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Managing Ear Wax
by Meredith Workman
Hearing Rehab Center, Summit County |
Cerumen, or ear wax, is produced by all ears. It is a naturally occurring substance that's produced by the glands that line the ear canal. Our ears produce cerumen to help protect our ears and eardrums (tympanic membranes) by trapping dirt and debris. It also helps inhibit the growth of both fungus and bacteria. Most people never have to think about ear wax. Their ears produce just the right amount so that the wax can regularly make its way to the opening of the ear canal where it either falls out or washes out. Other people produce an excessive amount of ear wax, and need to undergo procedures either at home or at the doctor's or Audiologist's office to remove it.
Removal of excessive cerumen is no easy task. Many of the methods we grew up thinking were helpful, can actually cause more harm than good. If cerumen isn't properly removed, complications like pain, dizziness, and infection can all occur. We hear stories everyday of people using Q-tips, bobby pins, and other assorted household "tools" to try and remove cerumen themselves. Remember the old adage... "Never stick anything in your ear smaller than your elbow." People really should follow this rule; sticking something in your ear to scrape or rub away wax typically only pushes it further down into your ear, compacting the problem. The further the wax goes down into your ear, the harder it is to remove, and the more you've increased the likelihood it will build into a bigger problem.
If you need to remove wax at home, it's best to get an over-the-counter wax removal kit available at your Audiologist's office or any drugstore. These kits are very inexpensive, with most costing under $10.00 for several uses. The kit contains drops, which are typically made of Carbamide Peroxide. The drops serve as a softener, to help liquefy the wax and make it easier to remove. Also included in the kit should be a bulb syringe or ear irrigator which can be used after the drops to help flush out the debris and liquid in the ears. It's important that you follow both steps: drops then irrigation if you truly want to be successful in home removal.
Other people may be unsuccessful in home ear wax removal. Common reasons for this would be because their ear wax is very hard and sticks to the skin, their ear canals are very small, or because the overall amount of wax they produce is so large. In these cases, professional removal will be necessary. Professionals at your Audiologist's office or physician's office can help you manage your ear wax. They may use manual methods such as nylon loops or curets to scoop out the wax or irrigation methods involving using water pressure to flush the wax out. Some physicians even use a suction method of removal, which is similar to vacuuming out the ear.
Excessive, impacted ear wax can affect our hearing, our balance, and the way our hearing aids work. If your ears produce an excessive amount of wax, it's important to come up with a good plan of action on how you'll manage it. The providers at Hearing Rehab Center will be happy to work with you to develop the best solution to manage ear wax and continue on the path to better hearing.
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