Hearing Loss from Concerts? The Truth Revealed | Dr. Emily Taylor DSH #722

Summary

Digital Social Hour Podcast Summary

Title: Hearing Loss from Concerts? The Truth Revealed | Dr. Emily Taylor
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Dr. Emily Taylor, Audiologist
Release Date: September 16, 2024

In episode #722 of "Digital Social Hour," host Sean Kelly sits down with Dr. Emily Taylor, an experienced audiologist, to discuss ear health, the myths surrounding earwax removal, and the impact of loud concerts on hearing. The conversation is rich with professional insights, personal anecdotes, and practical advice for maintaining optimal ear health.

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1. Debunking Earwax Myths

Ear Candles Are Ineffective and Dangerous

Dr. Taylor opens the discussion by addressing the popular yet misleading practice of using ear candles for earwax removal.

• Explanation of Ear Candles:

  • [00:37] "The theory behind it is that, I mean, I guess it's like a holistic approach to ear cleaning. And you basically light this candle while one end is in your ear."

• Demonstration and Debunking:

  • Dr. Taylor brings an ear candle to the podcast to demonstrate its ineffectiveness.
  • [00:49] "It sounds really safe, right? Like big fire next to head. ... But no, it does not work. It is not safe, it is a waste of money and it's dangerous."
  • Upon lighting the candle, they reveal that it doesn’t remove earwax but rather leaves a mess inside, reinforcing the dangers of this method.
  • [09:35] "That's just part of the candle. Literally. It's done nothing. It's just dangerous."

2. Proper Earwax Management

Natural Self-Cleaning Mechanism

Dr. Taylor emphasizes that most people do not require professional earwax removal as ears have a natural self-cleaning process.

• Avoiding Unnecessary Interventions:

  • [02:29] "Most people will never need a professional ear cleaning in their whole life. ... The ear actually tries to self clean."

• Risks of Using Q-Tips:

  • Dr. Taylor warns against the common use of Q-tips, highlighting how they can push wax deeper.
  • [02:45] "When you see people using Q tips or buying these products online, like that is dangerous and actually causing more of a problem."

• Recommendation for Ear Cameras:

  • [02:29] "I highly recommend everybody own an ear camera at home... If I asked you, like, what's inside of your ears right now, would you be able to tell me?"

3. Impact of Earwax Buildup on Hearing

Temporary and Potential Permanent Hearing Loss

Excessive earwax can lead to significant hearing issues, some of which might become permanent.

• Effects on Hearing:

  • [02:45] "So when you have a bunch of earwax, does that affect your hearing abilities? It can totally affect your hearing abilities."

• Personal Anecdote:

  • Dr. Taylor shares a case of a musician who used earwax as hearing protection, inadvertently causing a full ear canal blockage.
  • [03:04] "I have a video of that. Yeah. How damaging are concerts on the ears?"

4. Hearing Loss from Loud Concerts

Dangerous Decibel Levels and Safe Exposure

The conversation shifts to the dangers of loud music, especially in concert settings.

• Decibel Awareness:

  • [03:32] "The average concert is well over 100 decibels, and you can only safely be in 100 decibels for, like, five to 10 minutes."

• Risk of Permanent Damage:

  • [03:58] "You can for sure [get permanent hearing loss]. Rings in the ears is a number one side effect as well."

5. Importance of Hearing Protection

Custom vs. Foam Plugs

Dr. Taylor advocates for the use of proper hearing protection at concerts to prevent hearing damage.

• Recommendations:

  • [04:04] "Wear hearing protection. I have, like, I'm obsessed with custom hearing protection."
  • [04:10] "If it's the right kind of plug... the music actually sounds better because it's bringing it a little softer and you're hearing everything properly."

• Suggested Brands:

  • [04:31] "Loop is a cool brand. Eargasm."

6. Personal Experience with Tinnitus

Living with Permanent Tinnitus

Dr. Taylor shares her personal battle with tinnitus, a common consequence of noise-induced hearing damage.

• Tinnitus and Its Effects:
  • [04:53] "That's the damage from the noise. You are hearing those hair cells in your inner ear screaming at you."
  • [05:09] "I have tinnitus 24/7 from noise exposure from high school."

7. Advances in Hearing Aids

Modern Features and Aesthetics

The discussion moves to the evolution of hearing aids and their increasing acceptance.

• Innovative Features:

  • [06:04] "Permanent hearing aids can be insanely amazing nowadays. They are Bluetooth. They are rechargeable."

• Overcoming Stigmas:

  • [06:23] "People assume that by wearing plugs in your ears, you’re going to miss the music. But ... custom plugs make it better."
  • [06:25] "You can't see them. ... Like, nobody's going to see these."

8. Live Demonstration of Ear Wax Removal

Showing the Ineffectiveness of Ear Candles

In a live segment, Dr. Taylor and Sean Kelly demonstrate the ineffectiveness of ear candles and proceed to clean Sean’s ears using professional tools.

• Ear Candle Demonstration:

  • [07:17] "We have debunked that here and I hope people just learn from that."

• Professional Ear Cleaning:

  • Using the Earigator, Dr. Taylor removes significant earwax from Sean, showcasing the effectiveness of proper ear cleaning.
  • [12:15] "Wow. I can hear so much better."

9. Audiological Testing and Procedures

Comprehensive Hearing Assessments

Dr. Taylor outlines the various tests conducted during a hearing assessment.

• Types of Tests:

  • [05:27] "We always start with looking in the ears... tympanometry... otoacoustic emission testing... speech testing in background noise."

• Detecting Underlying Issues:

  • [05:27] "I have a lot of patients come in with ADD... feeling like they have hearing loss which might be related to ADHD."

10. Starting and Managing an Audiology Practice

Challenges and Rewards

Dr. Taylor discusses her journey in establishing her own practice and managing patient relationships.

• Opening a Practice at a Young Age:

  • [19:08] "I opened my own practice right out of school at the age of 23."

• Handling Difficult Patients:

  • [19:12] "Everyone signs a waiver... we can ask them to leave the practice if they use inappropriate language."

11. Insurance and Accessibility

Navigating Healthcare Coverage

The conversation touches on the complexities of insurance coverage for audiological services.

• Coverage Details:

  • [20:12] "Insurance will cover an annual hearing test. ... They'll cover ear cleanings if it's with an ENT. Otherwise, it’s out of pocket."

• Cost of Services:

  • [20:38] "We charge $165 a cleaning session. People are super happy to pay it."

12. Leveraging Social Media for Ear Health Awareness

Building an Online Presence

Dr. Taylor highlights her active role on social media platforms to educate the public about ear health.

• Clean Ear Club Initiative:

  • [21:03] "I started something called the Clean Ear Club... with the irrigator."

• Engaging Content:

  • [13:54] "People tag me in gross videos. I get to do commentary on them."

13. Addressing Chiropractic Myths Related to Ear Health

Clarifying Misconceptions

Dr. Taylor expresses skepticism about chiropractic methods purported to aid ear health, emphasizing the lack of legitimacy.

• Chiropractic Claims:

  • [22:17] "I don't think it's legit... It looked painful."

• Potential Dangers:

  • [23:22] "Some of them are a little extreme. ... There have been paralysis cases."

14. Promoting Hearing Protection at Concerts

Advocating for Ear Safety

Concluding the episode, Dr. Taylor shares her proactive efforts to promote hearing protection among concert-goers.

• Awareness Campaign:

  • [24:03] "I really love when people our age are wearing hearing protection to concerts."

• Grassroots Initiatives:

  • [24:22] "I walked around [a festival] carrying a sign that said, show me your hearing protection and I'll pay you."

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Notable Quotes:

• "Knowledge is power in this case. So I think every home should have that ear camera."
  — Dr. Emily Taylor [02:29]

• "Most people will never need a professional ear cleaning in their whole life."
  — Dr. Emily Taylor [02:29]

• "It sounds really safe, right? Like big fire next to head... But no, it does not work. It is not safe, it is a waste of money and it's dangerous."
  — Dr. Emily Taylor [00:58]

• "Hearing aids are, like, hot right now."
  — Dr. Emily Taylor [06:08]

• "We have one shot at hearing, so we might as well protect it."
  — Dr. Emily Taylor [24:35]

---

Conclusion:

In this informative episode of "Digital Social Hour," Dr. Emily Taylor provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of ear health, debunking common myths, and highlighting the importance of protecting one's hearing, especially in environments with high noise levels like concerts. Her professional insights, combined with personal experiences, offer valuable guidance for maintaining long-term auditory health.

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For More Information:

• Clean Ear Club: thecleanearclub.com
• Follow Dr. Emily Taylor on Social Media: [Insert Social Media Handles]

Ensure your ears' health by following the expert advice shared by Dr. Emily Taylor on the latest episode of "Digital Social Hour."

Transcript

[A]

It depends on the earwax. I will tell you, most people will never need a professional ear cleaning in their whole life. We do not all make a lot of earwax. And if we leave it alone, like do nothing to our ears, the ear actually tries to self clean. When you see people using Q tips or buying these products online, like that is dangerous and actually causing more of a problem. So I think knowledge is power in this case. So I think every home should have that ear camera.

[B]

All right, guys, we got Emily Taylor here. Dr. Earwax. Hey, we're gonna talk earwax today, aren't we?

[A]

We're talking earwax. We're getting into it.

[B]

You brought a candle here?

[A]

I brought an ear candle because every day people are asking me about these ear candles and they do not work. So we are going to debunk this live.

[B]

So what's the theory behind this candle?

[A]

The theory behind it is that, I mean, I guess it's like a holistic approach to ear cleaning. And you basically light this candle while one end is in your ear.

[B]

What?

[A]

It sounds really safe, right? Like big fire next to head. And then the thought is that it gets hot enough that it actually will suction out wax. Some people believe it pulls out things beyond the eardrum, which doesn't even make sense medically. But no, it does not work. It is not safe, it is a waste of money and it's dangerous. So I thought we could light this guy on fire and then we'll come back to it in a few and we can actually like open it up and show you that. I'll show you what's inside.

[B]

Yeah, let's do it. Let's light them up.

[A]

Let's light a fire in the office.

[B]

Busting myths out here. So what would the proper way be to remove earwax then, if these don't work?

[A]

So the proper way to remove earwax. Look at that. That's beautiful. So it depends on the earwax. I will tell you, most people will never need a professional ear cleaning in their whole life. I, uh, we do not all make a lot of earwax. And if we leave it alone, like do nothing to our ears, the ear actually tries to self clean. So when you see people using Q tips or buying these products online, like that is dangerous and actually causing more of a problem. I can look in someone's ear and be like, you are Q tipping. You're shoving wax down in your ear and making it really hard for me to get out. So my first tip is do Nothing less is more. Um, I highly recommend everybody own an ear camera at home. I'm actually coming out with my own so that it's safe and effective. I just think people should know what's going on in there. Like, if I asked you, like, what's inside of your ears right now, would you be able to tell me?

[B]

I'd have no idea.

[A]

Right. It's like a dark cave on the side of your head. So I think knowledge is power in this case. So I think every home should have that ear camera. And then if there actually is an issue, I say see a professional, like an audiologist like myself or an ear, nose, and throat physician.

[B]

So when you have a bunch of earwax, does that affect your hearing abilities?

[A]

It can totally affect your hearing abilities. Luckily, it's just temporary, though, so once we get it out, it's like a huge, like, wow moment for the patient. But, yeah, temporary hearing loss. It can cause ringing in the ear, temporarily pain, of course. It's so sensitive near the eardrum. So, yeah.

[B]

Wow. What's the most earwax you've had to remove from someone?

[A]

Oh, I've had some good ones. Like this guy. I was shocked. He. He, like, warned me ahead of time, and I was like, there's no way. And we looked in. It had to have been five years worth of earwax. Totally. And he's in the music industry, so he was like, wow. I've been kind of using this as hearing protection all along because it was blocking out, like, 30 decibels of sound for him, but it was like a full ear canal. It was wild. I have a good video of that. Yeah.

[B]

How damaging are concerts on the ears?

[A]

So damaging. Like, average concert. I have a decibel meter on my phone because I'm like, a huge loser, but everybody should have one. It's so fun. But the average concert is well over 100 decibels, and you can only safely be in 100 decibels for, like, five to 10 minutes.

[B]

So.

[A]

So five to 10 minutes without causing some. Some potential hearing loss.

[B]

And those concerts last hours.

[A]

Hours.

[B]

So people are getting permanent hearing loss from going to one concert?

[A]

You can for sure. Yeah, definitely. Ringing in the ears is a number one side effect as well.

[B]

And I used to buy, like, front row at some of these.

[A]

So which is the way to do it? I mean, get close, but wear hearing protection. I have, like, I'm obsessed with custom hearing protection. I think people always assume that by wearing plugs in your ears, like, why would you wear plugs? You're going to miss the music. But if it's the right kind of plug, which means, like, look for one that says concert plug on it. The music actually sounds better because it's bringing it a little softer and you're hearing everything properly. Where those foam plugs, they're just blocking some stuff out. So, like, if the music doesn't sound good with those. So I highly recommend, like, going online, typing in concert plug, checking out reviews. Loop is a cool brand. Eargasm. And then you could see an audiologist for custom ones as well.

[B]

Eargasm. What a name.

[A]

I know, right?

[B]

I used to go to sporting events. My ears would be ringing afterwards. So that's. What. What does that mean when your ears are ringing like that?

[A]

That's the damage from the noise. You are hearing those hair cells in your inner ear screaming at you. And it can last hours, it can last days, or it could last forever. I feel so silly to be an audiologist who has tinnitus 247 from noise exposure from high school, you know, going high.

[B]

You have tinnitus?

[A]

I do.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

I know. And it's worse when you're tired and when you're stressed. And, like, that's life. So it can be pretty loud.

[B]

I'd be curious to test my hearing aids because I think it's terrible.

[A]

Your hearing's probably okay, but you can see, like, early signs of it when we do certain tests in the office.

[B]

Okay. What does a test look like?

[A]

So, I mean, we do a whole bunch, but we always start with looking in the ears. That's my favorite part. I mean, I'm very enthusiastic about the ear cleaning part, but we do tympanometry. We're checking how the eardrums moving. We do otoacoustic emission testing. It's measuring the hair cell activity in the inner ears. And then kind of that part that you just, like, recognize as, like, a quintessential hearing test. Like, raise your hand for the beeps. And then we do speech testing and background noise, which is really interesting. I have a lot of patients come in with add. I mean, they're not, like, telling me that, but they feel like they have hearing loss. And it's really, I think, an underlying, like, ADHD situation. Yeah, that's interesting. Yeah.

[B]

Is there a way to fix hearing loss?

[A]

Yeah, it depends on the type of hearing loss. Conductive or mixed hearing loss. There's sometimes surgery or medication for it where. If there is sensory, neural, which is permanent. Permanent hearing aids can be insanely amazing nowadays. They are Bluetooth. They Are rechargeable. They do so well in background noise. So, yeah, hearing aids are, like, hot right now.

[B]

I don't want to get them because it's a sign that you're old.

[A]

You can't see them. So it's so funny. Like, you absolutely cannot see anything in your ears. So people come in. They're like, I want to, like, look hot. I'm like, I love that you, like, want us to look hot at 70. I love that for you. But, like, nobody's going to see these. And you look older saying, ha. And what you know.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, you want to be, like, quick in your conversation. You don't want to be, like, laughing at the wrong things.

[B]

That's cool. They designed them to be sleek now because before you could see them and it was, you know, they were.

[A]

I mean, yeah, they were huge. They weren't that effective. And, like, think about glasses. Like, people used to get made fun of for glasses, and now, like, everybody wants glasses. So I. I see it moving that way with hearing aids.

[B]

Yeah. I remember getting my first pair. I was like, this is nerdy and stuff.

[A]

Oh, how old were you?

[B]

I was in high school, I believe.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But yeah, now they're definitely, like, a look.

[A]

It is. I mean, you accessorize with them.

[B]

Yeah, sure. Absolutely. So you brought a bunch of stuff here. Should we do the candle thing first or do this?

[A]

The candle's almost out. So look, that flame is getting closer and closer to the side of your head. God forbid. You've got a lot of hair like yours. It could light your head on fire. But once it reaches that silver part, then it should kind of put itself out, and then we can open it up. So we're getting close. Some other stuff I brought today. I have a video otoscope. So this is similar to the one that's going to be in my ear cleaning cleaning kit. So I want to show you the inside of your ears, if you're up for it. And then I brought the Earigator. It's my favorite ear cleaning machine. I love the name. It, like, literally is so comfortable. People used to get dizzy all the time from irrigation systems. This one keeps it nice and warm. Wow. It's my favorite tool in the office.

[B]

So the water's heating up right now.

[A]

The water's heating up. It's body temperature water so that it prevents dizziness. A lot of people get dizzy if it's too hot or too cold. So if you are trying to flush your ears out at home, you want to make sure it's like lukewarm water.

[B]

I also looked up you're not supposed to use tap water when you're flushing your ears. Is that true?

[A]

I mean, probably. Okay, I'm not gonna.

[B]

Someone got an ear infection. It went viral.

[A]

I would say you can use distilled, but yeah, if you're being super safe. I don't. I don't think.

[B]

It's not a big deal.

[A]

It's not a big deal. Yeah. All right, so that's almost out if you want me to open it up.

[B]

Yeah, let's see what's in that guy.

[A]

I guess we should let it totally go out so we don't burn ourselves. Hope you're not sponsored by this.

[B]

No. Dang. Doesn't like.

[A]

Well, this is like by your head.

[B]

Holy crap.

[A]

All right, we're saging for real. Okay. Sorry.

[B]

Not again.

[A]

I don't want to touch it yet. I guess we could douse it with water.

[B]

Draw some ear. Can you, honey?

[A]

Maybe you want some? I don't know. That sounds messy. All right, well, we're opening it. This is the close up shot we need. You ready?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So look inside. Doesn't that look. I mean, I don't know if you know what earwax looks like, but that's what people are like. Look what came out of my ear. That huge chicken chunk of ear wax.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's just part of the candle. Literally. It's done nothing.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

It's just dangerous.

[B]

That's crazy.

[A]

We have debunk that here and I hope people just learn from that.

[B]

But you know, you just put them out of business. Well done.

[A]

Ah, you would think. But you've. You've met people.

[B]

Well, people are about this holistic lifestyle.

[A]

So they are.

[B]

They're gonna look for stuff like that.

[A]

I love it. But don't light a. A fire by your head. All right, I'm going to come over and look in your ears. Is that cool?

[B]

Do it.

[A]

I love it.

[B]

See what's in there.

[A]

Let's get excited.

[B]

It's been years since I've had them cleaned.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Probably two years.

[A]

So you have had them clean before?

[B]

I had to.

[A]

Okay. It was bad. I'm walking over to you.

[B]

Yeah. The guy was. I don't know if it was a doctor or nurse, but they were very shocked.

[A]

Okay, you ready for this?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So this is my 11 year camera. Let's like look into this cape on the side of your head so you'll see just a little bit of wax right there.

[B]

Dang, that's gross.

[A]

But you can see Your eardrum back there. But look, all that right there.

[B]

Holy crap.

[A]

But wait, let's see what the other side brings. And I always find, for the most part. Oh, will you turn that that way?

[B]

This way?

[A]

Let me put it this way. There we go. All right, let's see what we got over here. And if you have a lot of wax, I think I gotta get it out for you today. If you're cool with that.

[B]

Definitely want it up. Oh, God, that's disgusting.

[A]

Look at that. Which, like, Jeez, don't be upset about wax. We produce it on purpose. But if you couldn't see past it right now, that would mean that it's probably causing a bit of hearing loss because we need air to get back there.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

All right. Should we do it?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right. All right. So I always like to put a cape on. I brought this one all the way from Baltimore, Maryland.

[B]

Wow. I'm honored.

[A]

Yeah. So I have my own practice in Baltimore. Here we go. Do you need a haircut as well?

[B]

I probably do.

[A]

All right, so I want to do the other side.

[B]

Cool.

[A]

And this machine, like, literally, people come to my office super traumatized from past ear cleaning, and we do this and they, like, people have cried happy tears. I'm not expecting tears from you. We'll see. All right, so you're going to hold this bucket under your ear. You good?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay, so I'm going to use this. It's got a little nozzle on the end. All right, so let's get set up here. So we're going to hold it like that. And then I always say keeping you comfortable is the. The biggest priority. So just let me know how you're doing and you'll feel just a little warm water coming in your ear. This is a good close up shot. This is what we do on Instagram. So here comes the water. How are you doing with it?

[B]

Wow. Yeah, I feel it for sure.

[A]

Are you doing okay with it?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then we ramp up the speed. I think it's like asmr, too. Listen to that sound. Have you done something like this on your podcast before? I'm digging it. All right. Oh, my God. Wow. I just shot the side of your head, but wow. I hope there's a close up of what just came out. That was insane. You want to see what's in there?

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Do you see that down there?

[B]

Yeah. That's crazy.

[A]

A little mess. I'm sorry.

[B]

Wow. I can hear so much better.

[A]

Doesn't that feel strange? You don't even know what the issue was.

[B]

Yeah. Thank you.

[A]

Thank you for going through that. And then if you want to pass me that back, I'll take a look back in, so.

[B]

That's nice. Look, all gone.

[A]

It's all gone. That's your eardrum back there.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

That's what we're looking for.

[B]

Let's go.

[A]

We couldn't see that before. I love it.

[B]

Good as new.

[A]

All right, let's bring this guy back.

[B]

Thank you so much for that.

[A]

Of course. Thanks for sitting through that, Lily.

[B]

I'm real hearing right now, isn't it? That's crazy. Yeah. I got so used to it, not being able to hear, I guess.

[A]

Yeah. And every day online, people are asking, like, do you know someone where I can go get my ears clean like you? Because that's what I post videos of me cleaning earwax.

[B]

So, yeah.

[A]

Actually started something called the Clean Ear Club, where I'm getting other audiologists signed up so that specifically with the irrigator. Because I do think it's important to have so other people can find earwax enthusiasts like me to go get their ears cleaned out.

[B]

I love it. You get so many views on TikTok, right?

[A]

People. People like earwax. It's like pimple popping, which I find very disgusting. I'm not a fan of pimple popping. I can't even watch it. But, yeah, people tag me in gross videos. I get to do commentary on them. And then, yeah, shooting wax out of people's ears for fun.

[B]

Someone also asked you if they could eat their earwax after you took it out.

[A]

Oh, my God. Yes. It was wild. It was a really cool case. It was a lot of wax. Afterwards, he asked if he could eat it, and I was like, well, like, as a medical professional, I can't tell you to do that, but if you do it, I have to film it. And then we kind of talked him out of doing it because I was, like, gagging. I think Instagram would not be cool at that.

[B]

Yeah, that's extreme. Some people eat their boogers, though, so maybe it's similar.

[A]

I don't know. I never went through that phase.

[B]

You never went through that in middle school? People thought it was cool.

[A]

Middle school?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Maybe too old for that.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. Maybe younger.

[A]

I think that's like, elementary.

[B]

Yeah, My memory's probably off there. But no, I remember kids eating it. Yeah. I never got on that wave, too.

[A]

People will play with it afterwards, which also is really gross.

[B]

Play with it?

[A]

Like they, like, smush it between their fingers and, like, I know it's part of them. Like, I wouldn't do it, but, like, yeah, watching them play with it. The guy the other day, his fiance set up his appointment, so he asked to take the wax home to show her. So.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

We package it up. People have asked if they can buy the earwax too. What I know is there, like, an only bands for that?

[B]

There might be people buy bath water.

[A]

So ew. Maybe I don't think I can sell bodily excretions from people.

[B]

Yeah, if you have, like, celebrity client, maybe. Oh, probably charge like a thousand bucks.

[A]

All right, let's go.

[B]

Yeah, that changes things.

[A]

Let's go. No, that's gross.

[B]

How often do you have to clean?

[A]

Like, like, how often am I doing that? A day or something on yourself or, like, never.

[B]

Oh, so you don't have to do that to yourself?

[A]

No, I mean, it feels good. So, like, yes, you could have one of those and enjoy it. But like I said, like, the ear self cleans, so the skin in the ear canal migrates outwards and. Yeah. So if you let it do its thing, it'll just push the wax out. People are obsessed with using cotton swabs. I have seen so many injuries from them. Someone actually had permanent hearing loss from using one. So, like, every time you go to pick up that Q tip, like, think about that and scare yourself out of using it.

[B]

That's why they were invented, though, right? To clean ears?

[A]

No. And if you look at the box, it specifically says not for the ear.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

I know. Nobody reads the fine print, though.

[B]

I wonder how that trend started then.

[A]

I mean, it is the perfect shape. People. People say it feels good. It hits a certain spot.

[B]

Yeah. What other ear stories you got? Any infections you've seen?

[A]

We've definitely seen infections we refer out for that sort of thing. I am waiting for a bug, though. Like, I'm like, I want to know how I would react, you know, because I got to keep my cool. I got to stay professional. And, like, they better let me film that. And I just want to make sure, like, I'm cool to do it and can, like, pull a cockroach out. Like, people are pulling stuff out of their ears like that.

[B]

What?

[A]

I know.

[B]

Cockroach.

[A]

Like, there was a video that was like, you'll never sleep with your ears open again because, like, a bug went into someone's ear.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

It's like new fear unlocked. Like a spider.

[B]

That's scary.

[A]

I.

[B]

Well, they say you eat.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Spiders, right?

[A]

Let's not talk about it.

[B]

You don't like spiders.

[A]

I was going to assume that's not a thing. You know what? Now that I've got almost nine year old twins, you have to put on a brave face. Like I'm the one that has to like deal with the bugs. So like, no, I. I don't act scared anymore. So I can handle a spider.

[B]

Do you kill them or let them go outside?

[A]

Let them go outside. Oh, I know I'm the one that like gets sad if I drive by like a dead deer on the side of the road.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't know if you have that on out in Vegas, but Baltimore deer.

[B]

But we have like, what do we have? Coyotes, but they're not really dead on the street. Yeah, I grew up in Jersey though, so I used to see a lot.

[A]

Of dead deer out there.

[B]

They're everywhere.

[A]

Everywhere. I love them. Some people hate them though. But like one time I saw one online, it was a dead deer on the side of the road and someone had put a get well soon balloon on.

[B]

Oh my God, that's ruthless.

[A]

It kind of made me laugh a little, but otherwise, yeah, no, I'm sad. I. I let the bugs outside.

[B]

So you've never ate venison?

[A]

I do not know any meat.

[B]

Are you vegetarian?

[A]

I was for a while, but no. If you're in Baltimore, you have to eat crabs.

[B]

Crabs I love.

[A]

Have you like the real like the steamed crab?

[B]

Yeah, the Cajun style.

[A]

What does that mean?

[B]

Cajun crab.

[A]

I mean we put obey on them and then you like pick them limb by limb. It's like pretty vulgar.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

But delicious.

[B]

Yeah, I love crab. I've never been to Baltimore.

[A]

It's your next stop.

[B]

What am I missing out there?

[A]

You're missing those crabs.

[B]

That's it.

[A]

Boating. We've got good boating out there. I mean, we get a bad rep, but like the Orioles are so hot right now, so. Yeah, you come to a baseball game, you know, enjoy your day on the water.

[B]

Okay. I. I'll check it out eventually. I wouldn't say it's like on my radar, but that's fair. I do want to travel to every major city.

[A]

Okay. We'll get you one day.

[B]

Yeah. Were you born and raised there?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay. And you always wanted to do this?

[A]

Always wanted to be an audiologist? I was pre farm. I knew I wanted the medical field. I knew I wanted to be in like a helping position. So pre farm was boring. And I'm so glad I dodged that because like you stand behind a counter and like, you don't even talk to people. So audiology. A friend's mom actually knew an audiologist. He let me come shadow him for a while. And, yeah, the. The passion was born. I love it.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I know a few pharmacists and they've left the space.

[A]

Yeah, they. I mean, they're getting bombarded with all this extra stuff. I mean, now they're trying to sell hearing aids in a pharmacy. Like a thousand dollar hearing aids in a pharmacy. And like, the pharmacists, they don't have time to, like, answer the questions. It's a lot of work.

[B]

Yeah. So they never seem happy when you're picking up your prescription.

[A]

Never happy. I mean, I've been a upset person on the other side of the wall, you know?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But yeah, patience is key in life.

[B]

Yeah. I'm sure you deal with some. Some interesting patients.

[A]

I love it. Like, the more challenging, the better. And I'm at a lucky spot. I opened my own practice right out of school, so I was like a young stupid age of 23, and I'm like, let's open a practice. And we're at the point now where, like, if someone is treating us poorly, we can ask them to leave the practice. Oh, yeah, that feels good. Everyone signs a waiver when they come into the practice. Just saying, like, if you use sexual language, like, people say some pretty amazing things. So, yeah, they sign a thing saying, we can kick them out if they do that.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Feels good.

[B]

That does feel good. I bet. Does insurance cover this type of stuff?

[A]

So, yes, insurance will cover an annual hearing test. Obviously, deductible applies. Health insurance. I hate it in this country. It's just a business. I hate that they have, like, a say in our healthcare. Um, they'll cover a hearing test. They'll cover ear cleanings if it's with an ent. It's a surgical code that most audiologists can't use. So we charge out of pocket for that and people are super happy to pay it.

[B]

I love that.

[A]

I know. $165 a cleaning sesh.

[B]

I mean, it's probably worth it. I feel amazing right now for 165.

[A]

I'm glad you sat through that and enjoyed it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Brings me such happiness.

[B]

I'll do it every few years if I can hear better.

[A]

You'll come out to Baltimore, we'll have crabs in your clinic.

[B]

We'll hit up some crabs, hit up some ear cleaning.

[A]

That's an odd visit.

[B]

Yeah. Sounds like an interesting day. Sure. What's next for you? Do you want to scale the TikTok even more.

[A]

Yeah. So I love the social media aspect. That's really, like, my outlet artistically. So I love that. Like I said, I'm working on my own ear cleaning kit. I've started a wait list for that attheclean airclub.com that's, I think, what I'm really excited about next because people every day asking, how can I safely clean at home? So I'm giving them the solution to that.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So what will be in that kit?

[A]

Yeah, so in the kit is going to be a camera. All those cameras you see online right now have, like, these pointy tools with them, and I do not think that is appropriate to have in a box. You can hurt yourself with it. So it'll just have a speculum, like the tip on the one that you had. So it'll have a camera, it'll have drops. So if you do have wax, it will soften the wax. And then it'll have an irrigation system of some sort. So either like a syringe or one of those machines you see that puts the water in there.

[B]

I love that.

[A]

Yeah. And then with the camera, you can look beforehand to know if you need to do it and then after if it actually worked.

[B]

That makes sense.

[A]

Yeah. You got any competition, like, in the earwax space? Yeah, I actually. I love, like, I don't want to say I love. I mean, I do. I like competition. I don't look at it like that. Like, I think there's a lot of space for everyone out there. So I do mentor other audiologists online and try to help them, like, grow their pages. So I don't. I don't really look at it like that.

[B]

I feel that I get a lot of those chiropractor videos.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Do you get those?

[A]

There was a chiropractor one that someone sent me that was supposed to help with tinnitus and.

[B]

Oh, really? Cracking your ears?

[A]

It. Yeah, it was. I don't even want to talk about it. I don't. I don't promote it. I don't think it's legit. Yeah, but that they, like.

[B]

Oh, my. That sounds painful.

[A]

It looked painful. Yeah.

[B]

I like back and neck, but. And maybe hand.

[A]

I can't listen to that cracking sound.

[B]

What, you don't crack your own knuckles?

[A]

No. Like, if I'm getting my nails done and they try to crack them, I'm, like, resisting.

[B]

Dude. It feels amazing.

[A]

Oh, and when people, like, make the sound or, like, do the neck. Yeah, dead.

[B]

The neck thing is great.

[A]

I'm dead. I Can't hear it.

[B]

So you have a fear of cracked bones?

[A]

I guess so. Don't do it. Resist.

[B]

You. Have you ever cracked yourself?

[A]

I've been to a chiropractor, and I couldn't do it. I couldn't, like, sit.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

You have to, like, sit. So, like, relaxed.

[B]

You got too tense.

[A]

Dislocate your head from yourself now. I think I'm going to die if I get it done.

[B]

Some of them are a little extreme.

[A]

A little extreme.

[B]

One guy cracked my neck, and he looked a little worried. I was like, yeah, I'm not coming back here.

[A]

Were you worried?

[B]

A little bit. When I saw his face, I was like, what the fuck? Like, he went pretty far, you know?

[A]

Did it hurt or it felt so good?

[B]

Both. You know, I mean, my head was, like, 90 degrees. Yeah.

[A]

So, no, I don't like it. There's too much, like, important stuff happening.

[B]

Yeah. I feel like the risk to reward with certain chiropractor things isn't there.

[A]

It's not there.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

No.

[B]

There's been some paralysis cases.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Yeah. My friend works in the er. He said he would see one a week in Vegas.

[A]

Are you serious? From a chiropractor?

[B]

Yeah. It's pretty common. Because if you cheap out on those, I mean, it's like cheaping out on Lasek. It's kind of risky.

[A]

That's so scary. Yeah. God, I would do a whole podcast on that.

[B]

I know, right? I'm gonna have to get him on. But, Emily, it's been fun. Anything else you want to promote here?

[A]

I just really love when people our age are wearing hearing protection to concerts. I'm a huge EDM fan and nobody's edc. I know. I saw Marshmallow yesterday. Get it the day before. So I love the scene, but nobody's wearing hearing protection, so I actually went around a festival carrying a sign that said, show me your hearing protection and I'll pay you.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Yeah. I walked around. It was just a dollar, but people were really excited, so. Yeah, But I'd say, like, 1/10 of people maybe were wearing hearing protection. So it's like, let's do a small thing and just protect our hearing.

[B]

Yeah, you got to penetrate that market. Start bringing, like, 200 of your hearing aids there.

[A]

Oh, God, I would love that. Like, let's be smart. Nobody's talking about it in, like, in health. Like, health class. How. How we can only. We only have one shot at hearing, so we might as well protect it.

[B]

Absolutely. Emily, it's been fun. Thanks for coming. On.

[A]

Thank you for having me. Thanks for being brave.

[B]

Absolutely. Thanks for watching, guys. As always, if you need your ears cleaned and you're in Baltimore area, hit up. Emily, thanks for coming on. Thanks for watching, guys. See you tomorrow.