Earwax plays a very important role in keeping your hearing health and ear canals in optimal shape. As much as some of us try to get rid of earwax, the truth is, having some degree of earwax in your ear canals is normal and healthy. Earwax acts as a filter – it prevents harmful things like insects, dirt, or debris from entering our ears and damaging the eardrum. It’s also antimicrobial. Earwax has substances in it that prevent infections from entering the body.
Think of earwax as the body’s own natural antibiotics. When produced at a normal rate, earwax helps keep your canals healthy and strong. However, when produced at an excessive rate, earwax can have adverse effects on your hearing health. During these moments, you may need to have your earwax removed by an audiologist or other healthcare professional. Not sure what’s involved in this process? Don’t worry – it’s painless and easy for our team to perform.
What is Earwax?
The technical term for earwax is cerumen. It’s secreted by glands located in the outer portion of your ear canal. Earwax helps the body accomplish several goals. It keeps the ear canal lubricated, helps fight off potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, and prevents dirt and other debris from reaching and potentially damaging the eardrum. In addition, having a healthy amount of earwax in your ear canal can help reduce the dry or itchy sensation one might experience from using cotton swabs.
When Does Earwax Need to Be Removed?
Earwax levels vary from person to person based on factors like age and gender. In a healthy ear, the body removes earwax on its own through natural movements of the lower jaw, while speaking, chewing, or yawning.
However, for some individuals, the glands in their ear canals produce an above average amount of earwax, making it challenging for the body to naturally rid this substance during movements of the lower jaw. Earwax blockages can also occur – especially with those individuals wearing hearing aids or earplugs. Earwax impactions are more common than you think – especially for those individuals using cotton swabs to clean their ears.
Symptoms of earwax blockage or impaction may include:
- Partial hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Fullness of the ears
- Pain in the ears
- Itchiness in or around the ear
- Balance problems
If you believe that you have excessive earwax production requiring professional removal, don’t use cotton swabs or ear candles. Ear candles can cause serious burn injuries, and cotton swabs only push earwax further into the ear canal.
When to See an Audiologist for Earwax Removal
There are certain home remedies that may assist in safely removing earwax buildup without the need for professional assistance. These include over-the-counter earwax softening drops, gently rinsing out the ear canal with warm water, or using a soft cloth after showering to remove earwax near the aperture (opening) of the ear canal. If these simple at-home solutions prove ineffective, it may be time to schedule a visit with Dr. Drummond.
At Affordable Audiology & Hearing Service, we’re happy to help our patients safely remove their earwax buildup. We have several treatment options available and would be happy to discuss these options during your appointment. If chronic blockage is an issue, we can also recommend the best practices for avoiding these earwax blockages in the future.
Our office proudly uses the NuPar Earigator to remove our patients’ earwax safely and comfortably in as little as 30 seconds. The Earigator by NuPar technologies is the only fully temperature and pressure-controlled ear irrigation system that quickly removes impacted earwax, while never endangering the eardrum. To learn more about how Affordable Audiology & Hearing Service can better assist you in safely removing your earwax, contact one of our two convenient locations today.
(920) 267-5220 (920) 933-4488
Oshkosh, WI Fond Du Lac, WI