[Earwax]
Earwax Removal: Why You Need a Professional Cleaning
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Aktualisiert am Jul 5, 2022
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Many people think dealing with excess earwax is something to be done in front of the bathroom mirror, with a cotton swab in hand. But the truth is, this process should be handled by a trained professional.
Excess earwax is definitely problematic: If enough has accumulated to block your ear canal, then the earwax is said to be impacted. Most common among older people and those who wear hearing aids, this problem can cause hearing loss, as sound waves can’t travel deeper into the ear. So, that wax does need to be removed.
Here, HearingTracker takes a closer look at what happens when there’s excess wax inside your ears, and why a healthcare professional should do the cleaning.
When too much earwax builds up in the ear canal, it can create a blockage and a variety of symptoms. These include the following, which may occur in one or both ears:
These symptoms of impacted earwax often lead people to try some self-cleaning. But improper attempts—jabbing into the ear canal with a swab or other foreign objects—can push the wax deeper and possibly cause lasting damage to the ear canal or eardrum.
Also, it goes without saying that we cannot see inside our own ears. No amount of peering into the mirror or trying to take a photo with your phone will show you what’s going on inside your ear canal. Even if you could look inside, you aren’t trained to interpret what you are seeing.
To properly diagnose and treat ear issues, a medical professional must be able to look inside the ear canal. Only then can it be determined whether earwax, an infection, or another issue is the culprit.
Now you know why you shouldn’t attempt earwax removal yourself. So what should your next step be if you think you have impacted wax? “The best recommendation is to make an appointment to see your audiologist or physician for an examination,” says audiologist Rebecca Gomer, AuD, an audiologist at Gomer Hearing Center in Richardson, TX. “They will determine how best to remove the cerumen, whether it will be flushed with irrigation or manually removed with specialized tools. Once the canal is healthy, ask about a maintenance program to help with future buildup of wax.”
In addition to the healthcare professionals mentioned above, many nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants are trained to remove impacted earwax. In some cases (if, say, you have a chronic ear condition), an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor should be involved.
Here’s what to expect during earwax removal. To start, these tools will be used to examine and then thoroughly but gently clean your ears.
By allowing a professional to resolve the problem, you are joining a very large group, as earwax removal is the most common otolaryngologic procedure performed in American primary-care settings, according to Harvard Medical School.
Many patients are recommended to get their ears cleaned every three to six months. Other patients see their physician annually for an ear cleaning. In between appointments, your healthcare professional may advise you to use an over-the-counter method to keep your ears free of excess wax. In that situation, follow directions carefully.
If you think you need an ear cleaning, it is best to seek a professional’s guidance on how to proceed. They will let you know which method is best for you, whether that means routine in-office cleanings or at-home maintenance.
Mara Brooks ist eine langjährige Journalistin und gebürtige New Yorkerin, die jetzt in Barre, Vermont lebt. Sie ist Kommunikationskoordinatorin für die Community of Vermont Elders und Redakteurin der Gemeindezeitungen The Charlotte News und The Hardwick Gazette. In ihrer Freizeit studiert Mara Jura und klassische Musik.
Dr. Gerhart ist eine Audiologin mit Erfahrung in der Pädiatrie bis zur Geriatrie, die in verschiedenen Umgebungen gearbeitet hat, einschließlich Privatpraxis und HNO-Kliniken. Sie leitete zuvor das Audiologie-Programm im Philadelphia School District. Ihre Leidenschaft ist es, Menschen mit Hörverlust zu helfen, den größtmöglichen Nutzen aus ihren Technologien zu ziehen und sie auf ihrem Weg zu besserem Hörvermögen zu begleiten.
