Ear Wax

Hearing Healthcare  the way you "Prefer" it to be!

Clearing the Way. . .So many questions about earwax! Earwax occurs naturally in healthy ears and can be quite useful to trap debris, repel water, enhance resistance to infection, act as a moisturizer, deter itchiness and prevent insects/foreign objects from entering the ear canal. By design, ears are self-cleaning: old wax slowly migrates toward the ear canal opening where it dries, flakes and falls out of the ear. So why do people suffer from wax build-up?
For some of us, it is too much of a good thing! Too much earwax can block the ear canal and decrease hearing. Newer earwax is usually softer and more flexible. As earwax sits in the ear canal, it hardens and becomes more difficult to remove.
If you have small, curvy or hairy ear canals, or wear hearing aids or earplugs at work, you are at a higher risk for earwax build-up. Regularly wearing hearing aids or earplugs causes earwax to pack inside the ear canal, preventing the natural migration of earwax out of the ear canal.

"So what do I do about this wax?"
Excessive earwax must be removed If the earwax is packed hard and deep, over-the-counter earwax products, like Debrox, Murine Ear Drops, or Audiologist's Choice can be used to soften it prior to professional removal.

"Q-Tips Are a Big No-No!"
Don't use cotton swabs, hairpins, paperclips or any other "prodding" tool to try to remove earwax. "Prodding" earwax often has the opposite effect ; packing the wax down further making the problem worse! Remember the old saying, "Don't put anything smaller than your elbow in your ears!"

Once your ears are clean, you can try 6-10 drops of hydrogen peroxide in each ear once a month to soften and dissolve earwax. It is best to use an eyedropper, lay down on your side, drop in the peroxide and wait 5-10 minutes. Then stick a cotton ball in your ear and flip over to do the other side. Please be sure to have the approval of your physician or audiologist prior to starting this management program. Some ears may have medical issues where it is not recommended