Do you need ear wax removal? Well,
in this video I’m talking about how to clean your ears. Coming up!
Hi, I'm Dr. Derek - audiologist, audio engineer, and musician with Pro Fit
Hearing.com bringing you the best insight in today's latest hearing aids, headphones,
and audio technology to improve your life. If you have concerns about your hearing,
always consult with your local physician or audiologist.
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Today, I’m talking about how to clean your ears. We may all have excess cerumen (or ear
wax) from time to time, but it can be especially a problem if you're using hearing aids or earplugs.
Inserting these devices into your ear canal can cause ear wax to build up.
First if you’ve experienced a sudden change in hearing,
ear pain, ear fullness, vertigo, or ear drainage, consult with your doctor as soon as possible.
So the first thing I recommend is that you do not use a cotton swab
to clean your ears. It's only OK for cleaning around the outside of your ear.
Pushing a cotton swab into your ear canal will likely push the wax deeper down inside.
This could cause the wax to become impacted and make the situation even worse. Plus,
there's a danger of accidentally pushing in too far and injuring your eardrum.
The old advice still holds true: Don’t put anything in your ears smaller than your elbow!
I also don’t recommend ear candling. Ear candles can lead to burns, wax drips onto the ear,
or even a damaged eardrum.
So, if you believe you have a buildup of ear wax, you have 4 options.
Option #1 Do nothing.
You can just let your ears clean themselves. Ear wax should slowly work itself out of your ear
canal and fall out of the ear. Ear wax naturally protects our ears from debris and bacteria.
However, ear wax should be removed if it's impacting your hearing.
Option #2 Call your primary care
physician for an evaluation. Many offices will offer ear wax removal with an ear lavage,
and your doctor will determine if it’s appropriate for you. Your doctor will look into your ears,
possibly apply some ear wax softening drops, and then use an ear lavage to rinse out the wax.
Option #3 Contact an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor or ENT.
You might be able to self-refer or need a referral from your primary care physician. An ENT has
access to special tools like an ear microscope, suction device, and curettes which can include
wire loops and scoops to remove your ear wax. A visit to the ENT will give you a thorough cleaning,
but an ENT appointment might be reserved for more complex ear cleaning like severe impaction,
for people with a history of ear surgery, or for those with other medical conditions.
Option #4 Ask your physician if it’s OK to use
an ear wax removal kit from your local pharmacy. Your physician will know your specific medical
situation and whether it’s OK to proceed with an over-the-counter solution for self cleaning.
So, for today’s question. Have you experienced ear wax buildup,
and how did you resolve it? Let’s connect in the comments below!
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specialist so that your hearing aids are easy to use and have all the features you're looking for.
Remember Pro Fit Hearing brings you the best insight in today's latest hearing aids,
headphones, and audio technology to improve your life. If you have
concerns about your hearing, always consult with your local physician or audiologist.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.