All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
It can be easy to take yourearsfor granted until they suddenly wallop you with pain.
Artur Debat/Getty Images
Or maybe the world begins to sound like youre swimming underwater when your feet are firmly planted on land.
National Library of Medicine.
Say youre sitting at the beach listening to water hit the sand.
When those sound waves reach your eardruma piece of tissue separating your outer and middle earthey make it vibrate.
So, where does the hearing loss portion come in?
Either of these scenarios can lead to permanent noise-induced hearing loss.
Though these numbers can vary, heavy city traffic clocks in at about 85 decibels, according to theNIDCD.
A concert can take it up to the95 to 115 decibelrange.
Fireworks may register between 140 and 160 decibels.
The problem with noise-induced hearing loss is that you might not notice it right away.
Instead, your hearing may diminish over time until the world starts to sound muffled, according to theNIDCD.
Think about how loud concerts are; you’re free to still get a great show.
Its a similar thing with fireworks: Wear earplugs and stand back if you might.
Ever wonder why babies scream when a plane takes off or lands?
It has to do with thin passageways called Eustachian tubes.
National Library of Medicine.
When a plane takes off,air pressure drops.
Youre especially vulnerable when you have a cold,allergies, or anything else that congests you.
Infection or inflammation can make your Eustachian tubes swell and trap fluid, leading to pressure and pain.
In an extreme case, the pressure could lead to aperforated eardrum.
Popping your earssqueezing your nostrils closed and gently blowing your nosecan help equalize pressure, too, he adds.
You could even rupture your eardrum if youre too forceful.
(This is why many doctorsadvise against using cotton swabsto clean your ears.)
But even healthy adults can get ear infections, also known asacute otitis media.
That liquid makes you susceptible to a bacterial or viral infection.
Some ear infections clear up on their own in a week or two.
The pain radiates [to the ear] from the jaw joint, Dr. Jung says.
National Library of Medicine.
This is about as pleasant as it sounds.
Small eardrum holes may heal on their own in about two months, theU.S.
National Library of Medicineexplains.
National Library of Medicine.
In rare cases, a perforated eardrum can cause permanent hearing loss.
Make an appointment with an ENT to find out the best course of treatment.
Just because thesunis shining doesnt mean the waters fine.
(Were talking years, here.
This is not an immediate thing.)
This is known as external auditory exostoses.
Big on water sports?
Wearing protective gear like earplugs and wetsuit hoods may helpprevent the issue.
Luckily, thats precisely why doctors exist.
Hopefully, they can get you on the road to relief.
