I almost lost hearing in one ear

Key wellness & self-care strategies from the video (hearing protection & prompt action)

1) Act fast if hearing changes suddenly

• If you notice sudden, one-sided hearing loss (often after cold symptoms or sometimes without warning), treat it as urgent.
• Best treatment window: “within 72 hours” for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
• If symptoms are sudden—sometimes with tinnitus and/or dizziness—seek a hearing care professional immediately so they can test quickly and guide next steps.

2) Understand “blocked ear” vs. true inner-ear hearing loss

A “blocked ear” feeling can come from different causes with different treatments:

• Outer ear blockage (wax or water behind wax)
  • Wax can often be checked visually and cleaned if needed.
  • This may be less time-critical than inner-ear causes.
• Middle ear issue (Eustachian tube dysfunction / fluid / retracted eardrum)
  • Can happen with colds.
  • Involves middle-ear pressure problems.
• Inner ear / sensorineural hearing loss (time-sensitive emergency)
  • Needs rapid assessment/treatment; delaying can reduce the chance of recovery.

3) Keep earbuds/IEM use “ear-friendly” (infection prevention + comfort)

• Give your ears breaks instead of wearing earbuds for extremely long periods.
  • Example mentioned: 12–14 hours of earbud use can increase the risk of outer ear skin infections.
• Prefer better ventilation when you need long wear:
  • Open earbuds or over-ear headphones may be better than fully occluding tips.
• Clean earbuds regularly
  • Wax can build up in tips, and bacteria reduction matters.

4) Manage noise exposure using practical volume rules

• Use Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) when available to reduce environmental noise, so you don’t need to raise volume.
• Time + dB approach (risk rises fast):
  • Rule shared: 85 dB average for up to ~8 hours/day
  • If you go to 88–95 dB, safe time drops dramatically (e.g., at 95 dB: ~2 hours or less).
• Avoid “impulse” noise when possible (very high intensity, short duration).

5) Watch for everyday “surprise” noise hazards

• Shock/impulse noise can trigger sudden hearing loss, such as:
  • Fireworks
  • Gunshot
  • Car airbags
  • Sudden audio shocks during events with PA systems (noted for churches/large venues)
• Prolonged high-volume habits can gradually reduce hearing:
  • Loud commutes with headphones over many years
  • Construction/industrial-type exposure

6) Know what causes permanent vs. potentially recoverable damage

• With long-term loud noise:
  • Hair cells wear out and generally cannot regenerate.
• With sudden sensorineural hearing loss:
  • Hair cells may be “unconscious” temporarily; rapid treatment may revive them.
• Tinnitus is a warning sign of hearing damage—even if speech understanding seems okay.

7) Use better hearing protection at concerts/festivals

• Don’t rely only on generic foam plugs if you still want to enjoy music:
  • They can over-reduce high frequencies, changing sound quality.
• Prefer musician earplugs with filters that reduce volume more evenly:
  • Custom or filter-based options (the guest mentioned Elacin, including filters such as 9/15/25 dB).
• Protect areas where high-frequency discomfort occurs—damage is linked to cochlear mechanics.

8) Be cautious with “consumer hearing aid” features (e.g., AirPods hearing functions)

• The video discusses Apple-style earbuds with hearing/assistance functions:
  • They may help for mild, occasional situations.
• For daily use, a traditional medical hearing aid is often preferred because:
  • Consumer devices mainly assist high frequencies
  • Closed designs can sound artificial
• Social/comfort factors may also be awkward.

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Presenters / sources

• James (client of Daniel; Picky Audio collaborator)
• Daniel (hearing care professional; runs EarMan Dan / Ear Studio in Castle Hill)
• EarMan Dan (Daniel’s YouTube channel)