Hearing is arguably the most overlooked and underappreciated way we take in the world—but it shouldn’t be.

This sense enhances our lives by allowing us to take in information, communicate with others, enjoy music, recognize our loved ones’ voices, and much more. Learn more about the fascinating, intricate auditory system along with ways to help keep yours healthy so you can maximize every day.

How hearing works

When you really think about it, the way we hear is amazing. Sound waves enter the outer ear and travel through the ear canal before encountering three basic structures: the eardrum and ear bones (the malleus/hammer, incus/anvil, and stapes/ stirrup) of the middle ear and the snail-shaped cochlea of the inner ear. These systems work in harmony to vibrate the sound waves, translate them into electrical signals, and disseminate them to your brain via the auditory nerve.

Ear condition causes and effects

This harmony can be impacted by many factors, including illness, infection, injury, and medicine, all of which can cause damage even temporarily. You can also be genetically predisposed to hearing issues. That said, a distressing number of such cases are the result of loud noises. (More on that later.)

Hearing complications range from minor annoyances such as earaches to severe problems such as deafness, and they can impact one’s life in a myriad of ways. For example, it can be socially isolating when conversations are hard to engage in and feel burdensome having to constantly ask others to repeat themselves. In addition, poor hearing is linked to learning and development issues for kids and employment opportunities for adults, while tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can severely hinder one’s quality of life, including the ability to sleep.

While many measures are being taken to help support individuals with hearing struggles and mitigate their challenges, the best solutions are preventative. Around fortyeight million Americans suffer from some level of hearing loss, meaning it’s likely that you may develop auditory problems in your lifetime. This gives you all the more reason to begin looking after your hearing today.

Dos and don’ts

As with any other aspect of your health, caring for your auditory system requires adopting optimal habits, performing routine maintenance correctly, and avoiding potentially damaging behaviors.

See a physician
By the time you begin experiencing hearing problems, the damage may already be done. So, in addition to getting your ears checked at your annual physical exam, experts suggest having your hearing tested every few years. And if you’re older, the World Health Organization recommends screenings once every five years between the ages of fifty and sixty-four and every one to three years thereafter. Specialists such as otolaryngologists (aka ENTs) and audiologists can help with ear-related conditions and hearing loss, respectively.

Protect your ears from loudness
Hearing loss is the third-most common physical condition in America, and the older you get, the more likely you’ll experience it. But the impact on younger generations, who wear earbuds constantly, is a big concern—the World Health Organization estimates that over a billion young adults are at risk for hearing loss because of their audio entertainment habits. To help minimize damage, the CDC recommends that adults keep the volume limit below 60 percent/80 dB on personal audio devices. In addition, if your job requires you to be near blaring sounds for long periods, be sure to take steps to muffle them; noise-canceling headphones are particularly effective.

Don’t jam things into your ears
Many of us are used to excavating our ears with cotton swabs, but virtually every expert advises against using them to clean your ear canal. Earwax exists for a reason, after all: it prevents both impurities from entering your ear and dryness from occurring. A swab is likely to just push the wax farther down the canal, potentially causing a blockage (which can lead to other issues), and it can even damage your eardrum.

Don’t ignore symptoms
It’s estimated that people wait anywhere from seven to ten years to do anything about their hearing issues. Simply put, the sooner you act, the better your chances of salvaging your hearing—and quality of life.

Our ears are often relegated to supplemental organs, merely cartilage to hold our glasses or adorn with eye-catching piercings. But hearing is as vital as our other senses. Be diligent about your ear health, and you can enjoy the rich symphony of sounds life has to offer for years to come.

Be sure to talk to your physician about any ear-related issues you experience.