Ear wax is the ear’s self-cleaning mechanism - the product of gland secretions mixed with exfoliated skin cells. For most people, ear wax causes no problems and requires no treatment, however, for a few it can cause a range of symptoms and may require professional removal.
When the ear’s natural self-cleaning mechanism is disrupted, wax can “back up” and lead to impaction. Add to this the irritation from foreign objects placed in the ear (e.g. cotton buds, ear plugs, hearing aids, etc) - and you can impair the normal movement of wax. Cotton buds in particular tend to push wax deeper into the ear canal trapping it further.
As you age, the ear canal can become narrower due to sagging and you may also experience a decrease in the function of wax glands, resulting in a drier wax that migrates more slowly.
Microsuction is generally the safest and most efficacious method of ear wax removal. Under a microscope, we use a suction machine to gently lift away the wax, often assisted by a small ring to scoop wax out of the ear canal. This technique also has
the advantage of not exposing the ear to moisture and therefore has a much lower risk of infection.
In simple cases, for wax that is not completely obstructing the ear canal, generally located in the outer region of the canal, using a hook/curette is often the quickest and most effective method for ear wax removal.
Contraindication: very deep wax, very soft wax.
The simplest option for wax is to use softening drops or sprays. These lubricate the ear canal, helping wax move out. Often this may not be enough and you need an active removal technique.
Contraindications: perforated ear drum.
Cotton buds
While it is true you can remove some ear wax, in many cases these result in pushing a greater amount of wax further down the ear canal. This can then lead to wax impaction.
Ear candles
The extremely low-pressure vacuum created by an ear candle is nowhere near strong enough to draw out ear wax, even in its softest form. Further to this, they are associated with a number of potential complications or injuries such as facial burns, ear canal blockages, and hearing loss.
Irrigation
This technique directs water under pressure down the ear canal to flush out ear wax. There is some inherent risk of ear drum perforation given the pressure required, along with an increased risk of ear infection post-procedure given the introduction of water to the canal, especially if there is no effort made to dry the ears afterward.
Don't put up with the effects of hearing loss any longer - talk to one of our audiologists about a solution suitable for you.
