Editorial Standards
The rules we follow so EARS stays useful, evidence-based, and safety-first—even as the site grows and adds new tools, guides… and more.
Our core commitment
EARS is educational. We work to make content accurate, clear, and safety-first. When something is uncertain, we say so. When something is urgent, we route you to care.
Quick takeaways
- Evidence matters: we anchor claims to reputable medical sources.
- Safety comes first: we include “when to get checked” guidance, especially for red flags.
- Transparency is required: we label content status so you know what’s been reviewed.
- We update: content is maintained over time, and errors are corrected.
Content labels (canonical)
We use the same five labels across EARS. These labels are about review status—not about your diagnosis.
The five labels
- AI Draft = AI-assisted draft that has not yet had clinician editing. Useful for orientation, but not a substitute for clinical advice. More about AI Draft.
- Clinician-edited = first pass by one clinician. Edited for clarity, safety framing (“when to get checked”), and consistent routing across EARS.
- Clinically reviewed = second pass by review team. Reviewed for medical accuracy and safety framing. This is the “English/source finalized” state, but pages can still be updated as science evolves.
- Translation available = a non-English version exists but has not yet been verified by a professional translator/medical interpreter. It may be AI-assisted and should be treated as a helpful draft until verified.
- Translation verified = this language version has been reviewed by a professional translator/medical interpreter for meaning, tone, and medical terms.
Translation labels appear on non-English pages only.
Our standards
These principles apply to every EARS page—tools, guides, and “about” pages.
Claims are supported by reputable medical sources, not hype or anecdotes.
We include red flags and “when to get checked” guidance. We do not encourage delaying urgent care.
We write for understanding. We define terms and use practical examples.
We describe tradeoffs honestly, including limitations and alternatives.
We separate education from personal medical advice. Uncertainty is stated clearly.
We update content as guidelines, evidence, and policies change.
What counts as a reliable source
Not all health information is built the same. We prioritize sources that are accountable, evidence-based, and regularly updated.
How we choose sources
We use a tiered approach. When a high-quality guideline exists, we treat it as a “north star” because it summarizes evidence and reflects real-world clinical decisions.
Tier 1: Primary medical sources
- Professional organizations (guidelines, consensus statements)
- Government health agencies (public health, safety guidance)
- Peer-reviewed research (especially systematic reviews and strong bodies of evidence)
- Academic medical centers (evidence-aligned patient education)
These sources are typically accountable (clear authorship/oversight), evidence-based, and updated over time.
Tier 2: Secondary sources (used carefully)
- High-quality patient education that clearly cites its evidence
- Government databases for specific factual items (coverage rules, trial status)
- References that are widely used and regularly updated
These are often helpful for definitions, care pathways, and practical navigation—but they still need cross-checking.
What we don’t use as evidence
- Marketing claims, advertorials, affiliate reviews
- Anecdotes presented as proof (forums/testimonials can be useful for empathy, not truth-testing)
- Single studies treated as settled science when the broader evidence is mixed
- Low-quality or non-credible journals
How review works
Review happens in layers. The exact sequence depends on the page type (tool vs guide), but the standards stay the same.
Editorial review (required)
- Plain-language clarity and structure
- Source checks and consistency with the rest of EARS
- Safety framing (especially “when to get checked”)
- Removing misleading or overconfident wording
Clinician review (Clinician-edited / Clinically reviewed)
Clinically reviewed content is reviewed by a second clinician/review team for medical accuracy, clinical appropriateness, and patient-safety framing.
- Alignment with current standard-of-care and guidelines when available
- Clear risk language (red flags, contraindications, uncertainty)
- Education stays separate from personal medical advice
Consistency + safety QA (for Clinically reviewed)
- Final clarity edits (especially for translation readiness)
- Link checks and routing checks
- Consistency checks (terminology, labels, and safety language)
Corrections policy
We plan for reality. When something is wrong or unclear, we fix it.
Minor fixes
- Typos, formatting, broken links, small clarity improvements
- Updated quickly; “last updated” may change when meaningful
Significant corrections
- Factual errors or phrasing that could mislead decisions
- We strengthen sourcing and add clarifying context
- When appropriate, we add a visible correction note
Major safety concerns
- We remove or revise content quickly if it could increase risk
- We escalate to clinical review as needed
- We improve the process to prevent repeats
Report an issue
If something seems wrong or unclear, email [email protected]. Include the page URL and the exact line or claim you’re concerned about.
What we don’t do
- We don’t diagnose you or tell you what you personally should do.
- We don’t present marketing as medical evidence.
- We don’t pretend uncertainty doesn’t exist.
- We don’t replace urgent care guidance—if something seems urgent, we route you to care.
Emergency disclaimer
EARS is educational. If you think you may be having an emergency, call 911 or seek emergency care. For hearing/tinnitus/balance red flags, see /en/emergency.
Accessibility and translation
We design content to be readable on mobile, friendly for translation, and easier to navigate with assistive technology. That includes clear headings, consistent labels, and plain-language structure.
Privacy
EARS does not ask you to enter private medical details into these pages. If you contact us by email, do not include sensitive personal health information you wouldn’t want in email.
Want the step-by-step workflow?
See Editorial Process for how pages move from idea → AI Draft → Clinician-edited → Clinically reviewed.