Protect your ears this Diwali: Busting myths about ENT health

With Diwali evoking the spirit of festive fervour, it also raises a lot of health concerns arising from pollution reaching its peak during the period. Where people invariably focus on respiratory issues and allergies, they tend to pay little attention to ENT problems during the festival. Therefore, to establish the importance of ENT health throughout the celebration, the article bust some common myths about ENT during Diwali.

Myth - Wearing earplugs during Diwali can prevent ENT issues
Fact - Wearing earplugs can reduce the exposure to loud sound to some extent but cannot block the noise completely. Even after wearing the earplugs, the loud noise can still have a damaging effect on the ear, where in extreme cases, it could lead to permanent hearing loss in a person.

Myth – Firecrackers can cause temporary hearing loss with no serious repercussion
Fact – Contrary to the normal belief that noise from firecrackers has a short-lived impact on the ear that eventually subsides with time, it comes with the potential to permanently damage the hearing of a person. Seeking immediate medical help from an ENT specialist is recommended, as certain damages are irreversible if not treated in time.

Myth – ENT issues during Diwali are a matter of concern only for the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions
Fact – Though the elderly and those already suffering from pre-existing ENT conditions are at higher risk of ear damage or hearing issues, the noise can impact others as well. Sudden loud sound exposure can cause discomfort and tinnitus (a ringing sensation in the ear.) Additionally, ear infection occurring due to pollution also remains a common problem during Diwali.
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Myth – Not experiencing pain or discomfort in the ear after exposure to loud noise is indicative of fine hearing
Fact – It is not necessary that a loud sound will show immediate effect; it can sometimes take days to show the symptoms. Moreover, ear damage due to loud sounds is not always accompanied by pain, but continuous exposure to sound beyond 85 db can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Damaging the structure of the inner ear, it can lead to muffled hearing, difficulty hearing high-pitched sound, or a constant feeling of pressure in the ear and at times permanent hearing loss.

Author: Dr Sanjay Sachdeva senior ENT consultant at HearClear India