How to protect and care for your ears in daily life

Human beings have two ears, which allow us to hear and feel the wonderful world, and through the vestibular apparatus to maintain the balance of our body. In 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there were at least 120 million hearing-impaired people in the world, including about 78 million in developing countries and 42 million in developed countries. The incidence of hearing loss in newborns in China is about 0.14 – 0.264%, the number of hearing-impaired newborns is increasing by 30,000 per year, and there are about 800,000 hearing-impaired children under the age of 7 years. A child with severe hearing loss or even total deafness is like a heavy mountain for a family. Early detection and early intervention is urgent! Hearing screening should be done for all hospitalized newborns (after 48 hours of birth). Children with screening problems should be further re-screened and diagnosed. The diagnosis of hearing loss should be followed by rational intervention. The principle is to diagnose before 3 months of age and intervene before 6 months of age. The methods of intervention include: medication – otitis media, auditory neuropathy, sudden deafness; surgery – malformations of the outer and middle ear, chronic secretory otitis media; hearing aids – sensorineural deafness, bilateral atresia; cochlear implants Cochlear implants – severe sensorineural deafness where hearing aids are ineffective. In addition, the children snoring should not be underestimated, these children often have adenoids, tonsil hypertrophy, is the cause of chronic secretory otitis media untreated, hearing impairment is an important reason, surgical treatment can be received very good therapeutic effect; through the above measures can be the vast majority of hearing impaired children with us to enjoy a better sound world. Adults also have many hearing impairment diseases, of which the vast majority of conductive deafness can be cured or improved through surgery. The famous music giant Beethoven suffered from otosclerosis in his early years, and became deaf at the age of 26, and completely deaf in his later years. Due to the lack of effective treatments at that time, he had to put a small stick between his teeth and the piano to feel the sound, and tenaciously performed his music creations, and left immortal works to the world. Modern ear microsurgery techniques can effectively treat deafness caused by otosclerosis, chronic suppurative otitis media, tympanic membrane perforation, and congenital malformations of the outer and middle ear. Artificial hearing aids (hearing aids, artificial hearing devices) can also provide effective assistance to elderly deaf patients, bringing pleasure and convenience to communication and socialization. Another important function of the ear is to maintain balance. The balance quadrangle in the human body consists of: vision, vestibular sense, proprioception and cerebellum. Of these, the vestibular sense (attributed to the inner ear) is the dominant component. Clinically, about 90% of vertigo is peripheral (the other 10% is central); and about 90% of peripheral vertigo is otogenic. Like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (otolithiasis) manipulation can achieve good therapeutic effect, this treatment is painless and non-invasive, the cure rate reaches more than 90%. The human larynx is an important organ for breathing and vocalization. Pronunciation is a complex process that requires multiple systems to work together. The structures and organs involved in articulation can be categorized into four major parts: the power system, the vibration system, the resonance system, and the regulatory system. In order to have a thick, bright voice, we need to understand and take care of our vocal organs, which we will talk about in the future. Many voice diseases are related to improper use of voice and bad habits. 90% of laryngeal cancer patients have a long history of smoking; most of the patients with vocal polyps and vocal cord nodules do not use resonance and breath support correctly, forming a “squeezing card” voice, which leads to hoarseness that is not cured for a long time or recurs again and again. Modern laryngeal microsurgery and laryngeal reconstruction surgery, as well as vocal training and orthodontic treatment, have been a boon to these patients. Let benign lesions, beautiful voice; let laryngeal cancer patients no longer because of the removal of the larynx and become halfway mute, to give them the right to communicate and speak, so that they have the dignity of a happy life. In addition to surgical treatment, the treatment paths for voice diseases also include voice training and correction, medication, physical therapy and other non-surgical treatment methods. Voice training and correction largely depends on the cooperation and persistence of the patient, and if done well, it will yield twice the result with half the effort. So, how can we have a healthy, bright and beautiful voice? We can learn from the method of vocal music teaching, like singing, talking; singing how to relax which? Singing like talking (Jiang Dawei). The former emphasizes the support of breathing and resonance when speaking; while the latter emphasizes relaxation when singing. Therefore, those with voice disorders should not be afraid to speak, but to speak correctly. Completely forbidding the voice not to speak will not help the treatment of the disease; learn to sing, pay attention to articulation health care, master articulation relaxation skills, respiratory regulation and abdominal support, etc., which will be of great help to the patients with dysphonia. For some special cases, singing practice courses are also very useful for the rehabilitation of patients with common dysarthria. As in speech therapy, patients can improve the strength of their chest and abdominal muscles, breath regulation, and laryngeal and neck muscles through singing exercises. The therapeutic effect of some patients can be improved through singing practice sessions. In conclusion, good communication between doctors and patients, tacit cooperation, positive mindset of patients, active participation and unremitting persistence are the cornerstones for us to have a healthy, bright and beautiful voice.