Earwax Removal
Symptoms of Earwax Blockage
Symptoms of earwax blockage include
- Earache
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Feeling of ear fullness
- Decreased hearing
- Dizziness
If a blockage occurs, it may need to be removed. This can be done at home or at your hearing care professional’s office, depending on the size and severity of the blockage.
Proper Way to Clean Your Ears
Earwax typically clears itself from the ears. Lower jaw movements, such as speaking or chewing, move earwax towards the outer ear canal. This continuous motion helps to cleanse the ear and push out excess earwax.
If, however, you have issues with earwax build-up or blockage, earwax removal may be necessary.
Earwax Removal
There are several things you can do at home to remove earwax from your ears, including
- Use a warm, soft cloth to remove earwax at the outer ear.
- Use drops of warmed olive oil, almond oil, water, or a commercial solution to remove larger amounts of earwax.
- Try irrigating the ear and gently rinsing it out with water.
There are also some at-home earwax removal kits that can be purchased over-the-counter in most drug stores. These kits are not for everyone, especially those who have ear conditions. It is, therefore, best to check with your doctor first before attempting to use these kits to make sure it is safe for you.
Generally, these kits consist of a liquid that softens earwax and a small rubber bulb syringe. You will be given directions on how much and how often to apply the liquid to your ear canals, allowing it to sit for a while in your ears to soften up the earwax. Bubbling and fizzing sensations in your ears are normal with use. You will then use the bulb syringe to flush your ears with warm water gently to remove the earwax. It may take several days to clear the blockage completely from your ear.
Earwax Removal at Coates Hearing Clinic
If your earwax blockage is more significant where the earwax builds up in your ears and becomes too hard to wash away naturally, contact Coates Hearing Clinic at (984) 205-6863 to schedule an appointment. Our audiologists are able to look inside your ears and remove most of the wax that they are able to see.
At-home earwax removal kits do not allow you to look into your ear canal. Our audiologists can! They use specialized tools, along with an otoscope, to remove the wax that they see in the ear canal. On rare occasions where the earwax has become impacted or is dangerous to remove, our audiologists will provide you with other options.
How Not To Remove Earwax Build-Up
Audiologists agree that cotton swabs are a bad idea for removing earwax and should only be used on the outer portion of your ear. You should never insert cotton swabs or any small object into your ear canal.
Audiologists also DO NOT recommend that you use ear candles to remove ear wax, as these have not been proven effective and could potentially cause serious injury.
Causes of Earwax Buildup and Blockage
Some people just produce a lot of earwax, and over time they have a buildup that needs to be removed before the earwax becomes impacted. For others, the use of hearing aids, wearing earplugs, and using cotton swabs may impact earwax. Whatever the cause, you should seek treatment from an audiologist.
Contact Us
If you suspect you may have issues with earwax buildup, contact Coates Hearing Clinic at (984) 205-6863 for evaluation and treatment. You may also request an appointment online.
