Cleaning the ears is often considered to be a sign of good personal cleanliness.

清理耳朵通常会被认为是良好个人卫生的一大标志。

But manually removing earwax could actually damage a person's hearing, according to new guidelines by experts in the US.

不过，根据美国专家们公布的最新指南，手动清理耳屎实际上会损害人的听力。

Researchers at the American Academy of Otolaryngology noted¹ in their updated guidelines that inserting foreign instruments into the ear canal, such as cotton buds, can cause a variety of hearing issues and actually increase cerumen production.

美国耳鼻喉科学院的研究人员们在他们更新的指南当中指出，往耳道里插入如棉花签这样的异质物，能够造成很多听觉问题，同时还会增加耳屎的产生。

In addition, manually cleaning the ears also increases the chances of piercing the eardrum, dislocating delicate bones and causing infection.

此外，手动清理耳朵还会增加耳膜穿透、细骨脱臼和感染的概率。

Dr Seth Schwartz, chair of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, said: "Patients often think that they are preventing earwax from building up by cleaning out their ears with cotton swabs, paper clips, or any number of things that people put in their ears.

美国耳鼻喉科学院的负责人赛斯·施瓦兹医生表示："病人们通常认为通过棉花签、回形针或是任何人们放入耳内的东西清理耳朵能够防止耳屎的堆积。"

"The problem is that this effort to eliminate earwax is only creating further issues. Anything that fits in the ear could cause serious harm to the ear drum and canal."

"问题是，这些减少耳屎的努力只会制造更多的麻烦。任何进入耳内的东西都会给耳膜和耳道造成严重的伤害。"

He also asserted that, contrary to popular belief, the ear is self-cleaning.

他还声称，与流行的观点背道而驰的是，耳朵可以实现自我清理。

"Many people believe that earwax is an indication of uncleanliness. This misinformation leads to unsafe ear health habits."

"很多人认为耳屎是不干净的象征。这一错误的信息导致了不安全的耳朵卫生习惯。"

He added earwax or cerumen was a normal substance the body produces to clean, protect and 'oil' ears.

他补充说道，耳屎是人体产生的一种正常物质，它能够清理、保护和"油润"耳朵。

It acts as a self-cleaning agent to keep ears healthy by trapping dirt, dust, and other small matter, keeping them from getting farther into the ear.

它发挥着自我清洗剂的作用，通过吸附污垢、灰尘和其它细小物质保持耳朵健康，从而防止它们进一步进入耳内。