder and last 1-2 weeks, compared to those of the inner ear which can last longer.²⁹ Symptoms may get aggravated due to changes in climate or altitude.²⁹

4. Ear trauma / injury:

4.1 Bug in the ear! A bug can crawl in when a person is asleep or fly into the ear, if outdoors. It may die right away or move or buzz, even bite or sting. Children may not realise it, so may rub or scratch their ears and cry in pain. Calmly pull the ear, tilt and shake the head to dislodge it. Pour a tiny amount of lukewarm oil into the ear to suffocate the bug and then flush it out using warm water. 

Caution: Never hit the ear or put any object or swab as it can push the bug further in and damage the eardrum. If the bug does not come out or there is history of ear infection, consult a doctor.

Prevention: Use earplugs or sterile cotton ball while sleeping, trekking, or camping in the countryside or mountains. Use of an insect repellent will reduce the risk.^31,32,35

4.2 Eardrum, ruptured/perforated: Ear infection, acoustic trauma, barotrauma, head injury, a hit or slap, or inserting an object or fingernail can cause a tear or a rupture, more so in children as their eardrums are delicate. This may result in bleeding, pain, tinnitus, hearing impairment, deafness, or balance problems. Often, a perforated eardrum repairs itself, but sometimes it may cause recurrent infections requiring treatment.^30,32,33-35

4.3 First aid in case of injury and bleeding from within the ear: Bandage a clean pad over the whole ear and let the patient lie down towards that side till medical help can treat it. Can apply cold compresses over the dressing.^30,35

4.4 Don’ts in any ear emergency: Don’t block the drainage coming from the ear nor clean the inside. Don’t put any liquid into the ear (except for bug in the ear or to soften earwax). Don’t try to remove any object from inside with any tool.^30,35

5. Tips for ear care^12,30,34-51

• Stop using cotton swabs or fingers to clean ears (this will deplete the earwax), instead wipe the outer-ear with a washcloth or tissue; keep the ears dry.^30,35,36,37
• Leave earwax alone.³⁸ Wax produced in the ear canal lubricates and protects the ear from dirt and infection and comes out naturally. Chewing helps in this process. If it gets built up, put 2-3 drops of olive oil or prescribed ear drops to soften it and generally, it will fall out.^30,38
• Avoid exposure to loud noises and use earplugs. Research reveals that ears need 16 hours of quiet to recover after one loud night out! Ears can never get used to noise; silently and gradually it would be causing damage! Once the sensory cells, called hair cells, in the cochlea, get destroyed, they don’t regenerate.^34-37
• During air travel, swallow and yawn frequently during ascent and descent to equalize the air pressure in ears; ^30,34,35,37
• Try well-known home remedies for pain and swelling eg, warm or cold compress over the ears or warm oil, in which crushed garlic has been soaked, applied to the ear canal.³⁹
• Drink plain ginger tea for dizziness.⁴⁰
• Follow a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular walks, exercise, yoga, meditation and adequate rest to destress, improve hearing, and deal with vertigo.^41-50
• Reduce salt intake.^49,50
• Have regular check-ups; do not neglect warning signs, and never hesitate to seek medical help (untreated hearing loss can impact cognition, health, and mental wellness)^37,46
• Sai Vibrionics has helped in numerous cases of ear disorders including tinnitus and vertigo, loss of hearing, and earaches and infections.^51.

References and Links:

1. Sathya Sai Speaks, Summer Showers Divine Discourse May-June 1990, Indian Culture and Spirituality, Sanctify the body, chapter 2, page 8: http://www.sssbpt.info/summershowers/ss1990/ss1990.pdf
2. Shanti mantra (“Bhadram karnebhih”) and Taittiriya Upanishad, Shikshavalli, verse11
3. Ears are powerful: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/17-6-hearing/
4. Nerve for taste runs through middle ear: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorda_tympani
5. Facts on ears! http://www.fun-facts.org.uk/human_body/ears.htm; https://www.neilsperlingmd.com/blog/2016/09/interesting-facts-about-the-human-ear/
6. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ear-infection/picture-of-the-ear#1
7. Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, edition 20, page 656,938
8. Hearing range: www.nhc.com.au/blog/human-hearing-range
9. https://global.widex.com/en/blog/human-hearing-range-what-can-you-hear
10. Noise levels and hearing loss: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html
11. Noise levels: https://pulsarinstruments.com/en/post/decibel-chart-noise-level
12. Causes for hearing loss: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/hearing_loss/article_em.htm#what_causes_hearing_loss; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14428-ear-wax-buildup--blockage
13. Indicators of hearing loss: https://www.hear-the-world.com/en/knowledge/hearing-loss/hearing-loss-in-children-guide-for-parents/indicators-for-hearing-loss
14. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hearing-loss/symptoms/
15. Hearing process: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52549-Five-things-you-may-not-know-about-your-hearing
16. Meniere’s disease: https://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/menieres/menieres.html
17. Stages in Meniere’s disease: https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/tinnitus/menieres-disease
18. Tinnitus: www.asha.org/public/hearing/Tinnitus/
19. Meniere’s drop attacks: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/menieres-disease
20. Perilymphatic fistula: https://www.healthline.com/health/perilymph-fistula
21. Eustachian tube dysfunction: https://familydoctor.org/condition/eustachian-tube-dysfunction/
22. Ear infections: https://www.healthline.com/health/ear-infection-adults#causes
23. Outer ear infections: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/symptoms-causes/syc-20351682; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/swimmer-ear.html
24. Outer, middle & inner ear infections: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/ear-infections
25. Middle ear infections: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ear-infections/symptoms-causes/syc-20351616
26. Otorrhoa: Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, edition 20, page 1551
27. Middle ear catarrh: https://www.entuk.org/catarrh
28. Inner ear infections: https://www.medicinenet.com/inner_ear_infection/article.htm
29. Vestibular neuritis & Labyrinthitis: https://www.healthline.com/health/vestibular-neuritis
30. All ear disorders: https://www.firstaidforlife.org.uk/ear-problems/
31. Bug in the ear! https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322064#prevention
32. Ear trauma: https://www.healthline.com/health/bug-in-ear
33. Eardrum rupture: https://www.healthline.com/health/ruptured-eardrum#symptoms
34. Ear injuries: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ear-injuries.html
35. First aid & List of Don’ts: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000052.htm
36. Precautions: https://www.earq.com/hearing-health/articles/9-ways-to-protect-your-ears
37. Ear care: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/13076-ear-care-tips
38. Leave earwax alone: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/3-reasons-to-leave-earwax-alone-2017051711718
39. Home remedies: https://www.healthline.com/health/11-effective-earache-remedies
40. Home remedy for dizziness: https://homeremedyshop.com/20-tested-home-remedies-for-dizziness/
41. Exercises for balance: https://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bppv/home/home-pc.html
42. Exercises for vertigo: https://www.healthline.com/health/exercises-for-vertigo
43. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/home-epley-maneuver
44. Simple home exercises: https://www.neuroequilibrium.in/vertigo-exercises-and-home-remedies/
45. Gentle Yoga for better hearing: https://www.captel.com/2018/12/gentle-yoga-exercises-to-promote-better-hearing-infographic/
46. Improve hearing: https://www.audicus.com/5-activities-to-improve-your-hearing/
47. Nutrition for better hearing: https://campaignforbetterhearing.ca/2016/03/five-foods-to-boost-your-hearing-health/
48. https://www.hearinghealthassoc.com/hearing-health-associates-va-blog/2017/3/15/nutrition-and-hearing-top-foods-to-consume-and-avoid
49. https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/how-nutrition-affects-our-hearing
50. https://www.hearingwellnessctr.com/nutrition/
51. Sai Vibrionics Newsletters: https://vibrionics.org; cases related to ears at https://www.news.vibrionics.org/en/subjects/5