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Prevent Swimmer's Ear
Swimmer's ear (also known as otitis externa) is an infection of the outer ear canal that can cause pain and discomfort for swimmers of all ages. Swimmer's ear affects millions of Americans every year and results in hundreds of millions of dollars in hospitalization costs. The good news is that swimmer's ear is preventable. This year, to help ensure a healthy and pain-free swimming experience, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging swimmers to follow the Swimmer's Ear Prevention Guidelines below.
Swimmer's Ear Prevention Guidelines
DO keep your ears as dry as possible.
* Use a bathing cap, ear plugs, or custom-fitted swim molds when swimming.
DO dry your ears thoroughly after swimming or showering.
* Use a towel to dry your ears well.
* Tilt your head to hold each ear facing down to allow water to escape the ear canal.
* Pull your earlobe in different directions while the ear is faced down to help water drain out.
* If there is still water left in ears, consider using a hair dryer to move air through the ear canal.
o Put the dryer on the lowest heat and speed/fan setting; hold it several inches from the ear.
DON'T put objects in the ear canal (including cotton-tip swabs, pencils, paperclips, or fingers).
DON'T try to remove ear wax. Ear wax helps protect your ear canal from infection.
* If you think that the ear canal is blocked by ear wax, consult your primary care physician or audiologist.
CONSULT your healthcare provider about using ear drops after swimming.
* Drops should not be used by people with ear tubes, damaged ear drums, outer ear infections, or ear drainage (pus or liquid coming from the ear).
CONSULT your healthcare provider if you have ear pain, discomfort, or drainage from your ears.
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Hearing Better May Mean Earning More
People with untreated hearing loss may see their income decrease by as much as $30,000 a year, according to a national survey by the Better Hearing Institute. But hearing aids were shown to reduce the risk of income loss by 90 to 100 percent for those with milder hearing loss, and from 65 to 77 percent for those with severe to moderate hearing loss.
Most of the more than 34 million Americans with hearing loss are either in the workforce or in school. The loss in income for people with untreated hearing problems, due to underemployment, is estimated at $176 billion, with the cost to society as high as $26 billion in unrealized federal taxes.
Hearing is critical to effective communication in the workforce. The ability to hear and listen well enables employees to be more productive and understand the work that has been assigned. Poor communication can result in unhappy customers, missed deadlines, poor morale among co-workers and mistakes on the job. Effective hearing may also be critical to ensure safety on the job.
In the study, those with unaided severe hearing loss had unemployment rates double that of the normal-hearing population, and nearly double that of their aided peers.
"People are losing their hearing earlier and staying in the workforce longer," says Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute. "In today's tough job market, hearing your best is essential for career success."
Hearing aids remain the optimum treatment for the vast majority of people with hearing loss. Yet only 40 percent of Americans with moderate to severe hearing loss, and only 9 percent of those with mild hearing loss, wear them.
Half of all people with untreated hearing loss have never had their hearing professionally checked. Let our Audigy certified expert help you determine if a hearing loss may be costing you.
Content provided by Better Hearing Institute website at http://www.betterhearing.org/press/articles/hearing_aids_and_income.cfm
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