Why do some view Deaf as “subhuman”? They used their hands to communicate instead of their tongues. They can’t communicate with their children.

Abstract More than 30 years ago, Tom Humphries coined the term ”audism” to describe audiocentric (based on hearing and speaking) assumptions and attitudes of supre- macy.

Like other forms of oppression, audism prevents deaf and hard of hearing people from achieving their true potential. The consequences of audism include language deprivation, isolation, and widespread poverty, among others.

Common Deafness Genes Since the first nonsyndromic deafness gene was discovered in 1993, more than 100 loci for deafness genes have been mapped and more than 60 genes have been implicated in nonsyndromic HL (Hereditary Hearing Loss Homepage; http://webh01.ua.ac.be/hhh/).

Audism is as unacceptable as sexism, racism, ageism, and other forms of bigotry. Many Deaf Canadians experience prejudice and discrimination because of their differences from the non-Deaf majority.

Deafness: Partial or complete hearing loss. Levels of hearing impairment vary from a mild to a total loss of hearing. Elderly adults suffer most often from hearing loss.

Risk factors

1. Aging. Degeneration of inner ear structures occurs over time.
2. Loud noise. Exposure to loud sounds can damage the cells of your inner ear.
3. Heredity.
4. Occupational noises.
5. Recreational noises.
6. Some medications.
7. Some illnesses.

Not only chainsaws, loud concerts and fighter jets can cause hearing damage. There’s also a more ‘silent’ killer on the loose: wind. Yes, wind. You’ve probably never thought about it before, but wind can damage your hearing.

Earwax can create problems for our hearing when it starts to build up in our ears, a process known as impaction . The symptoms of impacted earwax are hearing loss, earache, sense of ear fullness, itchiness in the ear, dizziness, ringing in the ear and a cough. Ear wax build-up can lead to hearing loss.

Lifestyle and home remedies

1. Soften the wax. Use an eyedropper to apply a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil, glycerin or hydrogen peroxide in your ear canal.
2. Use warm water. After a day or two, when the wax is softened, use a rubber-bulb syringe to gently squirt warm water into your ear canal.
3. Dry your ear canal.

Use warm water. After a day or two, when the wax is softened, use a rubber-bulb syringe to gently squirt warm water into your ear canal. Tilt your head and pull your outer ear up and back to straighten your ear canal. When finished irrigating, tip your head to the side to let the water drain out.

At Boots Hearingcare, our practitioners use a gentle microsuction technique developed by ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENTs) to remove wax and debris. The procedure is quick, easy, and safe. Typically, both ears can be treated within 30 minutes.

Salt water can also be used as eardrops to soften and remove earwax. Let the salt water sit in the ear for three to five minutes before placing the ear facedown to let the saline solution drain. Clean the ear and any wax in the outer ear canal with a soft cloth.

Share on Pinterest Yawning may help to open up tubes in the ear and ease the symptoms of clogging. These techniques can passively help open the eustachian tubes that are in the ear and reduce feelings of fullness or clogging. Examples of passive techniques include: drinking water.

Because earwax is water soluble, warm water can soften it up. You can use warm water in the shower to do this. Tilt your head to one side and run some water in your ear canal, then tilt in the opposite direction so the water flows out.

That’s because your sinuses are connected to your Eustachian tube. When your sinuses are blocked, or irritated, your Eustachian tubes can become blocked as well. This is why sinus medication can help you clear your ears. Antihistamines (Chlophenarimine, Entex, ternafdine (Seldane) will help.

Yawning or swallowing can help to open your eustachian tubes and equalize pressure.

1. You may also consider using an over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant nasal spray.
2. Earwax can be removed by using solutions such as mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide to dissolve earwax that’s accumulated in the ear canal.

Ear-gate. This pressure point is located directly in front of where your earlobe begins. Acupressure on this point is used to relieve pressure that builds up around your jaw and in your ears. This could make it effective in treating tinnitus, ear infections, earache, tension headache, and migraine.