Healthy Ears
Information about ear anatomy, protection and maintaining good ear health. Articles cover everyday ear care, workplace safety, cultural perspectives and emerging medical technologies.
Can Earphones Damage Your Hearing?
Regular earphone use at high volume can permanently damage your hearing in just a few years.
Dangers of Workplace Noise
Loud workplace noise damages hearing permanently when exposure exceeds 85 decibels, with stricter regulations now protecting workers in developed countries.
Ear Piercing and Health
Ear piercings vary in pain level and aftercare needs depending on where you pierce, from simple lobes to complex cartilage areas.
Ear Trauma: Causes and Effects
Ear trauma can damage any part of your ear and range from visible injuries to hidden damage affecting your hearing.
How the Ear Works
Your ear has three parts working together to help you hear sounds and stay balanced through a complex system of structures.
How the Inner Ear Helps You Walk Straight
Your inner ear contains fluid-filled canals that tell your brain which way is up, helping you stay balanced as you walk.
How to Protect Your Ears
Simple ways to protect your hearing: manage water exposure, handle pressure changes when flying, and let your ears clean themselves naturally.
How Well Do You Know Your Ears?
Test your knowledge of how ears work, from the visible outer part to the tiny bones deep inside that help you hear and stay balanced.
How Your Genes Shape Your Ear Lobes
Your earlobe shape is determined by a single gene, and you'll have one of just two types inherited from your parents.
Living with a Cochlear Implant
How a severe case of mumps left Ellie profoundly deaf and led her to explore life with a cochlear implant.
Looking After Your Ears
Keep your ears healthy with basic hygiene, proper water care, and safe piercing practices that prevent infection and damage.
The Ears and Culture
How ear piercings and jewelry reflect cultural identity and personal expression across different societies.
The Impact of Flight on the Ears
Flying causes ear pain because of pressure changes in the cabin that your Eustachian tube can't always equalise quickly.
What Has Sea Sickness Got to Do with the Ear?
Motion sickness isn't a stomach problem, it's your inner ear sensors clashing with what your eyes are telling your brain.
What's the Point of Earwax?
Earwax might seem like a nuisance, but it's actually a complex substance that protects your ears and serves important functions.
Will Gene Therapy Reverse Deafness?
Gene therapy shows promise in reversing deafness by regenerating damaged inner ear cells, though human trials are still years away.